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writer. Although I am Japanese, I have lived so long in the United States I have to admit that while I understand the intent with which the above passage was written, it has a strange sound to it. For that reason, I am sure that it must sound even stranger to the reader.
Still, I believe you can see what the Japanese writer was pointing to.
I have no way of ascertaining how many American husbands kiss their wives each day and say, “I love you” (aside from the evidence of TV dramas, which seem not only to me, but to TV critics as well, a distortion of American life), but there must be more than a few.
But it seems to me that continually repeating, “I love you, I love you,” more than necessary (though please do not ask me what is a necessary amount!) might even be committing a deception. Could it be he repeats this phrase because he has something to hide from his spouse?
At least that’s what comes to mind when I hear about husbands who constantly repeat “I love you” to their wives.
A traditional discussion in the Pure Land teaching concerns the number of times Nembutsu should be recited. This is referred to as ichinen-gi tanen-gi, literally, “the principle of one recitation or many recitations.”
According to the ichinen (one recitation) position, in order to receive Amida Buddha’s “saving grace,” the Nembutsu need be recited only once because the basis for Amida Buddha’s salvation is shinjin, the “faith mind” or “true mind.” According to this position, after reciting the Nembutsu in gratitude once following the shinjin experience, there is no need to continue reciting it. In fact, those who continue reciting the Nembutsu when there is no necessity for doing so are looked on with suspicion.
On the other hand, the tanen (many recitations) position is that our everyday life (heizei) should be one in which we continually express gratitude for shinjin by reciting the Nembutsu.
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