Hi Dharma-friends! Today let's conclude the section entitled "Gutoku's Hymns of Lament and Reflection" by listening to the last five verses.  These are poems of a very personal nature by Shinran, reflecting his awareness of himself as someone sharing the deepest weaknesses of his age.  This is the Last Dharma-Age, and we are in the same boat.  Shinran calls out high-ranking monks and dharma teachers of his time who are said to be so in-name-only.  Showing no self reflection, they often give themselves over to worldliness and seek honors and status, all the while paying lip-service to the Buddhist teachings.  Shinran is that rare religious master who does not exclude himself from his diagnosis. Shinran's universal remedy:  rely on Amida Buddha's directing of virtue exclusively in Namo-Amida-Butsu. Next time, we'll continue the Shōzōmatsu Wasan with the next section, "Additional Hymns of Lament on the Term Hotoke."  For more good Dharma content, please visit the homepage of the American Buddhist Study Center ambuddhist.org Palms together, Gary