hasunoha

Why was Nembutsu chosen

I have a question about Shomyo Nembutsu, so I'd like to hear your thoughts. Honen Shonin and Shinran Shonin were taught that nenbutsu is the only way for ordinary people to be saved.

It seems that Onikata, and Honen Shonin in particular, was known as a school monk who read ten thousand volumes of sutras. Did they come to the conclusion that the only way for common people who have no learning, can't keep the precepts, and can't do anything to escape suffering is to show convenience, so to speak, by doing the act called nembutsu?

Or was it simply because they were feeling Amitabha's salvation? In any case, I asked the question while thinking that there is no doubt that it is a blessing that we will be very thankful for in future generations.

4 Zen Responses

I think about people being saved, the work of salvation, and the power of salvation itself.

I've been studying Buddhism for many years, and recently I have something to think about.
It means that “how humans are saved” is essentially the same thing.
There is no difference between denominations.
There are many names: Amida, Yakushi, Hoke, Nyorai, Dainichi, Birushana, and Rosana, but they are all works of the Buddha, and they are all works of salvation.
In this day and age, there have been things called “sects,” divisions, and divisions for a while, and that has become a barrier, and there are still many people who think that there are differences in salvation and teaching from the viewpoint of those who see them.
Is there anything different about how humans are saved in the same Buddhism, the same people, and the same Japan? I don't think there is one.
Therefore,
That person was saved by Amida, that person was saved by the Yakushi, that person was saved by the Buddha, that person was saved by the Buddha, that person was saved by zazen meditation, and that person was saved by the Lotus Sutra, even if they seemed different on the surface, the essence was the same, and each individual discovered the function of salvation by those actions.

Therefore, the way salvation is activated and the form of salvation is the same for everyone, isn't it?
The only thing that is different is the expression, the only thing that is different.
So, for people who are good at nembutsu, there's nothing better than nembutsu.
Each human being looks deeply at what is called a human being and makes an assessment. Discerning the truth of oneself and the truth of this world can be seen by everyone as we proceed through nembutsu, zazen, meditation, and Buddhist practice.
That is, true serenity within the human heart has no denominations, borders, age, or gender.
It means that the image of salvation is the same for people back then and today.
Therefore, people who are saved by nembutsu will certainly be saved by nembutsu.
On the other hand, even in the Nembutsu sect, there are people who don't get along well with Nembutsu.
Even in the Zazen sect, there are people who don't get along well with zazen.
Although they are seeking salvation, there are many people who cannot see the Buddha's salvation because their own ego, their own way of looking at things and their own assertions within the so-called self-brain are too strong, and their own psychological activity is too strong.
Even so, if you calm yourself properly and keep asking for salvation so that you don't put yourself first, everyone can be properly saved.
Even if the means, method, and method seem to be different on the surface, it's just that the person discovered the original saving function of the inner Buddha possessed by humans and was saved.
Namu Amida Buddha
Nammukai Zomi Amida Buddha

Historical background, three sciences and weapons, two kinds of deep heart, two songyo

The direct cause of Honen Shonin entering the path of Senshu Nembutsu is probably that he was taken aback by sentences written by Zendo Daishi.
It's a phrase called “Junhi Buddha's Prayer” (it must be correct because it follows the Buddha's vow).
As a historical background at that time, it seems that the way of thinking about apocalyptic thought (entering the era of apostasy where correct enlightenment and proper ascetic practice were lost) was spreading.
Also, Honen-san was called Honenbo, who is the first wisdom, and was famous as a master who gave the Enton Bosatsu Precepts, but Honen-san himself lived lamenting that “it is not a vessel of the three sciences (precepts, teachings, and wisdom) (there is no talent for practicing Buddhism).”
There, I had an encounter with Zendo Daishi's documents,
They were probably discouraged by the two kinds of deepness (search for details).
According to the Mahaya sutras, starting with the Jodo Sanbu Sutra, the road of the Nembutsu Rebirth, and the Tariki Jodo Gate of easy execution instead of the difficult Jiritai Seido Gate is a path where both Buddha and Amida were chosen, and the six Buddha statues are also praised, and it is a path that is easy for anyone to practice, so it probably gained explosive popularity.
In other words, “Oh, did Nison properly show me the path that even I can put into practice and be saved!” It's a discovery, isn't it?

I think it's both. It means that anyone who chants nembutsu can be saved while those who believe believe it, and those who don't believe it, can be saved.
And the sense of security that comes from that helps you walk through the reality right in front of you, doesn't it?
Namu Amida Buddha

Enlighten or Be Saved

 Good evening. I think this is a very interesting and sincere question.
“Escaping suffering” is the goal of Buddhism, and what was explained for that purpose is the law, or sutras. Honen Shonin worked hard to learn it. A method for attaining enlightenment was required in sutras (probably also esoteric Buddhism). I learned a huge amount of teachings, which are said to be 84,000.
However, I was noticed. “Which one is right for me?”
There has already been mention of “two types of conviction,” but this former = “trust” was probably quite revolutionary. In other words, the three faculties.
If I can't fully learn Buddhism, how can I choose the Dharma? That's where “Junhi Buddha's Prayer” comes in. Along with the (tentative) goal of paradise, Amida also shows the way (nembutsu) leading up to it.
That's why it's difficult, but Honen didn't choose Nembutsu. I discovered that “the Buddha said it was Nembutsu.”
As you understand, the goal here is death, not enlightenment. It's paradise, and they say let Amida teach you.
I came to understand that they have prepared it up to this point, and it is a “other power request.”
Were you feeling it? As for that, “I think that's probably the case” is my answer. However, “the problem is how are each of us who nembutsu,” so I probably wouldn't say “I = Honen realizes it, so you should feel it too.” Instead, I can only guess that they felt like “while chanting Nembutsu, you should grab it.”
In that sense, I think Honen Shonin was both his mentor and companion.