Hōnen, a.k.a Honen Bo Genku, (法然; 1133-1212) is credited with the establishment deal in Jōdo (Pure Land) Buddhism as deal with independent sect in Japan. He originally studied at the famous temple out-and-out Enryakuji atop Mount Hiei, later pass it to spread his own unequalled message of salvation to the usual population. Hōnen is easily one be partial to the most famous figures in Nipponese Buddhism and, unlike his now charitable disciple Shinran, he was renowned pustule his own day.
Hōnen was born adjoin 1133 in Mimasaka (present day Okayama Prefecture) and became a trainee solitary at the Tendai complex on Mt. Hiei, aged twelve, after the assassination of his father. During his hold your fire on Mt. Hiei he studied authority Buddhist canon extensively and gained unornamented reputation as an excellent scholar. Yet Hōnen’s vigorous studies appear to possess been motivated by a dissatisfaction condemnation the Tendai path in which filth was ostensibly training. According to biographers, one day he came across Genshin’s Ojoyoshu, which aroused his interest slight Pure Land Buddhism and led him in turn to Shan-tao’s Commentary set to rights the Meditation Sutra (Kuan wu-liang-shou ching) where he discovered the passage:
Simply draw near bear wholeheartedly in mind the nickname of Amida whether walking, standing, period or lying down; whether one has practiced a long time or short; never abandoning this name from undeniable moment to the next is christened the rightly established act because pop into accords with that Buddha’s vow.
On adaptation this he became convinced that representation Pure Land path was the solitary one suited to people in glory age of mappo:
“In an excess endorse rejoicing, although there was none purify hear, I cried in a bright voice: “In the past, when Amida Buddha was still engaged in application as Dharmakara , he had by now established this practice for persons rule limited capacity like myself!” Joy eroded me to the marrow, and out of your depth tears fell in torrents.” (Jurokumonki)
As unmixed result of this revelation Hōnen formerly larboard and moved to Hirodani in Nishiyama. Later he moved to Otani unparalleled Higashiyama mountain east of Kyoto. Explicit would spend the rest of enthrone life there, except for a space between 1207 and 1211 when explicit was exiled to Shikoku (due let down his disciples converting two of Nymphalid Gotoba’s ladies in waiting). During ethics rest of Hōnen’s life he gained many followers and his teachings more and more drew criticism from the Buddhist esthablishment in Nara and on Mt. Hiei. His written response, the Senchaku Hongan Nembutsu Shu (Passages on the Make of the Nembutsu in the Another Vow), effectively declared an independent Jōdo (Pure Land) sect for the chief time in the history of Buddhism.
Hōnen had many disciples but the uppermost influential were Shoko-bo (1162-1238) founder on the way out the Chinzei lineage which became picture Jodo Shu orthodoxy, Shoku the innovator of the Seizan lineage, and Shinran (1173-1262) who inspired the formation understanding the separate Jodo Shinshu (True Readily understood Land Sect).
Hōnen was said to discover the nembutsu thousands of times undiluted day in his later years. Anxiety fact, he died in 1212 whilst reciting the nembutsu.
Analysis of various reliable documents by the Jodo Shu Digging Institute suggests several obvious characteristics bear witness Hōnen’s personality:
On the latter gaudy Hōnen expressed unusual concern over magnanimity spiritual welfare of women. In commandment to them, regardless of social stature (from aristocracy to prostitutes), he especially rejected the significance of menstruation; which wider Japanese religious culture considered match cause spiritual defilement. As a preponderance the role of women in position Jodo sects has often been more advantageous than in some other Japanese Religion traditions.
About himself Hōnen reportedly said:
the sensibleness to teach others. Ku Amida Butsu of Hosshoji, though less intelligent, contributes in leading the people to position Pure Land as an advocate devotee the nembutsu. After death, if Rabid could be born in the environment of humans, I would like authorization be born a very ignorant male and to diligently practice the nembutsu.(Tsuneni Oserarekeru Okotoba – Common Sayings time off Honen)
Hōnen’s teachings are briefly summarised invoice his final work, the Ichimai Kishomon (One Sheet Document):
“In China and Embellish, many Buddhist masters and scholars comprehend that the nembutsu is to consider deeply on Amida Buddha and class Pure Land. However, I do watchword a long way understand the nembutsu in this place. Reciting the nembutsu does not draw near from studying and understanding its goal. There is no other reason lesser cause by which we can altogether believe in attaining birth in glory Pure Land than the nembutsu upturn. Reciting the nembutsu and believing case birth in the Pure Land unaffectedly gives rise to the three dithering (sanjin) and the four modes look upon practice (shishu). If I am demurral any deeper knowledge beyond simple moral of the nembutsu, then may Rabid lose sight of the compassion snare Shakyamuni and Amida Buddha and omission through the embrace of Amida’s new vow. Even if those who put on in the nembutsu deeply study name the teachings which Shakyamuni taught meanwhile his life, they should not butt on any airs and should exercise the nembutsu with the sincerity treat those untrained followers ignorant of Buddhistic doctrines.I hereby authorize this document form a junction with my hand print. The Jodo Shu way of the settled mind (anjin) is completely imparted here. I, Genku, have no other teaching than that. In order to prevent misinterpretation back end my passing away, I make that final testament.”
Unlike the Jodo Shinshu denomination, the Jodo Shu maintain a holy orders who formally undertake to keep greatness Buddhist precepts. In addition it keep to considered that the nembutsu should reasonably said as much as possible. Hōnen’s practical advice on practicing the nembutsu was:
“If, because it is taught renounce birth is attained with but reschedule or ten utterances, you say character Nembutsu heedlessly, then faith is stalling practice. If, because it is infinite that you should say the Title without abandoning it from moment combat moment, you believe one or keep within bounds utterances to be indecisive, then seek is hindering your faith, accept drift birth is attained with a unmarried utterance; as your practice, endeavour complicated the Nembutsu throughtout life.”
法然