Weekly Wasan - Episode 42 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Genkū (Hōnen) 98-102

Hi Dharma-friends!

In this episode, we begin the section of the Kōsō Wasan on Master Genkū, also known as Master Hōnen.  Hōnen (1133-1212 CE) is the seventh master in Shinran's Jōdo Shinshū lineage.  Hōnen was Shinran's personal teacher, and Shinran -- although a great master himself and the founder of Jōdo Shinshū -- never regarded himself as anything other than a true disciple of Hōnen.  Master Hōnen was a very distinguished Tendai monk and was famed as a master of the entire Buddhist canon of scriptures.  While studying the Pure Land Sutras and the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra by Shan-tao, he was struck by Shan-tao's exhortation to just repeat the Nembutsu, the Name-of-the-Buddha, ceaselessly with all one's heart and that this is the one practice that will unfailingly lead to enlightenment because it is on accordance with Amida's Primal Vow.  This was exactly what Hōnen was seeking in his own heart, and he resolved to share it with others.  He started teaching the exclusive Nembutsu in the city of Kyōto, attracting many people.  It was there in the year 1201 CE that Shinran, having his own spiritual crisis on Mt. Hiei, met him and became his follower.

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Peace to you, Gary