Dharma Corner
In Shin Buddhism Dharma is the Buddha's teaching., which is expressed
as the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha. The Dharma always works on people in
the world and they personally realize it in their life. Hence the history
of the Primal Vow.
Shinran Shonin realizes it as follows:
"Shakyamuni Tathagata appeared in this world
Solely to teach the oceanlike Primal Vow of Amida."
"The masters of India in the west, who explained
the teaching in treaties,
And the eminent monks of China and Japan,
Clarified the Great Sage's true intent in appearing
in this world,
And revealed that Amida's Primal Vow accords
with the nature of beings."
(Shoshinge)
(The Seven Pure Land Masters at Ryokeiji)
Amida's Primal Vow that was revealed by Shakyamuni went on to be experimented
and verified by the seven Pure Land masters (Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, T'an-luan,
Tao-ch'o, Shan-tao, Genshin, and Genku) , and then by Shinran, each in
their own historical times.
Such is the tradition of the nembutsu coming from the Primal Vow that
Shinran reaffirms it as follows:
"If Amida's Primal Vow is true, Shakyamuni's teaching cannot
be false. If the Buddha's teacing is true, Shan-tao's
ommentaries cannot be false. If Shan-tao's commentaries are
true, can Honen's (Genku's) words be lies? If Honen's words
are true, then surely what I (Shinran) say cannot be empty."
(Tannisho: A Record in Lament of Divergences)
Thus we would like to know what life Shinran lived and what he taught
in the following sections.
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