INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.

...and who will lead me to that Enlightenment (Butsu original: "butsu") that he himself has attained—and finally, in the community of monks who are striving for that perfect Enlightenment where alone salvation is found.”

“I take refuge.” This is a broader term than “I renounce.” The pessimism of Buddhism is more profound than that of Christianity. Christianity views the world as “very evil,” but it refers specifically to the world of humanity—society. Buddhism, however, includes the entire universe in its condemnation. Happiness cannot be reached as long as physical matter exists to hamper and hinder us. Therefore, the Buddhist “takes refuge” in the Law, the Buddha, and the Community, and becomes a recluse.

The Christian also “takes refuge”—in God, His Law, and His Church—but this refuge is not a retreat or a flight. He “renounces” (implying a strong determination of will) “the world, the flesh, and the devil.” He “believes” (which is an act of faith, something more than just intellectual agreement) “the articles of the Christian Faith.” He “promises” (again, an act of the will) to keep God’s will and commandments, and he is proud to call himself a soldier of Christ. Buddhism teaches resignation, while Christianity teaches the power of a determined will.

Furthermore, the Christian child is taught that, having been made a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven through Baptism, they are now in a state of salvation. This state can be fully realized if they keep the promises made by them (or for them by their godparents original: "Sponsors") and remain faithful to the teachings original: "precepts" of their religion. The Buddhist also speaks of their religion as a "state of salvation," to be understood here and fully realized in the future, when the cycle original: "chain" of birth and death stops and the soul emerges from the endless changes original: "permutations" of existence into the unchanging bliss of Nirvana.

Japanese literature, whether religious or not, is full of this pessimistic view of nature. This view does not come from native Shinto The indigenous religion of Japan, characterized by the veneration of nature spirits and ancestors., which, in its non-political forms (meaning when it is not...)