Shinran said that because we are all defiled by greed, hatred and
delusion, we have no chance of gaining enlightenment by ourselves.
Many Buddhists at that time felt that the Dharma of the Buddha had
declined to such a point that people could not do it themselves
anymore, a concept called mappo in Japanese, a Mahayana eschatology
that claims that the ability to practice Dharma properly declines
over time. Instead the Pure Land School of Buddhism encouraged its
practitioners to rely on the vow of the Buddha Amitabha (Sanskrit,
Amida in Japanese) to save all beings from suffering. According to
three particular sutras Amitabha vowed to ensure that anyone who
chanted his name would be reborn in his Pure Land of Sukhavati
(Sanskrit, lit. Land of Bliss) and once there would easily be able
to gain enlightenment, because they would not be hindered by the
problems of day-to-day life. Shinran's innovation in Pure Land
Buddhism was to take this teaching to its logical extreme. He
taught that awakening to the saving grace of Amida Buddha is the
central matter. Continuous chanting of the nembutsu (namu amida
butsu), is not necessary, as Honen, his mentor, had believed.
Instead, Shinran taught his followers that the nembutsu should be
said as a form of gratitude rather than a way of achieving rebirth
in the Pure Land. Faith in Amida Buddha would lead to a deep
spiritual awakening, called shinjin, which severs the practitioner
forever from birth and death in the world of samsara, and erases
karma accumulated through many rebirths. Shinran taught that the
advantage of the Path of the Nembutsu can be experienced here and
now. This was summed up by Shinran in the four Chinese characters
of "Heizei Gojo" which means "Complete the Great Task while alive."
Shinran taught that the "Great Task," or the purpose of human life,
was to achieve salvation from Amida in this life. Without salvation
by Amida in this life there could be no salvation after death, he
taught. The arising of shinjin also assures the devotee of birth in
the Pure Land, and the attainment of enlightenment there. Another
aspect of Shinran's doctrine was the emphasis on gratitude and
humility. Thus, Shinran taught that it was important to be humble
and thankful for one's life. This gratitude could be expressed
through the nembutsu, but also through a general sense of
appreciation. Over the course of his life, Shinran read the
Complete Sutras five times, and, as stated in his short book "Sho
Shin Ge" (True Faith Hymn), he came to the conclusion that
Sakyamuni's appearance in this world was for the sole purpose of
teaching Amida's Vow. Throughout his life Shinran let it be known
that he never taught anything other than what Sakyamuni Buddha
taught in the sutras.
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