My Heart Goes Out to China

We got home three days before the massive earthquake. We did not visit any of the places that would be deeply impacted, but I certainly feel the newscasts more deeply-- having just been to China-- and so enjoying connecting with the people, seeing the children and their grannies, and noticing all the hardworking people just trying to get by.

NPR is providing some amazing reporting from the aftermath -- Melissa Block has my respect and awe. I found myself weeping in the car in my driveway listening about mothers and fathers trying to dig their families out of destroyed apartments with their bare hands.

So I am grateful for the opportunity for my heart to open even wider. My one-dimensional idea about China before was... one-dimensional. China is made of people. So here are some of my favorite people pictures from the trip.Please do click on this photo above to see the light in this nun's face

Many of the Chinese Buddhist practitioners we met would bow and greet us with, "Amituofo," which is a Pure Land devotional practice, basically saying the name of Amitabha Buddha over and over (Ch'an and Pure Land have just about completely intertwined in China).

What does Amituofo mean? From the USA Shaolin Temple website:

Amituofo means a multitude of things, depending on how it is used. It can be a greeting, a salutation, a blessing, or it can mean "please" or "I'm sorry." Literally, it is the name of a Buddha, the "Amita" Buddha ("fo" being the Chinese word for Buddha). It is pronounced "Ah-mee-twoh-foh". "Amituofo" is the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit "Amitabha".

Who is Amitabha Buddha?

Buddha Amitabha is the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life. This is a Buddha who presides over the western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Feeling great compassion and wishing to help all beings permanently end suffering. Amitabha Buddha created this perfect land. All those who are reborn there do so through their faith, vows and practice. Amitabha is a transhistorical Buddha, who is venerated by all Mahayana schools, particularly the Pure Land school.

Click here for the source of the above definition as well as several lovely Pure Land chants. (Chinese -- even Ch'an -- chanting is so much more sing-songy than our Japanese-derived Zen chanting).

Here is a Portland-based agency with much expertise in helping with worldwide disasters such as this: Mercy Corps. Check them out, and donate if you are so moved. My heart goes out to China.

Amituofo.