Pure Land Buddhism: Shinran’s Devotional Path to Enlightenment

Shinran calls to us, who are inclined to identify ourselves within our own bodies, to awaken to that which is true, real and eternal.

After decades of reading and reflection, Shinran compiled these texts as his enduring proclamation of the meaning of Amida Buddha's Primal Vows for his life and for humanity. The text embodies a universal spiritual vision of the all-embracing compassion and wisdom of Amida Buddha which rejects no one and no thing.

Though Shinran wrote numerous treatises, poems, and gathas, those included herein are organized and structured to deal with the major points for understanding Shin Buddhism.

In its essence, Shinran has created a path of faith. Shinran is critical of the individual self-striving forms of religious practice. In his view, striving, egocentric religion, is erroneous because it does not truly resolve the problem of human fulfillment and itself can become a source of self-aggrandizement. While the worldly good deeds advocated by many may be important for the well-being of society overall, they may become distorted when used as a means of gaining personal power and benefits.

The solution was to displace the ego from its self-reinforcing position through surrender to Amida Budhha.

According to Shinran, the only reality is Amida Buddha and this reality supercedes all gods and all religions.

His Kyogyoshinsho, combined with the Psalms and the Three Sutras herein, form the guidebook for all Shin Buddhists. He gives a context of meaning and direction for our modern living, even in the face of the many contradictions and negations of everything we may consider true and worthy. In essence, he answers the questions:

What does it mean to be human?
How can we fulfill our purpose in this world?