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The Jodo Shinshu is a japanese tradition of "Pure Land" Buddhism, which Shinran Shonin (1173-1262) established on the base of the teachings of his master Honen Shonin and under consideration of earlier indian, chinese and japanese Mahayana teachings. Present head (monshu) of the Nishi Hongan-Ji, one of the two main temples in Kyoto, is Koshin Otani. In acceptance of the conditions of everyday´s life Jodo Shinshu finds adherents not only with people of japanese origin, but also worldwide under westerners as well. Since the fifties there are in Germany supporters of this great japanese buddhist school, when the former religious head, the Monshu Kosho Otani visited Europe.

Basic practice isn't the exercise of meditation techniques as in Zen but lies in developing religious confidence ("shinjin") in the welfare of the transcendental Buddha Amida (Amitabha). Already the historical Buddha Shakyamuni recommended this buddhist aid ("hoben") for the way of the laymen. In the formula "Namu Amida Butsu" (I become trustingly conscious of the liberation by the Buddha Amida) the relativization of human selfish efforts is expressed. There are however much similarities with the Zen Buddhism in the further religious practice of the recitation of Dharma texts and in ethical ideals like modesty.

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Basic Informations on Jodo Shinshu

 

Namu Amida Butsu

 Further Information:
Shin Do

Therefore the well-known scholar Daisetz T. Suzuki could describe Zen and Shin as both pages of one and the same medallion or as brother and sister to each other. Since the day of missionary activities in Japan and China there are misunderstandings in the west about a putative proximity to christianity and the christian"absolute faith". However with a superficial knowledge of the Mahayana Buddhism (e.g. bodhisattva ideal) and also the Theravada Buddhism ("shraddha" = faith or confidence as basis for the dedication to the Dharma teaching) everybody could easily correct misconceptions. In the teachings of Shinran the "Pure Land" ( jodo; sukhavati) as place of enlightenment has also nothing in common with the Christian paradise. In the same way as for the Mahayana founder Nagarjuna it was for the Shonin an unsalutary idea to separate a suffering world (samsara) from another perfect world (nirvana).

Finally we can look upon Shinran as one of the most important social reformers since he supported very early in the history of mankind equal rights for women, liberty of thinking and solving clerical rigidity. A variety of schools, universities, social facilities and foundations of supporters of the Jodo Shinshu exists in Japan today and worldwide. 


Daishin J.W.