Question on Pureland Buddhism and Japanese pureland sects

[Sonrisa]

I recently began reading about Jodo Shinshu and wonder why in the world it took me this long to come across the teachings of Shinran. I am aware of the historical origins of Jodo Shu and Jodo Shinshu that shape the schools to what they are today and in there beliefs.

However, I just have a question. I find Shinran's writings inspirational but I dont really agree with some of the teachings of the Jodo Shinshu school. While I respect their beliefs, I view them as an expedient means to the same goal. I came across the Dharma via the Chinese culture and made Chinese Buddhism (for lack of a better term) my practice. My question is, if I go to, let's say to a Jodo Shinshu temple, will I still be welcomed even though I believe in self-power AND other-power? Would I be looked at as heretical? I certainly wouldn't expound my beliefs and practices upon other people because we all have different affinities. The way I see it is that whether we are Jodo Shinshu or non-Jodo Shinshu and recite the Buddha name, we are still creating karmic affinities with Amitabha Buddha. I make offerings to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, recite his sutra, and meditate, as well as the religious practices of my native cultural traditions. I understand that in Shinran's time, ordinary people did not have time to do these kinds of things so thus they relied on the power of Amitabha entirely. I understand that in the Jodo Shinshu school, the thought is that one cannot gain buddhahood in this lifetime due to us being drowned in the three poisons and such but I think differently; I think we can make at least some realizations in this lifetime that come from our buddhanature as I have learned from the teachings of Chinese masters.

Is it something that is up to personal matters? I respect Shinran but if I were to go into a Jodo Shinshu place, I certainly wouldnt want to be looked as heretical lol

Amitabha _/\_

[ylee111]

Post-52

I too, being Chinese, come from a Chinese Pure Land background. When I visited the New York Buddhist Church, a temple of Jodo Shinshu NIshi Hoganji, I was treated courteously. When I asked about the absent Kanzeon Bozatsu (Guan Yin Pusa), I had some blank looks from some of the Church attendees but when I questioned the Abbot, he said amiably that I would need to go to Chinatown temples. I learned later on through Wiki and these here forums that only Amida Buddha is observed at a Shin temple.

[rory]

As someone who practiced Jodo Shu in the past and went to the same Jodo Shinshu temple the ylee talks about, I'd say you can do it but don't become a member or broadcast your beliefs as Jodo Shinshu is very strongly oriented to only Amitabha and they really don't believe in a celestial Sukhavati, nor do they worship Kannon, Jizo, etc and their philosophy is entirely centered around Shinran...though I think they do meditation now to calm the mind.
hope this is helpful
gassho
Rory

[Admin_PC]

sonrisa
I'm kind of in the same boat.
First temple I really started going to is Vietnamese. Some of our most prominent statues are for Guanyin (Quan Âm). The 3 statues in our shrine room are the Buddha flanked by Ksitigarbha (Địa Tạng) and Bodhidharma (Bồ-đề-đạt-ma). At the back of the room are Manjushri (Văn-thù-sư-lợi) and what I think is either Yamantaka or Mahakala. A big part of our service is invoking the major Bodhisattvas. I can't really imagine doing away with them.

A lot of what Shinran says really speaks to me. At the same time, a lot of Jodo Shinshu doctrine can be hard to digest. Personally, when I read Shinran's writings, I don't get the sense that they're doctrinal assertions, more like lessons learned through subjective, personal experience. I will say that the school closer to the teaching of Shinran's teacher Honen (Jodo Shu) is a bit more approachable, coming from a more general East Asian Mahayana background. I think Honen's writings may help to put some of Shinran's statements in perspective as well. On the other hand, you may want to keep doing what you're doing: practicing with a Chinese group, and just read Shinran's writings for inspiration & guidance along the path (especially concerning faith). I think the best idea is to find what fits and it sounds like adding a dash of Shinran to your current practices might fit better than trying to convert to Jodo Shinshu.

[plwk]

Unless you are intent on becoming one of them or topple the Amida statue, they won't have any reason to bother about you...