The Dharma allows us to hear

This is a print of a calligraphy by the famous Shin teacher Kaneko Daiei which my teacher gave to me at the end of a pilgrimage we made together to various temples and sites associated with the history of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan. I understand that it reads roughly: “Listening is practice, hearing is faith” (though I would be glad to hear anyone else’s translations).

In connection with this phrase I found the following passage in Rev. Chijun Yakumo’s book Thankyou Namo Amida Butsu (Nembutsu Press, LA 1995):

“We consider “listening/hearing” (chō-mon) to be extremely important in our Jōdo-Shinshū tradition of Buddha-dharma, so much so, that we receive wisdom through “listening/hearing.” But it is not really as simple as that.  Unfortunately, the truth is that often the only thing that increases is our knowledge, and we end up with scholars of Buddha-dharma and scholarly ministers and members, rather than true persons of wisdom.”

“There is a tradition in Jōdo-Shinshū in which:

To “go” is said to refer to “listening (chō).
To “come” is said to refer to “hearing” (mon).

In other words, although we may feel we are doing our best to get there by “listening”, actually, it is the dharma that is coming towards us and allows us to “hear”. (p.58-59)