Teaching, Practice, Faith and Realization (Kyōgyōshinshō)

Introduction

Shinran, a disciple of Honen and the founder of what became the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land) school, worked on this text for much of his life; a first draft is traditionally dated to 1224. In six parts – Teaching, Practice, Faith, Realisation, True Buddha and Land, and Transformed Buddhas and Lands – he collects passages from Indian, Chinese and Japanese sutras and commentaries and adds his own remarks. Shinran argues that in the degenerate age no one can reach awakening by their own effort; even faith (shinjin) is not an achievement but is given through the vow of Amida Buddha. Reciting the Buddha’s name is an expression of gratitude, not a way of earning merit.

Connections

Taken up in

• Philosophy as Metanoetics1946 · Tanabe Hajime