Page:The Praises of Amida, 1907.djvu/72

 raging to-day in the world; for the majority of men are ignorant of the Sacred Name, and treat it with contumely. We, on the contrary, foolish and faulty though we are, contrive to pass through these storms with the help of the divine Name,—and, pray, how is it that so great a happiness has fallen to our lot? "Often does the heart of belief arise within us, and we rejoice from afar in our distant home of rest." Truly we cannot avoid a feeling of the deepest gratitude when we think of the great mercies vouchsafed to us. A woman will adorn her body to please her lover: a samurai will sacrifice his life for his friend; shall we not take these bodies of ours and consecrate them to the service of the Divine Name? The Divine Name has given us life and an abundance of all good things. Shall, we not make an offering in return of all our good things to the Service of the Divine Name? This will be acting as good disciples, as true followers of Buddhism.