4 media
Post
Replies:
5
Boosts:
3
1) THE LOOKING BACK AMIDA🤨
Eikan-dō is perhaps best known for its 77cm tall statue of Amida looking back over his shoulder ('Mikaeri-Amida' 見返り阿弥陀).
Having been locked away from the public in Tōdai-ji's treasure house, when he left the temple Yōkan took the image with him.
4 media
Yōkan later explained that he had heard Amida calling to him, chastising those that had hidden the statue away, where it could not bring salvation.
Tōdai-ji monks tried to pull the image away from Yōkan, but it mysteriously stuck to his back, and eventually they gave up.
#Japan
4 media
At this time the statue was like most images of Amida, depicted facing forward. This changed on a freezing February 15th 1082.
As was his routine, Yōkan (then 50) was circling the statue whilst chanting the nenbutsu (calling out Amida's name).
Cold and tired, his pace grew slow.
Quite suddenly the statue of Amida climbed down from his pedestal and began circling the room with Yōkan. Astonished, the abbot all but stopped.
Amida turned, looked over his left shoulder, and said "Yōkan, don't dawdle!".
Yōkan quickened his pace, & worshipped with the real Amida!
4 media
4 media
