Shinran+Buddhism

=Shinran Buddhism = Video media type="youtube" key="uBXqJF4Fiqs" height="390" width="640"

Brief Background Information 

 Shin Buddhism, oftentimes called Shinshu Buddhism, is one of the most dominant sects of Buddhism in Japan. It was founded by a former Japanese monk, Shinran Shonin, who was born in 1171 and died in 1263. He spread his beliefs throughout his lifetime. He was a “hall priest” or low-ranking monk, at the Tendai monastery on Mt. Hiei, then became the founder of Shinshu Buddhism.

Three Main Core Believes  Shin Buddhism emphasizes their beliefs in Mappo, Amida Buddah, and simple ritualistic practices. These core beliefs make their sect stand out from other sects of Buddhism.

1. Mappo ﻿  People who practice Shin Buddhism do not believe that one is capable of attaining enlightenment on one’s own, while other schools of Buddhism believe in enlightenment if he or she carries out certain rituals and practices. The founder, Shinran, rendered that one is unable to attain enlightenment by practicing the conventional ritualistic practices of Buddhism because we are living in a society filled with egotism, sins, passions, and desire - which all sum up to evil. Such concept, strongly stressed by Shinran, is called mappo or oftentimes known as “the age of dharma decline” (Wiki).

2. Amida Buddha 

In order for believers to reach an enlightenment, Shin Buddhism states that one needs to devote complete faith in Amida Buddha. In other words, the path into enlightenment is giving oneself completely to the power of Amida Buddha. By having devotion toward Amida Buddah, Shin Buddhism states that Amida Buddha will take the practitioner to Pure Land after their death and allows them to reach enlightenment. This kind of devotion toward Amida Buddah is called as, “True Entrusting”, which followers of other sects of Buddhism do not have.

3. Simple Ritualistic Practices

Shinshu Buddhism do not have monks or monasteries. Also, it does not require complex and painful practices unlike other sects of Buddhism.

Moreover, it shows a great gap with Zen Buddhism, a sect of Buddhism that heavily emphasizes meditation and intuition; Zen Buddhism proceeds “zazen” the meditation in which one is forced to sit without thinking anything for more than an hour. On the other hand, Shin Buddhism has practices and rituals but they are simple and freely-chosen.



According to Amida Buddha’s sutras, Amida Buddha states that he will allow the sinful people, who mindfully chant his name, to enter his Pure land. The changting is named as Nembatsu. Hence, the followers cites Namu Amida Butsu - which literally means “ I take refugee in Amida Buddha”. Indeed, the followers of Shin Buddhism do not have to chant Nambatsu; They consider it to be more of a form of expressing a gratitude, rather than considering it a s a traditional and strict, ritualistic requirement. Because Shinran Buddhism are against with stern ritualistic practices, they are not forceful about carrying out the ritualistic chanting. Moreover, in the past, Shinran teaching is only Buddhist sect that does not adopt celibacy - an act of abstaining for religious purposes (so some of the practitioners were allowed to merry while other monks were not.

Conclusion

From the differences, one can easily assume that one of the special characteristics of Shin Buddhism is the fact that it only requires the follower to give utter devotion and faiths, while other sects of Buddhism require followers to experience pain, give their physical strength, live a life following strict Buddhism traditions. These differences imply that Shinran Buddhism is simple and easy to follow. Therefore, it is only logical for Shinran Buddhism to have most number of followers.

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