Understanding Amida Buddha Through the Mother’s Love, Part 2

Editor’s note: Teresa Shimogawa, a Minister’s Assistant at Orange County Buddhist Church, delivered the following Dharma message on May 12, Mother’s Day. Because of the length of the message, the Wheel of Dharma is presenting it in two parts. The first part appeared in the July 2024 issue. This is the second part. The Wheel of Dharma is honored to publish this Dharma message and is reprinting it with the permission of Teresa Shimogawa.

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In my previous article, I wrote about the mother’s love being similar to the concept of Amida, and working through and untangling my understanding and experiences with both to extract the commonalities. I am interested in capturing the most important essence of each one that makes this world a better place and specifically, can help me be a better person.

Dr. Nobuo Haneda explained that Mahayana Buddhists — the umbrella under which Shin Buddhists practice — believed that the most important aspect in Buddhism was not the ideas and concepts produced by Siddhartha Gautauma, but the creative spirit of his legacy. 

According to Dr. Haneda, Mahayana Buddhists were interested in the source of inspiration that produced Sakyamuni. For them, this is the Dharma, the universal Buddhahood, the spirit behind the concept and symbol of Amida. 

I think about the concept of motherhood in a similar way. The ideal mother is someone who we can take refuge in. She is there for us during our lowest lows and highest highs. She is our cheerleader. What we really are thinking about is the spirit of a mother’s love, not what each person may actually have in their mother.

It is an ideal. We know that children with healthy mother-child relationships grow up to be happier people. We know that the mother’s love is a good thing. But mothers are human.

If you look at a physical representation of Amida, there are several points to notice. First, it is important to note that the statue is symbolic. It is a physical representation of a truth that is inconceivable. It does not represent a real person. 

The standing Amida leans slightly forward to represent the wisdom and compassion that move to affirm us. 

You’ll notice Amida’s robe is open at the heart, symbolizing generosity. 

Amida’s hand positions, known as mudras, symbolize an assurance that we can come as we are. Everyone is accepted. Nobody is rejected. 

All of the symbolisms are a welcoming affirmation, which is important in the awakening to our unique potential as human beings. 

This sounds a lot like the ideal mother. She has infinite wisdom and compassion to share with us, to shape us, mold us into the best possible version of who we can be. She affirms us. She is generous and accepts us for who we are. She does not reject us. She sees our full potential. She roots for us. Loves us. Encourages us. 

What does she look like? Does she wear an apron and a 1950s house dress and bake cookies for us? Does she dress like a soccer mom? 

I can’t tell you what the ideal mom looks like. It doesn’t matter what she looks like. It is the love and spirit she shows in your interactions with her; it is a love and spirit that can transcend all barriers, so maybe you might not even encounter it in your mother at all, but maybe from a teacher, or a neighbor, friend, mentor, colleague, whoever.

Just like the spirit of Amida or Sakyamuni or other buddhas, I suspect a mother’s love is also inconceivable. We might have an idea about what it feels like, but it’s difficult to write the equation. Not all of us will be able to successfully duplicate the perfect recipe. There is no manual to teach us how. 

I had a great friend and mentor who got me into teaching. He helped me get my job that I have today. He was nurturing and kind, thoughtful, and encouraging. He always rooted for me, and when he passed away, I felt a deep loss. 

His “mother’s love” had been the wind beneath my wings in early adulthood, and one of my deepest regrets to this day is that I didn’t do enough to reciprocate. Like a child, I received it gratefully, but didn’t think to do the same for him. 

I’ve encountered what I like to call “mini bodhisattvas” who sprinkle the world with their love. I have a colleague who always remembers to bring little treats to show her gratitude. Another colleague brings me cookies on special occasions, like the anniversary of my husband’s passing, and I’m always blown away by the simple gesture of them even remembering the date. These are people who find ways to affirm others. I think that is the essence of a mother’s love. Doing something for others knowing you likely won’t get it all back in any sort of tangible way. 

As I get older, I think about how I want to show up in the world, and it’s these people who inspire me, sprinkling the world with love with no expectations. You can do this for others. It doesn’t matter who you are. 

Rev. Dr. Kenji Akahoshi wrote in Lion’s Roar in 2023 that the Shin practice of “voicing Namo Amida Butsu .. .is not a petition for a better life, nor is it expressing devotion to a deity. It’s a deeply spiritual experience which is difficult to describe. The simple answer would be to say it’s an expression of gratitude … the Nembutsu reminds us of the singularly unique gift of human life; this gift of life is due to the efforts of others, not due to our personal efforts.” 

This is like all of the mother’s love we have experienced in various forms throughout our lives, the love that has nurtured who we are today. We are who we are because of the love from others.

I would argue that the mother’s love — that deep, compassionate, accepting, nurturing kind of love — is another way we can try and understand the concept of Amida Buddha. We can, today, right now, show others that love. This kind of love is the glue of our interdependence. 

Loving our own children is only part of the equation.  Imagine what this world would look like if we all made a habit of showing a mother’s love — that ideal love — to strangers, even the rude ones. To colleagues, even the ones who we can’t stand. To classmates, even the ones who annoy us. To neighbors, even the grumpy ones. To people standing in line, even the ones who cut in front of us. To other drivers on the road, even the ones with road rage.

To be patient even when others are unkind. 

To be helpful even when others are inconsiderate. 

To care, even when others don’t. 

To be accepting, even when others choose to discriminate.

To hold space for others, especially when we think they take up too much space.

To be encouraging, even when others aren’t. 

To do better when we realize our mistakes. 

We have all benefited from others who have shown us that kind of love. People whose names and faces we might never remember, but at some point in our lives took care of us and nurtured our existence. I aspire to show more of it.