Richard St

Richard St. Clair

TARIKI 2014 April YAMANEKO VLG.TarikiA tanka sequence on Amida BuddhaRichard St. Clair

My mindis like a lump of coal:my heart is as blackand as coldas arctic midnight.

1 EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)All these livesI have been achingfor releasefrom the wheelof birth and death.

2 2 The soundof Buddha's callrings in my ears:I acceptHis saving embrace.

3 In the depthsof my dark mindcomes a rayof loving light:the Buddha appears.EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)My ignoranceis no barrier!The Buddha knowsand accepts mejust as I am.

4 EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)My evil karmais no matchfor Buddha's vow-power,His compassionhas no bounds.5 EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)Limitless lightspreading acrossthe whole universe:not a single beingis left untouched.6 EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)6 EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)

EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)

EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)Neither a prayernor a complaint:The Buddha's lightall toldis all I ever need.The Universal Vowaccepts all,rejects none:Even the wrathful Christis grasped and saved.EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)

EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)When I'm aloneI thank the Buddha,my partnerin lifeand in death.EQ \* jc2 \* "Font: " \* hps12 \o\ad(\s\up 11(),)The very rocksseem to singAmida Buddha's praise.I sing it too:Namu Amida Butsu.0