The Essential Shinran : A Buddhist Path of True Entrusting

Foreword by Ruben L.F. Habito ix Introduction by Alfred Bloom xv Conventions xix I. Shinran's Life (1173-1262 C.E.) and Legacy A. Shinran's Spiritual Journey 1 B. Shinran's Legacy: The Shin Path to Enlightenment 6 II. What Do We Know of Shinran in the Ancient Sources? A. From Mount Hiei to His Entry into Honen's Community 9 B. The Journey to Eastern Japan (Kanto): Shinran's Realization of Other-Power 14 C. Shinran's Account of His Spiritual Development 15 D. Shinran Disowns His Eldest Son 16 E. Shinran and Other Disciples of Honen 17 F. Stories from Early Tradition: Kakunyo's Treatise of Oral Tradition (Kudensho) 17 G. A Word from Kakunyo's Treatise on Correcting Error (Gaijasho) 30 H. The Earliest Biography of Shinran: Kakunyo's Godensho 31 III. Shinran Interprets Pure Land Teaching A. Shinran's Self-Understanding: The Human Condition 47 1. "Hell is Decidedly My Abode": The Personal Dimension 47 2. The World of Foolish Beings 53 3. The Evil World of the Last Dharma Age 54 B. Shinran's Experience of True Entrusting (Shinjin) 59 1. Shinran's Unfaltering Trust 60 2. The Joy in True Entrusting 63 3. Shinran on His Limitations 65 4. Shinran on His Death 66 C. Shinran on the Meaning of True Entrusting 67 1. The Scriptural Foundation 67 a. Why Buddhas Appear in the World 67 b. The Major Vows: The Basis of Shinran's Teaching 68 c. The Primal Vow 73 d. The Larger Sutra of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life: the Supreme Truth 77 i. The Significance of the Larger Sutra for Shinran 77 ii. The True Intent of the Larger Sutra 78 iii. The Ultimate Teaching of the "One Vehicle" 78 iv. Sutras of Provisional Practice: Sutra of Contemplation, Smaller Amida Sutra 80 e. Amida and Sakyamuni 81 2. Shinran's Style of Interpreting Scripture: Hidden and Manifest Meanings 84 3. Other-Power: The Fundamental Principle of Shinran's Interpretation 85 a. The Meaning of Other-Power 86 b. Self-Power-Other-Power 87 c. Uncalculating Trust 88 d. No-working is True-working 93 e. Shinran's Ranking of Buddhist Teachings (Critical Classification of Teachings) 95 i. The Traditional Pure Land View 97 ii. Shinran's System of "Two Pairs and Four Levels" 103 4. Shinran's Respect for Tradition: The Selected Lineage of Seven Masters 104 a. The Hymn of True Entrusting (Shoshinge) 106 b. Hymn on the Nembutsu and True Entrusting 111 c. Hymns of the Pure Land Masters (Koso Wasan selections) 117 d. The Parable of the White Path by Shan-tao 122 D. Dimensions of Shinran's Interpretation of True Entrusting 124 1. The Status of Pure Land Teaching 124 2. Amida: The Supreme Buddha 126 3. Amida: The Eternal Buddha 131 4. Amida: The Savior 132 5. Amida and True Entrusting 136 6. The Experience of True Entrusting 139 a. The Nature of True Entrusting 139 i. The Diamond-like True Mind 139 ii. True Entrusting and Buddha-Nature 141 iii. The Ultimacy of True Entrusting 142 iv. Two Types of Deep Entrusting 143 b. Reception of True Entrusting 144 c. The Mind of True Entrusting 149 d. Three Minds of the Eighteenth Vow 153 e. The Unity of the Three Minds 155 f. Aspiration for Birth 158 g. The Status of Persons of True Entrusting 158 h. Benefits of True Entrusting 160 i. The Paradox of True Entrusting 164 j. True Entrusting and Doubt 167 7. True Entrusting and Nembutsu Practice 170 a. The Name 171 b. The Nembutsu as Great Practice 175 c. The Nembutsu as Amida's Call 176 d. Nembutsu Recitation 178 e. The Nembutsu and Spiritual Transformation 182 f. Nembutsu and Gratitude 182 E. Shinran and the Nembutsu Way of Life: True Entrusting in the World 183 1. The Universal Dharma 183 2. Shinran's Non-discriminating Dharma: Equal Companions on the Way 184 3. Shinran and Women (Thirty-Fifth Vow) 186 4. Nembutsu and Peace 187 5. Shinran and Prince Shotoku 188 6. Sharing the Dharma: Propagation 190 7. True Entrusting, the World of the Gods, and Popular Religion: Rejecting Magic and Superstition 193 8. Ethics and Licensed Evil 195 9. Polemics and Disputations 199 10. The Teaching Encounters Opposition 201 F. Life Fulfillment 202 1. The Pure Land 202 2. Assurance of Fulfillment 211 3. Presentness of Salvation 215 a. Equality with the Buddha 215 b. Rejection of Deathbed Rites 219 4. The Goal of Religion (Genso Eko) 221 5. Attainment of Nirvana (Buddhahood) 223 Glossary 227 Bibliography 237 Index of Selections 239 Biographical Notes 251