The Light of Wisdom and Shinjin 智慧光と信心

A Dharma friend from the U.S. sent me the following questions (abridged).

I would like to start a dialog with you regarding Shinjin. More to the point, if the light of Amida Buddha penetrates the 10 quarters to every darkness and every sentient being receives the light, how can we understand the light in the context of salvation? What exactly is the light of wisdom and compassion that everyone receives? I have read a lot of passages in the Collected Works of Shinran but can't find any definitive answer. Only that Amida will not abandon anyone, but the trigger is full faith without doubt, then Amida confers Shinjin. But what comes first, the light or shinjin. What is the nature of each. I always used to equate them as the same but reading more tells me this is not so. I am trying to work this out in terms of reality and existence as we live. Anyway, if you have time, this is one of the things I am trying to figure out. I'd like to believe in universal salvation for all, but I am told this is not so. They call up the issue of Jikkou Anjin, I have no doubts for myself, but I'd like to believe that Amida Buddha works this out through His comassionate means to accommodate individuals who do not have the karmic conditions to hear the Nembutsu. First I believe in Shinjin Shoin, it is the cause, but what is its nature, how does it work? Is the light necessary if it is given discriminately to those who believe? I have always been taught that Amida Buddha saves indiscriminately. Gasshou

I will try to answer his questions.
(1) The wisdom and compassion of the Buddha is invisible to us, surpassing all our senses. The "light" is not such an electromagnetic wave as the light of the sun or electric lamps, which takes time in traveling through space and can be blocked with an obstacle, but nothing can obstruct the penetration of Amida's light. In a nutshell, Amida's light is the working of the Buddha's wisdom. It surpasses time and space. Even though it looks as if Sakyamuni's teaching had to travel from India to China and from China to Japan in the time span of more than one thousand years, the Dharma we are hearing has been working on us here at every moment of NOW. The strongest obstacle to the light is our own ego. Rejoice that the light has finally reached us, breaking asunder the strongest fortress in the universe against Amida's light.
(2) When we realize that we are already in the embrace of the light, that becomes shinjin. Honen Shonin made a poem, "Even though the light of the moon reaches every quarter of the universe, it abides in the hearts of those who see it." This means that the light of Amida's wisdom and compassion shines on every person without discrimination, only those who awaken to it can truly appreciate the benevolence of Amida's working. What triggers this awakening varies from person to person depending upon the unique karmic condition each person is in.
(3) The light of Amida's wisdom is in essence invisible to us and surpasses all our senses. However, it takes multitudes of forms in order to let itself known to us. It reaches us in the form of the teaching, or the Dharma, especially in the form of the Larger Sutra. The Name, Namo Amida Butsu, is the most condensed form of the light that has reached us. That's why when we say the nembutsu, we are one with the light.
(4) In the Tannisho, Chapter 2, Shinran says, If Amida's Primal Vow is true, the teaching of Sakyamuni cannot be false. If the Buddha's teaching is true, Shan-tao's Commentary [on the Contemplation Sutra] cannot be vain. If Shan-tao's Commentary is true, Honen's words cannot be empty. If Honen's words are true, what I say cannot be false." This statement reveals how Amida's light has worked on these persons and "enlightened" them each time they awakened to the working of Amida's light. Think on how you encountered the teaching of Shinran, who you are indebted for it, what condition you were in at that time. Those all came from Amida's compassionate working, which is the light.
(5) What is important is not to worry about whether or not you have the right shinjin, how the light operates on you or others, what happens to those who have not encountered the teaching or who do not believe in it, etc. All you should do is just say the nembutsu. That is the ultimate form of "entrusting," which is shinjin. Do not forget that the light shines even on those who do not believe in it.
(6) Salvation for Jodo Shinshu Buddhists is this awakening to the working of the light of Amida's wisdom on you and becoming free of doubt that you are not alone in the universe but are always embraced and protected by Amida's compassion.