Jodo Shinshu
History
Shinran Shonin was born in 1173 and was ordained a Buddhist priest at the age of nine. After that, he studied on Mt. Hiei for twenty years, and at the age of twenty-nine he met Master Genku, and under the guidance of the master, decided to take refuge in the Primal Vow, discarding miscellaneous practices. When he was thirty-five years old, he was exiled to Echigo (present-day Niigata), and later moved to the Kanto region with Eshin, where he endeavored to spread the teaching. In his later years, he returned to Kyoto where he devoted his efforts to writing, and passed away at the age of ninety years old in 1263.
After Shinran Shonin's death, his daughter Kakushin and his disciples built a small temple in Higashiyama Otani in Kyoto to enshrine Shinran Shonin's ashes and portrait. This temple gradually developed and eventually became Hongwanji.
Since then, Hongwanji has been visited by the followers of Shinran Shonin's teaching from various regions and has come to be respected as the headquarters of the organization. The tradition of Shinran Shonin's teaching was transmitted to Shinran Shonin's grandson Nyoshin (the second monshu) then his great grandson Kakunyo (the third monshu). Thereafter, succession of the monshu's position has been passed down to Shinran Shonin's descendants and it has remained that way ever since.
The scale of the organization was greatly enlarged by the eighth monshu, Rennyo, and during the term of the eleventh monshu, Kennyo, the Hongwanji was granted a plot of land at its present site, Horikawa-Rokujo, Kyoto where it stands today. The scope of the organization crossed national borders and has reached various places throughout the world. The organization has been supported by many people's warm-hearted expectations and the Nembutsu teaching is being passed on from generation to generation under the guidance of the successive monshus.
Teaching: Jodo Shinshu
(The True Essence of Pure Land Buddhist Teaching)
Founder: Shinran Shonin
Date of birth: May 21, 1173
Date of death: January 16, 1263
Name of School: Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji'ha
Head Temple: Ryukoku-zan Hongwanji (Nishi Hongwanji)
Object of Reverence: Amida Tathagata (NamoAmida Butsu)
Sutras:
The Three Pure Land Sutras Delivered by Shakyamuni Buddha
1. Bussetsu Muryoju Kyo
[The Sutra of the Buddha of lmmeasurable Life]
2. Bussetsu Kammuryoju Kyo
[The Sutra of Contemplation of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life]
3. Bussetsu Amida Kyo
[The Sutra on Amida Buddha]
Scriptures:
Shinran Shonin's writings
1. Shoshin Nembutsuge
[Hymn of True Entrusting Heart and the Nembutsu]
excerpt from the "Chapter on Practice" of Kyogyoshinsho
2. Jodo wasan [Hymns of the Pure Land]
3. Koso wasan [Hymns of the Pure Land Masters]
4. Shozomatsu wasan [Hymns of the Dharma'Ages]
Rennyo Shonin's Gobunsho Letters
Teaching: Attaining the "entrusting heart"-awakening to the compassion of Amida Tathagata (Buddha) through the working of the Primal Vow-we shall walk the path of life reciting Amida's Name (Nembutsu). At the end of life, we will be born in the Pure Land and attain Buddhahood, returning at once to this delusional world to guide people to awakening.
Way of Life: Guided by the teaching of Shinran Shonin, we shall listen to the compassionate calling of Amida Tathagata and recite the Nembutsu. While always reflecting on ourselves, amidst our feelings of regret and joy, we shall live expressing our gratitude without depending on petitionary prayer and superstition.
Purpose: The Hongwanji school is a community of people joined together revering the teaching of Shinran Shonin and saying the Nembutsu. We seek to share with others the wisdom and compassion of Amida Tathagata. By doing so, we shall work toward the realization of a society in which everyone is able to live a life of spiritual fulfillment.