MURYOKO

'Infinite Light'

Journal of Shin Buddhism

Harold Stewart

Gratitude

Only when the Heart of Faith awakens with an aspiration to Rebirth in the Pure Land and the possibility of attaining Bodhisattvahood becomes a conscious aim will thankfulness well up from the depths of being naturally, without any self-satisfied pietism by the sanctimonious ego attempting to feel thankful. And so it will be every calling of the Name after Amida's First Call that expresses genuine gratitude. Hence, as will be shown in the next section of this commentary, true morality can only follow, it cannot precede, the reception of Faith from Amida, although those whom he has naturally endowed with innate goodness of heart may already have received Faith but still be unaware of it.