思想としての宗教,<特集>第六十八回学術大会紀要 Religion as Intellectual Thought,THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Honen preached, "Just say the Nembutsu and be saved by Amida," and Shinran (1173-1262) entrusted himself to Nembutsu, Amida's Primal Vow. Shinran experienced the religious transition from "before religion (outside of religion)" to "inside of religion." Sincerely hearing and reflecting on (Jp. monshi, "doctrinal thinking") Nembutsu teaching, Shinran understood that Other Power is none other than the power of the Tathagata's Primal Vow, and clarified the difference between the "true" and "provisional" among the 48 Primal Vows. Such a doctrinal reflection (monshi), which is a very unique "fides quaerens intellectum" (faith seeking understanding), might be an explicit expression of what Honen implicitly understood. So it could be characterized as a kind of "Shinran"-thought. In history people who heard Shinran's preaching became Nembutsu belivers, "Shinran"-followers. His message would be as follows: "One who entrusts oneself to the Primal Vow and says the nembutsu attains Buddhahood." (Later in history) "Shinran"-people have developed practices such as "Ho-onko" (Memorial Service for Shinran) and Shoshinge (Hymn of True Shinjin and the Nembutsu) chanting. Shinran is the first person who lives in "Shinran"-thought, and yet "Shinran"-People are also followers who live in "Shinran"-thought.
