I was reading that you are not supposed to mix the Nembutsu with other Buddhist and other religious practices. I used to do tai chi and yoga. I would like to do them as exercises. I was wondering, if you didn’t follow their practices and beliefs, could you do them? Or do you have to give them up?
Shinran was very clear, the only practice is Nembutsu. Not only that, but a specific kind of Nembutsu practice. Only the Tariki (Other Power) Nembutsu— that was not mixed with meditative practices and non-meditative practices—would lead one to the Pure Land.
Only by acknowledging and accepting one’s own limitations can one ever hope to receive Shinjin (Awakening), and this is to realize all efforts and practices are fruitless.
One prepares to receive the gift of Wisdom and Compassion. However, in order to “best select” the pure Nembutsu practice of Shinran, one has to have many experiences and probably much experimentation.
For most people, it is only by having a lot of experiences that they are able to not only select “my practice” but also to have the wisdom to find my “best” practice.
I like the idea of “best select” because we come to make a choice only after much thought, experience and insight. And when one can discard the Ego-Self enough to receive.
Doing tai chi or yoga or anything is fine. It is part of making each of us a more wellrounded person. Of course, doing these kinds of exercise is fine, and it might add to your experiences in being more human, and more of an ordinary person.
Gassho (with palms together), Rev. Ron