XVIII Some people say that the amount of offerings made to the Buddha Dharma will determine the size, great or small, that we will become as buddhas. First of all, is it possible to determine the size of a buddha, whether great or small? Even though the size of Buddha in the Pure Land is [...]
Archive for the ‘Tannisho’ Category
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 21
September 6, 2010
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 20
August 31, 2010
XVII Some people say that those born in the borderland will eventually fall into hell. What attesting passage makes this claim? This is asserted by those who claim to be scholars and that is truly deplorable. How are they reading the sutras, commentaries, and teachings? I have been taught that people who lack true entrusting, [...]
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 19
August 30, 2010
XVI Some people say that if a practicer of true entrusting should unexpectedly become angry, act wantonly, or argue with others, they should by all means undergo turning-of-mind. Does this mean that we should sunder evil and practice good? In the person of single-hearted nembutsu the turning-of-mind occurs only once. The turning- of-mind refers to [...]
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 18
August 26, 2010
XV Some people say that one can attain enlightenment in this very body filled with blind passion. This is completely out of the question. This passage of the Tannisho is quite difficult, and so I will take it piece by piece rather than commenting on the whole. Here, in this first paragraph, the enlightenment that [...]
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 17
August 25, 2010
XIV Some people say that one should believe that heavy evils of eight billion kalpas can be extinguished in the single utterance of nembutsu. This view refers to an evil person, guilty of ten vices and five transgressions, who has never said the nembutsu throughout life but who for the first time at the moment [...]
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 16
August 24, 2010
XIII Some people say that those who do not fear committing evil because of the inconceivable power of Amida’s Vow are guilty of taking pride in the Primal Vow and, therefore, will not attain birth. This betrays doubt in the Primal Vow and shows a lack of understanding of good and evil as the product [...]
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 15
August 23, 2010
XII Some people say that those who do not read and study the sutras and commentaries cannot be ascertained of birth in the Pure Land. This view is hardly worthy of serious consideration. All the sutras which reveal the essentials of the truth of Other Power simply state: By saying the nembutsu, entrusting oneself to [...]
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 14
August 20, 2010
Here begins the second part of the 18 chapter Tannisho, which includes chapters 11-18. Just to recap, in part 1 the words of Shinran Shonin were written, as transcribed by Yuien who was one of Shinran’s disciples. In part 2, we hear Yuien’s words now, responding to allegations and misunderstandings concerning Shinran Shonin. Some of [...]
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 13
August 18, 2010
Here comes the final part of part 1 of the Tannisho. I mentioned that the Tannisho is divided into 2 parts at the beginning of this journey. Part 1 are the words of Shinran as recorded by Yui-en, one of the disciples of Shinran Shonin, and Part 2 is about the heresies and the corrected [...]
Unlocking Tannisho, Part 12
August 17, 2010
IX “Although I say the nembutsu, I rarely experience joyful happiness nor do I have the desire to immediately go to the Pure Land. What should be done about this?” I asked. Then he responded, “I, Shinran, have been having the same question also, and now you, Yui-en, have the same thought.” “When I carefully [...]
