Shinran

Shinran Shonin (1173-1262) was born at the close of the Heian_period, when political power was passing from the imperial court into the hands of warrior clans. It was during this era when the old order was crumbling, however, that Japanese Buddhism, which had been declining into formalism for several centuries, underwent intense renewal, giving birth to new paths to enlightenment and spreading to every level of society.

Confronting the religious monopoly of his time, Shinran reinterpreted Pure Land teaching as the supreme expression and representation of the truth of Buddhism.

Essentially Shiran said that since we are all defiled by greed, hatred and delusion, we have no chance of gaining enlightenment by ourselves, and that Buddhist practices such as meditation are of little use. The Pure Land School of Buddhism encourages its practitioners to rely on the vow of the Buddha Amitabha (Sanskrit, Amida Japanese) to save all beings from suffering. According to the sutras Amitabha vowed to ensure that anyone who chanted his name would be reborn in his Pure Land of Sukhavati (Sanskrit, lit. = Happy Land) and once there would easily be able to gain enlightenmnent.

Shinran's innovation in Pure Land Buddhism was to take this teaching to its logical extreme. He taught that arising the faith in Buddha Amida is the central matter, and that even the continuous chanting of “Namu Amida Butsu”, “I take refuge in Buddha Amida”, is not necessary. When the faith arises a deep spiritual awakening, called shinjin, takes place, severing the practiser forever from birth and death. The advantage of the Path can be experienced here and now. Arising of shinjin also assures the birth in the Pure Land, and the attainment of enlightenment there.

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