“Ichi-Mi (一味)” is a term found in Shinran Shonin’s Shoshin-Nembutsu-Ge, which is chanted daily at GBC morning services Monday through Saturday. The original passage written by Shinran Shōnin in classical Chinese is as follows:

bonjō gyaku hō sai e nyu 凡聖逆謗斉回入

nyo shu shi nyu kai ichi mi 如衆水入海一味

The translation of this passage is as follows:

When ignorant and wise, even grave offenders and slanders of

the dharma,all alike turn about and enter shinjin,

They are like waters that, on entering the ocean, become one in taste with it.

The meaning of this passage is that all beings, both the foolish and saintly and virtuous, once encountering and hearing Amida Buddha’s name, Namo Amida Butsu, are all of the same flavor or essence. In other words, under Amida Buddha, we are all of the same essence and value.

It is from this Nenbutsu spirit that we have established the Ichi-Mi group.

GBC Ichi-Mi

Gardena Buddhist Church LGBTQ Awareness Organization

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