Shinshu Buddhism

Term Paper # 101576

Religion and Theology > Buddhism

Shinshu Buddhism

An overview of the creed and practices of Shinshu Buddhism.

1,369 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Shinshu Buddhism stems from Mahayana Buddhism and is one of the Pure Land Buddhist schools called also True Pure Land Buddhism. The paper then looks at how Shinshu is characterized by the total negation of monasticism, making it the religion of the ordinary man. It also discusses how Shinshu Buddhism bears many similarities to other Buddhist schools particularly those of the Pure Land and how there are significant important differences in the practices and moral values between Shinshu and others.

From the Paper:

"The Shinshu Buddhism practice is focused on chanting practice termed nembutsu, which "literally means to think on or be mindful of (nen) the Buddha (Butsu)" (Ueda and Hirota, 127). It simply consists of chanting the phrase "I take the refuge in Amitabha Buddha". This chanting presents gratitude to Amitabha and his Eighteenth Vow and as such some do not consider it a practice at all but plain affirmation of gratitude and trust in this Vow. The vow ensures that those who sincerely commend to the Vow and desire to be born in Pure Land and who perform even ten nen (or nembutsu) will secure the birth in the Pure Land for themselves. This was enough to gain the support of the Other Power."

Sample of Sources Used:

Andreasen, Esben. Popular Buddhism in Japan: Shin Buddhist Religion and Culture. Richmond: Japan Library, 1998
Jodo Shinshu." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 14 January 2006. 19. January 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caret>.
Ueda, Yoshifumi and Hirota, Dennis. Shinran: An Introduction to his Thought. Kyoto: Hongwanji International Center, 1989
Yamamoto, Kosho. An Introduction to Shin Buddhism. Oyama, Japan: The Karinbunko, 1963