Jōdo Shinshū Service The Service of "True Pure Land School" of Buddhism. Shōshinge (Hymn of True Shinjin and the Nembutsu) by Master Shinran. Shōshinge is traditionally followed by the chanting of six sets of Nembutsu and Wasan by Shinran Shonin. Wasan are poems composed by Shinran Shonin, which explain his teaching in a simple form. It concludes with the "Ekoku," , which expresses the aspiration

The Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sutra or else known as Infinite Life Sūtra is one of the three most significant Buddhist Sūtras in the Pure Land Buddhism school, extolling the story of Buddha Amitābha (Amitāyus), his wows to help all living beings in the after-death state and how to reach his Land of Ultimate Happiness (Sukha) or otherwise known as the Pure Land of Amitābha. The sutra

The famous "Sutra on the Contemplation of Buddha Amitāyus" (also called the "Amitāyus Meditation Sutra" or Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra) is revered as canonical by all Pure Land Buddhists, and is one of the Three Sutras of Pure Land Buddhism, the others being the Larger Sukhāvatī-vyūha Sutra and the Smaller Sukhāvatī-vyūha Sutra. In this sutra, the Nembutsu (Namu Amida Butsu) is specifically proclaimed as the avenue to

The Smaller Sukhāvatīvyūha Sutra or else known as Amitābha Sūtra is one of the three most significant Buddhist Sūtras in the Pure Land Buddhism school, extolling the story of Buddha Amitābha (Amitāyus), his wows to help all living beings in the after-death state and how to reach his Land of Ultimate Happiness (Sukha) or otherwise known as the Pure Land of Amitābha. It is frequently

Discourse on the Sūtra of Eternal Life And Gāthā of Aspiration to Be Born in the Pure Land Composed by Bodhisattva Vasubandhu (India, ca. 400 C.E.). The Bodhisattva, by entering the four types of Gates, perfects the self-benefiting practices. The Bodhisattva, by departing through the fifth Gate, perfects the practices of benefiting others through the transference of merits. The Bodhisattva will accomplish self-benefit and benefiting-others

The Path of Easy Practice | by Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna from The Ninth Chapter of the Discourse on the Ten Stages (Translated from Chinese by Hisao Inagaki) The Path of Difficult Practice and the Path of Easy Practice To the practitioners of Mahāyāna, the Buddha said: To make vows and seek the Path to Buddhahood is a task harder than lifting the whole universe. Just as

The Twelve Adorations of Amida Buddha was written by Bodhisattva Nagarjuna (c. 2nd –3rd CE), the first of the Seven Patriarchs of Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism. It expresses eloquently the depth of Nagarjuna’s gratitude to Amida Buddha, whom he regards and venerates as a true and real Buddha. Before Amida Buddha, whom Devas and men worship, I humble myself in deepest reverence. In His wondrous Land

Gāthā in Praise of Amida Buddha San Amida Butsu Ge by Master T'an Luan (Jp. Donran) (476-542). From the time Amida became a Buddha Till the present, ten kalpas have elapsed; The Dharma Body's Light boundlessly Shines on the darkness in the world. Immeasurable is the Light of Wisdom; So the Buddha is called 'Immeasurable Light'. All limited beings are blessed by the Light. Hence,

From the First Volume of An-le-chi by Master Tao-ch'o. We are now in the age of the final Dharma [Jp. "Mappo"], that is, the evil world of the five defilements. The Gateway of the Pure Land is the only one through which we can pass to enlightenment. According to the holy teaching of the Mahāyāna, it is actually because they have been unable to cast