Category: The Major Expositions

Question 1 In the Vow of birth through the nembutsu, three minds are disclosed. Why does Vasubandhu, the author of the Treatise, speak of “one mind,” the mind that is single? Answer: Vasubandhu appears to take the three together as one to make the matter easily comprehensible for dull and foolish sentient beings. The three…

[PREFACE] The radiant light, unhindered and inconceivable, eradicates suffering and brings realization of joy; the excellent Name, perfectly embodying all practices, eliminates obstacles and dispels doubt. This is the teaching and practice for our latter age; devote yourself solely to it. It is eye and limb in this defiled world; do not fail to endeavor…

The Vow of Sincere Mind and AspirationThe Import of the Sutra of Contemplation onThe Buddha of Immeasurable Life The Falsely SettledBirth Attained Beneath Twin Sala Trees The Vow of Sincere Mind and Directing MeritThe Import of the Amida Sutra The UnsettledBirth that is Noncomprehensible VI A Collection of Passages RevealingThe Transformed Buddha-Bodies and LandsThat are…

The Vow of Immeasurable LightThe Vow of Immeasurable Life V A Collection of Passages RevealingThe True Buddha and LandOf the Pure Land Way Compiled by Gutoku ShinranDisciple of Sakyamuni 1 Reverently contemplating the true Buddha and the true land, I find that the Buddha is the Tathagata of inconceivable light and that the land also is…

The Vow of Necessary Attainment of NirvanaThe Birth that is Inconceivable IV A Collection of Passages RevealingThe True Realization of the Pure Land Way Compiled by Gutoku ShinranDisciple of Sakyamuni 1 To reveal, with reverence, the true realization: It is the wondrous state attained through Amida’s perfect benefiting of others; it is the ultimate fruition of…

III A Collection of Passages RevealingThe True Shinjin of the Pure Land Way Compiled by Gutoku Shinran,Disciple of Sakyamuni [Preface] As I reflect, I find that our attainment of shinjin arises from the heart and mind with which Amida Tathagata selected the Vow, and that the clarification of true mind has been taught for us…

The Vow that All the Buddhas Say the NameThe True Practice of the Pure Land WayThe Practice Selected in the Primal Vow II A Collection of Passages RevealingThe True Practice of the Pure Land Way Compiled by Gutoku ShinranDisciple of Sakyamuni 1 Reverently contemplating Amida’s directing of virtue for our going forth to the Pure Land,…

The Larger Sutra of Immeasurable LifeThe True and Real TeachingThe True Essence of the Pure Land Way I A Collection of Passages RevealingThe True Teaching of the Pure Land Way COMPILED BY GUTOKU SHINRAN,DISCIPLE OF SAKYAMUNI 1 Reverently contemplating the true essence of the Pure Land way, I see that Amida’s directing of virtue to sentient…

Preface I reflect within myself: The universal Vow difficult to fathom is indeed a great vessel bearing us across the ocean difficult to cross. The unhindered light is the sun of wisdom dispersing the darkness of our ignorance. Thus it is that, when conditions for the teaching of birth in the Pure Land had matured,…