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28 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

As Shin Buddhism is Japanese school of Pure Land of Namo Amida Butsu is an expression of profound
Buddhism which traces its lineage to China, are its gratitude for our awakening to Amida’s Wisdom and
core teachings the same as Pure Land Buddhism in Compassion at work in our lives.
the Chinese Mahayana tradition?
Who is Amida Buddha, and why is faith in this
Shinran traces the lineage of Pure Land Buddhism to Buddha emphasized instead of the historical
Sakyamuni Buddha through a series of seven masters: Sakyamuni Buddha?
Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu (India); T’an-luan, Tao-ch’o
and Shan-tao (China); and Genshin and Hōnen (Japan). In Shin Buddhism, Amida stands for Amitābha (Infinite
Firmly grounded in the Mahayana tradition, Shin Light) and Amitāyus (Infinite Life). Amida is the Buddha
Buddhism seeks the liberation of all sentient beings of all-inclusive wisdom and all-embracing compassion
through the teaching of Amida Buddha’s compassionate which symbolizes the timeless working of enlightenment
vow found in the three Pure Land Sutras which are the that pervades the ten directions of the universe. Based
primary scriptures of Shin Buddhism and other Pure on the sacred story found in the Bussetsu Muryōju Kyō
Land traditions. (Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life), Shinran explains
that this dynamic working of enlightenment took form as
Pure Land teaching and practices were integrated Dharmākara Bodhisattva, made vows to become Amida
into Chinese Buddhism and were also one of many Buddha, and established the Pure Land as a means for
practices in the Japanese Tendai school. However, the all beings to attain Buddhahood. Amida represents the
Pure Land movement of Hōnen and Shinran focused eternal truths that Sakyamuni expounded and points us
on the singular practice of nembutsu as the means of towards the formless and colorless realm of awakening
liberation. Both Hōnen and Shinran were trained as or enlightenment that he experienced. By having faith
Tendai monks but were not satisfied with traditional in Amida, we also revere Sakyamuni who revealed the
Buddhist teachings which were not accessible to teaching of Amida’s vows, and who promised to be
everyone. They focused on the recitation of Amida’s eternally present in the Dharma.
Name as an easy practice that was available to all. In
seeking to clarify his master Hōnen’s teaching, Shinran Can you explain the Nembutsu and how it is
further develops Pure Land thought by emphasizing practiced in the Shin Buddhist tradition?
not just the simple recitation of nembutsu but rather
the profound faith by which it is said. This “entrusting Nembutsu means to “remember” or to “recall” the
heart” of shinjin is the highest teaching of Shin Buddha and is the heart of Shin Buddhist practice which
Buddhism which we receive from Amida Buddha. is the recitation of Amida’s Name. Namo Amida Butsu
Shinran explains that shinjin itself is emancipation means “I entrust in the Buddha of Infinite Light and
which comes about through the power of Amida’s Life.” It is the hearing and recitation of Amida’s Name
Primal Vow which is embodied in the nembutsu. We embodying the Vow that is the process by which we
entrust in Amida’s aspiration or vow to liberate us, and experience a dynamic oneness with Amida Buddha.
shinjin is our experiencing that calling voice of universal According to Shinran, in the Kyōgyōshinshō (True
compassion. Therefore, in Shin Buddhism, the recitation Teaching, Practice, and Realization): “The great practice