JODO SHINSHU IN AMERICAN SOCIETY

spirit of Buddhism in history as it flowed from India to Japan, and now the Western World. Especially, we must study Shinran’s writings and the teaching of Buddhism as interpreted in the light of his own distinctive religious experience.

In this connection, I would like to stress that the passages we chant in our services should be more accessible in English translation and more widely discussed. Those passages embody the profound spiritual vision of Amida’s Primal Vow. This spirit and vision should inspire our own lives. Merely reciting a text in roman letters without understanding its meaning does nothing to communicate the inner meaning of those passages. If we do not place education in the teachings above ceremony, we will continue to have problems in arousing the deep commitment to Jodo Shinshu teachings that are required for today’s world.

We must, therefore, explore more seriously the materials that are available to understand Jodo Shinshu. We need a reading Sangha that constantly demands more and better texts to interpret the teachings.

I. Historical Reflections: Shinran as a model for our age.

It is not possible in this meeting to discuss the whole sweep of Shinshu history. The aspect of history which is most important is the models it provides for us as we pursue the Shinshu path in our lives. For our discussion this evening, I will focus on Shinran himself, because he offers us a model of a religious person which is relevant to our own situation.

It is important to assess Shinran’s life and go back to the sources of our faith, because institutional religion generally, and Jodo Shinshu specifically, has become a communal faith, based in family and village life in Japan. This aspect has been transferred to America where even today membership is largely rooted in the family, and Buddhist ritual has been the major method to fulfill the obligations of filial piety. Memorial services constitute a major element in religious ritual.

The world over, communal sanctions of religion have been breaking down. In the western world-—and even in Japan——religion has become primarily an individual matter. One’s faith is not determined by one’s family as it used to be.

Consequently, vital religion must demonstrate its meaning for personal and individual life. It is imperative that Jodo Shinshu make clear its meaning for personal living and what it offers to the person, guiding him/her in the many decisions and problems of modern life.

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