“Come as you are,” is a call many of us have longed to hear; it embodies one of the many meanings of Namu Amida Butsu. It invites us to come just as we are—there’s no need to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid. This phrase represents a welcoming home for us in our current state, both broken and beautiful.

Namu Amida Butsu invites us to return to ourselves and embrace all of life as it is right now. It encourages us to recognize our Oneness, where we no longer see a distinction between the broken and unbroken parts of ourselves. Instead, we perceive their inherent Oneness. As Gyomay Kubose Sensei expressed, “Namu Amida Butsu means the Buddha and I are one.”