Portrait of Honen preserved at the
Nison-in
temple, Kyoto.
nmd|rgdds oqnedrrhnm
ne e`hsg hbghl`h jhrgnlnm
g@(1133-1212)
translated by Hisao Inagaki
[The Nembutsu that I teach] is not the contemplative Nembutsu expounded
by many learned masters of China and Japan, nor is it the recitative Nembutsu
practiced with full understanding of the meaning of 'nen' that becomes
clear from study. It is nothing but saying 'Namu Amida Butsu' with a conviction
that by saying it one will certainly attain birth in the Pure Land. The
Three Minds and the Four Practices, which are spoken of [in relation to
the Nembutsu], are contained in the conviction that all attain birth without
fail through Namu Amida Butsu. If your faith is based on other ground than
this, you may not be received by the Compassion of the two Buddhas and
may be left outside the Primal Vow.
Those who accept the Nembutsu in faith, however well versed in the lifetime
teachings of the Buddha, should consider themselves as illiterate, stupid
persons, and without pretensions to wisdom, should single-heartedly recite
the Nembutsu with ordinary devotees of Buddhism of little learning, whether
men or women.
Sealed with the imprint of my palms as testimony
.
The faith and practice of the Jodo school are exhaustively presented in
this single sheet of paper. I know no doctrine apart from this. I have
written down my thoughts in order to prevent wrong views from arising after
my death.
Honen met Shan-tao in a dream. From the Pictorial Biography of Honen Shonin, preserved at the Chion-in.