Kakumyōbō Chōsai 覚明房長西 followed the interpretation of Hōnen法然, in his interpretation of the nine grades of birth in the Guan wuliangshow jing観無量寿経（Contemplation Sutra）, advocating that the nembutsu recommended for practitioners in the lower grades is the right practice, and that practitioners in the lowest three grades are the principal subjects of the Pure Land teaching. However, Chōsai’s interpretation of the nine grades of birth is based more on the views of Shandao善導 than on those of Hōnen. Chōsai’s position is that practitioners in the different grades are to be born in the corresponding stages in the Pure Land in accordance with the type of practice recommended for each grade, which is closer to Shandao’s doctrinal position. Chōsai further states that the Pure Land in which the flowers for all grades have opened is the True Pure Land into which all practitioners should aspire to be born. However, he admits the existence of the hindrance of closed flowers for all grades, including the highest grade of the highest stage, which Shandao never mentions. He also maintains that it is not possible to determine whether practitioners in all grades equally attain the same bodhisattva stages after attaining birth. In addition, Chōsai does not apply the theory distinguishing the rewarded and transformed buddha lands. These interpretations demonstrate that Chōsai was attempting to forge a unique doctrinal position as one of Hōnen’s disciples even as he continued to be aware of the positions of other disciples, especially those who stressed faith in the Other Power of Amida Buddha.
