1. On Contemporary Shin Buddhist Thought 2. Author Affiliations: Ryukoku University, Kyoto
關鍵詞
法然=Honen; Pure Land=淨土; Sukhavati=極樂世界; Pure Land School=淨土宗; The Five Grave Offenses=五逆罪; Amida Buddha=Amitabha Buddha=阿彌陀佛
摘要
The path of the exclusive practice of the nembutsu involves a life of severe choices. The nembutsu selected in the Primal Vow brought about a a hundred eighty degree revolution of traditional Buddhist views. For that reason, Hōnen was able to foresee the arising of much slander of the right dharma and he was deeply worried about that very prospect. Having stated that evil persons are saved by the Primal Vow of great compassion, and that slanderers of the right dharma are also included within that salvation, he urged people not to understand this teaching superficially or incorrectly. People should never presume on the great compassionate mind of the Primal Vow; nor should they ever accept evil acts or slandering of the right dharma; and they should never criticize or do harm to the teaching of birth through the nembutsu. Certainly, Hōnen’s thought involves the notion that we should fully understand just how grave an offense slandering the right dharma really is.
