“Amida?” whispered Akitada. “Why the child? Why destroy the seed before the plant blossoms and bears fruit?” There was no response. Some people believed that the Buddha was everywhere, in all creatures, even in man. Others spent hours calling his name to force his manifestation or to reserve a place for themselves in paradise. The child had chanted all day. Was he now in paradise? Was Joto, who had also chanted? And what was this place, this hell, where people struggled and loved so painfully, praying to indifferent gods for a better life? A moth appeared from nowhere, flew into the flame of
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