Motokiyo’S Atsumori

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In Motokiyo’s Atsumori, Buddhism played a major part. Buddhism, religion based on the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism emphasizes the idea of karma, the extinguishing of passion and enlightenment. Zen Buddhism is a Chinese and Japanese version of Buddhism emphasizing meditation and self-contemplation as means of attaining enlightenment. The point of Motokiyo’s Atsumori is to show that through the peace of Buddhism, even the greatest of enemies can come to terms of peace. Key aspects that Motokiyo uses to show his point are introduces in lines 101 through 116. In this passage, Rensei promises to pray for the salvation of a wandering Shade who is of Atsumori’s bloodline. The shade, in turn is thankful towards Rensei for this merciful deed, and in the end, reveals his identity as Atsumori in order to let Rensei know the extent to which his desire to save Atsumori is fulfilled. The beginning of the passage starts with The Shade’s response to Rensei praying the Namu Amidabu, the Japanese branch of Buddhism’s prayer of salvation. This is significant because, as the reader discovers towards the beginning of the story, it was Rensei himself who slew Atsumori. The Shade knows this and still is thankful towards the man who put him into his current state. Once again, the reason that the Shade is thankful is because Rensei prayed for him the prayer of salvation. The fact that he is praying the prayer of salvation is significant because it shows that Rensei is remorseful about what he did. This willingness to try and ease his enemy’s pain shows that he is trying to willingness up for what he’s done and is truing to establish between himself and his enemy. The Divine Comedy is an account of Dante’s own journey through the afterlife. This journey is towards salvation. Dante himself said that the purpose of hid Divine Comedy as a whole was to free living human beings from misery

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