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18 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

The Essence of

Shin Buddhism

By Dr Mark Unno

Mark Unno is Professor of
Buddhist Studies and Department
Head of Religious Studies at the
University of Oregon; specializing
in Pure Land, Zen and Shingon
Buddhism. He received his Ph.D.
and M.A. from Stanford University,
and B.A. from Oberlin College.
Mark is the fourteenth-generation
minister of Shin Buddhism in his Japan temple – Myosenji is my grandmother’s temple
family lineage. He is the author
of Shingon Refractions: Myōe and Pure Land Buddhism is one of you.” Bowing is an act of humility
the Mantra of Light (2004), editor the most widely practiced forms on the part of the ordinary human
of Buddhism and Psychotherapy of Buddhism in Asia; with Shin being who is filled with attachments
Across Cultures (2006), and Buddhism, a development of Pure and delusions. Amitābha Buddha
author of articles on Japanese Land Buddhism, it is the largest signifies the “awakening of infinite
Buddhism, comparative religious sect of Japanese Buddhism. Can light,” the illumination of emptiness
thought, interreligious dialogue you describe the core practice of and oneness that arises from the
and Buddhism and psychotherapy. Shin Buddhism? deepest reality of the true self. Thus,
He is the President of the Society in Shin Buddhism, chanting the
for Buddhist-Christian Studies. Shin Buddhism, as it is known in name, Namu Amida Butsu, means,
His Buddhist essays are published the West or Jōdo Shinshū in Japan, “I, this foolish being filled with
in Buddhist journals such as is the largest school of Buddhism attachments and blind passions,
Tricycle, Buddhadharma: The in Japan - itself part of the larger entrust myself to the awakening
Practitioner’s Quarterly and Lion’s stream of Pure Land Buddhism. of infinite light, the boundless
Roar. His website can be found at The heart of Pure Land practice in compassion that arises from the
East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, also oneness of reality”.
http://mtunno5.weebly.com/
extending into Vietnam) is chanting
the name of Amida Buddha, the Hōnen, founder of the Jōdo-shū,
Buddha of Infinite Light. The name and his disciple, Shinran, founder
is originally from Sanskrit, the of Shin Buddhism, are among
classical language of Buddhist India: the most important persons in
Namo Amitābha Buddha. In China, Japanese Pure Land Buddhism.
this becomes Namo Amitoufo, What are the differences between
and in Japan, Namu Amida Butsu. them and their schools of Pure
Namo comes from the “Namas” of Land practice? In addition,
Namaste, which means, “I bow to Meditation is a core practice in