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What is Meant by Sonomama in Asahara Saichi's Poems |
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Page 2 of 3 Among the
existing thousands of verses composed by Saichi there are a number of
poems that refer to the naturalness of the Shin Buddhist
faith-experience by using the Japanese words konomama ("just as I am")
and sonomama ("just as you are"). Apparently Saichi was aware of the
difference between these two adverbial terms, understanding sonomama as
pointing to something higher than konomama. The only one exception is a
poem assumed, according to my own textual analysis of the special
combination of Japanese letters and Chinese characters used by Saichi
himself, to have been written before May 1917. Only in this poem is
konomama used to represent a very elevated state of mind. Saichi says:
Though I pronounce konomama ("just as I am") with my mouth,
I comprehend it not.
For anyone who doesn't comprehend konomama,
Konomama will not exist.
One who listens to the Dharma carelessly
Will not understand konomama,
For he has a false view.
It is none other than I, Saichi, who has a false view.
(From one of the notebooks written before May of 1917)
The Myokonin Asahara Saichi shu, p.289
As far as this verse is concerned, the word konomama is used
positively to point to something superior. Certainly there is some
justification for such usage, konomama being a living expression
uttered at the very moment of innermost faith-experience, when the
devotee is embraced by the great compassion of Amida Buddha.
As
regards this special word, konomama, Saichi's feeling for the word
underwent a considerable change and before long became quite negative
as a result of the deep introspection occasioned in him by his
faith-experience itself.
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