The Writings of Shinran Shonin: Gutoku's Notes

[Composed by Gutoku Shinran]

Fascicle One

Mahayana teachings
Hinayana teachings

Concerning the Mahayana teachings, there are two types:

Teachings of sudden attainment
Teachings of gradual attainment

Concerning the teachings of sudden attainment, there are further two types of teachings and two kinds of transcendence.

The two types of teachings are:

Real teachings of the difficult practices, the Path of Sages. These are the teachings of the Busshin (Zen), Shingon, Hokke (Tendai), Kegon and other schools
The true and real teaching of the easy practice, the Primal Vow of the Pure Land way; this is the teaching of the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life and so on

The two types of transcendence are:

Transcending lengthwise. This refers to the realization termed "this body itself is Buddha," "becoming Buddha with this very body," and so on
Transcending crosswise. This refers to the selected Primal Vow; the true and real fulfilled land; immediate attainment of birth

Concerning the teachings of gradual attainment, there are again two types of teachings and two kinds of departure.

The two types of teachings are:

Accommodated teachings of the path of difficult practices, the Path of Sages; the teachings of performing practices for many kalpas, such as that of the Hosso school.
The "essential" gate of the Pure Land way, the path of easy practice. This is the meaning of the Sutra of Contemplation on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life: the teachings of meditative and nonmeditative good, the three types of meritorious conduct, and the good acts done by the nine grades of beings

The two kinds of departure are:

Departing lengthwise through the Path of Sages. This is the realization attained by performing practices for many kalpas
Departing crosswise through the Pure Land way. This is birth in the womb-palace, the borderland, or the realm of indolence and pride

Concerning the Hinayana teachings, there are two types of teachings:

Teachings for pratyekabuddhas

Pratyekabuddhas who practice in solitary, like the single horn of a rhinoceros
Pratyekabuddhas who practice in groups

Teachings for sravakas

The eight classifications of sravakas are:

The person who has attained the first fruit
the person advancing to [the fruit of] stream-enterer
The person who has attained the second fruit
the person advancing to [the fruit of] once-returner
The person who has attained the third fruit
the person advancing to [the fruit of] nonreturner
The person who has attained the fourth fruit
the person advancing to [the fruit of] arhat

Know that all the teachings other than solely the selected Primal Vow of Amida Tathagata, whether Mahayana or Hinayana, accommodated or real, exoteric or esoteric, are the paths of difficult practice, the Path of Sages; or they are the path of easy practice, the Pure Land way, that is termed the directing of merit and aspiration for birth in the Pure Land path, the self-power, provisional gateway of expedience.

In the Larger Sutra, there are three kinds of selection.

1. Bodhisattva Dharmakara:

The selection of the Primal Vow
The selection of the Pure Land
The selection of grasping all beings
The selection of the realization [in the Pure Land]

2. Lokesvararaja Buddha:

The selection of the Primal Vow
The selection of the Pure Land
The selection of the praise
The selection of the witness

3. Sakyamuni Tathagata:

The selection of the entrusting of the sutra to Maitreya

In the Contemplation Sutra, there are two kinds of selection.

1. Sakyamuni Tathagata:

The selection of the virtues
The selection of the grasping
The selection of the praise
The selection of the protection
The selection of the entrusting of the sutra to Ananda

2. Queen Vaidehi:

The selection of the Pure Land
The selection of the person suited for the Pure Land teaching

In the Smaller Sutra, there are two kinds of encouragement to entrust oneself, two kinds of witness, two kinds of protection, two kinds of praise, and difficulty and ease [in acceptance].

The two kinds of encouragement to entrust oneself are:

The encouragement of Sakyamuni. Concerning Sakyamuni, there are two passages.
The encouragement of the Buddhas. Concerning the Buddhas, there are two passages.

The two kinds of witness are:

The witness to the adornment of virtues
The witness to the attainment of birth

The two kinds of protection are:

The protection of those holding steadfast [to the Name]. This is the protection by Sakyamuni
The protection of those awakening aspiration. This is the protection by the Buddhas

The two kinds of praise are:

The praise by Sakyamuni, of which there are two kinds
The praise by the Buddhas, of which there are two kinds

Concerning difficulty and ease [in acceptance]:

The difficulty refers to doubt
The ease refers to shinjin

There are three kinds of people holding steadfast [to the Name]: those in the past, those in the present, and those in the future.

There are three kinds of people awakening aspiration: those in the past, those in the present, and those in the future.

In Hymns of the Nembutsu Liturgy, there are three kinds of birth:

Birth that is inconceivable; this is the intent of the Larger Sutra
Birth attained beneath twin sala trees; this is the intent of the Contemplation Sutra
Birth that is noncomprehensible; this is the intent of the Amida Sutra

It is stated in the Larger Sutra: "In the giving of witness to the Primal Vow, there are three [Buddha-] bodies."

The witness of dharma-body; The [Larger] Sutra states: From the sky [a voice] declared in praise, "You shall decidedly and without fail attain the supreme enlightenment!"
The witness of fulfilled bodies; this refers to the Tathagatas of the ten quarters
The witness of transformed bodies; this refers to Lokesvararaja Buddha

Concerning Buddha-lands, there are two types:

Buddhas [true and provisional]
Lands [true and provisional]

Concerning Buddhas, there are four kinds:

Dharma-body
Fulfilled body
Accommodated body
Transformed body

Concerning dharma-body, there are two kinds:

Dharma-body as suchness
Dharma-body as compassionate means

Concerning fulfilled bodies, there are three kinds:

Amida
Sakyamuni
Buddhas throughout the ten quarters

Concerning accommodated and transformed bodies, there are three kinds:

Amida
Sakyamuni
Buddhas throughout the ten quarters

Concerning lands, there are four kinds:

The land of dharma-body
The lands of fulfilled bodies
The lands of accommodated bodies
The lands of transformed bodies

Concerning fulfilled lands, there are three kinds:

That of Amida
That of Sakyamuni
Those of the Buddhas throughout the ten quarters

Concerning the transformed lands of Amida, there are two kinds:

The city of doubt or womb-palace
The realm of indolence and pride or borderland

Know that because the One Vehicle of the Primal Vow is the ultimate sudden teaching, the teaching of sudden and instantaneous attainment, the perfectly fulfilled teaching, and the consummate teaching, it is the absolute and incomparable teaching, the path of true reality or suchness. It is the single within the single, the sudden within the sudden, the true within the true, the consummate within the consummate. The One Vehicle that is true reality is the ocean of the great Vow. It is the supreme, rare practice.

Know that the diamondlike true mind is the ocean of unhindered shinjin.

The Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra states:

I rely on the bodhisattva-pitaka,
The sudden teaching, the ocean of the One Vehicle.

The Hymns on the Samadhi of All Buddhas' Presence states:

In the Ornament Sutra the gradual teaching is expounded;
Performing practices for a myriad kalpas, one attains the stage of nonretrogression.
What is taught in the Contemplation and Amida Sutras
Is the sudden teaching, the bodhisattva pitaka.

Concerning "consummate" and "sudden"; "consummate" means "perfectly fulfilled" and "consummate". "Sudden" means "ultimate sudden" and "sudden and instantaneous."

Contrasts of the two kinds of [Pure Land] teachings:

Know that the ocean of the One Vehicle of the Primal Vow is the ultimate sudden teaching, the teaching of sudden and instantaneous attainment, the perfectly fulfilled teaching, the consummate teaching.

Know that the "essential" gate of the Pure Land teaching is the teaching of the two kinds of good acts, meditative and nonmeditative, the provisional gate of expedient means, the teaching of the three types of meritorious conduct and the good acts done by the nine grades of beings.

Easy, in contrast to difficult
Crosswise, in contrast to lengthwise
Sudden, in contrast to gradual
Leaping across, in contrast to fording
True, in contrast to provisional
Accordant, in contrast to opposing
Pure, in contrast to mixed
Right, in contrast to wrong
Superior, in contrast to inferior
Intimate, in contrast to remote
Great, in contrast to small
Many, in contrast to few
Momentous, in contrast to trivial
Special, in contrast to general
Direct, in contrast to roundabout
Quick, in contrast to slow
Vast, in contrast to narrow
Close, in contrast to distant
Fully expressed teaching, in contrast to that not fully expressed
Greatly beneficial, in contrast to meagerly beneficial
Unsurpassed, in contrast to surpassed
Not-directing merit, in contrast to directing merit
Buddha's exposition, in contrast to those of others
Embodying the Vow, in contrast to not embodying the Vow
Promised, in contrast to not promised
Selected, in contrast to unselected
Praised, in contrast to unpraised
Witnessed, in contrast to unwitnessed
Protected, in contrast to unprotected
Straightforward exposition, in contrast to incidental explanation
Exhaustive of truth, in contrast to not exhaustive of truth
Uninterrupted, in contrast to interrupted
Continuous, in contrast to noncontinuous
Nonretrogressive, in contrast to retrogressive
Unceasing, in contrast to ceasing
Resultant virtue, in contrast to causal practice
Unperished dharma, in contrast to perishing
Other Power, in contrast to self-power
Practicer grasped, in contrast to not grasped
Practicer entering the stage of the truly settled, in contrast to not entering
Inconceivable, in contrast to conceivable
Fulfilled land, in contrast to transformed land

Know that the above forty-two contrasts are applied with respect to the teaching.

True and real, pure shinjin is the inner cause. Being grasped, never to be abandoned is the outer cause.

Concerning the entrusting of oneself to the Primal Vow, [to borrow the words of Shan-tao,] "in the preceding moment, life ends..."

This means that "one immediately enters the group of the truly settled" [T'an-luan].

Concerning immediately attaining birth, [to borrow the words of Shan-tao,] "in the next moment, you are immediately born."

This means that "one immediately enters the stage of
The definitely settled" [Nagarjuna].
Further, "One is termed a definitely-settled bodhisattva."

Know that it is the diamondlike mind that is Other Power.

Know, in other words, that one is the same as Bodhisattva Maitreya, who has attained the diamondlike mind of self-power.

It is stated in the Larger Sutra, "Next [to enlightenment], like Maitreya."

Contrast of the two kind of practicers.

The practicer of the One Vehicle, of perfect fulfillment, is one of Other Power.
The practicer of the teaching of gradual attainment, of conversion [from other teachings], is one of self-power.

Entrusting, in contrast to doubt
Wise, in contrast to foolish
Good, in contrast to evil
Right, in contrast to wrong
Suitable, in contrast to unsuitable
Real, in contrast to empty
True, in contrast to false
Pure, in contrast to defiled
Comely, in contrast to ugly
Subtle, in contrast to coarse
Intelligent, in contrast to dull
Quick, in contrast to slow
Rare, in contrast to common
Strong, in contrast to weak
Highest of the high, in contrast to lowest of the low
Superior, in contrast to inferior
Directly entering, in contrast to entering by conversion
Bright, in contrast to dark

Know that the above eighteen contrasts apply to practicers.

Further, concerning the two kinds of practicers, there are also two kinds of natures.

The two kinds of practicers are:

Good practicers
Evil practicers

The two natures are:

Goodness
Evil

Further, there are two kinds of good practicer. (There are also the contingent and the proper.)

Practicers of meditative good acts
Practicers of nonmeditative good acts

It is stated in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, "The capacities of all sentient beings are of two kinds: meditative and nonmeditative."

Concerning the contingent and the proper:

Bodhisattvas (Mahayana and Hinayana)
Pratyekabuddhas
Sravakas and pratyekabuddhas (contingent practicers of the Pure Land path)
Devas
Human beings (proper practicers of the Pure Land path)

Further, there are five kinds of goodness:

Goodness
Rightness
Sincerity
Rectitude
Truthfulness

Further, there are seven kinds of evil practicer:

Those who commit the ten transgressions
Those who commit the four heavy evils
Those who destroy right views
Those who break precepts
Those who commit the five grave offenses
Those who slander the dharma
Those lacking the seed of Buddhahood (icchantika)

Further, there are five kinds of evil:

Evil
Wrongness
Deceit
Badness
Falsity

The Master of Kuang-ming temple states:

People of the present, both monk and lay,
Seek to awaken the supreme mind,
But it is extremely difficult to abhor birth-and-death,
And difficult to aspire to the Buddha-dharma.
Let us all together awaken the diamondlike aspiration
And, transcending crosswise, cut off the four currents.
Contemplating the realm of Amida,
Let us take refuge, place our hands together, and worship.
According [with the Vow] in one thought-moment
We become persons who consequently attain nirvana.

The Treatise on the Pure Land states:

O World-honored one, with the mind that is single
I take refuge in the Tathagata of unhindered light
Filling the ten quarters
And aspire to be born in the land of happiness.

Relying on the sutras
In which the manifestation of true and real virtues is taught,
I compose a gatha of aspiration, a condensation,
That accords with the Buddha's teaching.

The Sutra of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life states:
(Translated by Tripitaka-master Samghavarman)

"Do not give rise to doubt after my parinirvana. In the future, when the time of the extinction of the sutras comes, out of compassion and pity I will cause this sutra in particular to survive and remain for one hundred years. Sentient beings who encounter this sutra will all, in accord with their aspiration, attain the other shore."

The Buddha said to Maitreya, "It is difficult to encounter a time when a Tathagata has appeared in the world and to meet one. It is difficult to meet with and difficult to hear the teaching of the Buddhas. It is difficult to hear of the excellent dharma of bodhisattvas, the paramitas. It is also difficult to meet a true teacher, hear the dharma, and put it into practice. But the most difficult of all difficulties is to hear this sutra and accept it in shinjin; nothing surpasses this difficulty."

"Therefore, I have presented the dharma thus, preached it thus, and taught it thus; accept it in trust and practice in accord with it."

The Sutra of the Tathagata of Immeasurable Life states:
(Translated by Tripitaka-master Bodhiruci)

The words taught through the supreme wisdom of the Tathagata that pervades all space
Are understood only by Buddhas.
For this reason, hearing widely of the Land of all-knowing wisdom,
You should entrust yourselves to my teaching, the words in accord with reality.

The Sutra of the Immeasurable Pure Enlightenment of Equality states:
(Translated by Tripitaka-master Po-yen)

Swiftly and rapidly transcending [birth-and-death], at once
We attain that world, the land of happiness;
On reaching that land of immeasurable light,
Let us make offerings to the countless Buddhas.

The Sutra of Salvation through the Perfect Enlightenment of Amida, Supreme among Buddhas states:
(Translated by Tripitaka-master Chih-chi'en)

After I have attained my parinirvana and departed, the sutras will remain for one thousand years. After one thousand years, they will vanish. Out of pity, I will cause this sutra in particular to survive and remain for one hundred years. After one hundred years, it will disappear. All who aspire in their hearts will attain enlightenment.

The Commentary on the Amida Sutra by Yan-chao, master of the Vinaya school (Master Tai-chih), states:

The "Chapter of Mahasthamaprapta" [of the Sutra of the Samadhi of Heroic Advance] states: "The Tathagatas of the ten quarters think compassionately on sentient beings just as a mother thinks of her child." The Commentary on the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra states: "For example, if the mother fish did not think of her eggs, the eggs would soon fall into ruin and decay."

Anuttara is translated "unexcelled." Samyak means "right," and sambodhi means "perfect enlightenment." This is a term for the fruit of Buddhahood.

Foolish beings of the lowest level, fettered by their karmic acts and blind passions, are transmigrating in the five evil courses for a hundred thousand myriads of kalpas. But suddenly hearing of the Pure Land, they awaken aspiration and seek to be born there. Saying the Name for one day, they transcend and reach that land. All the Buddhas protect them, and enable them to advance directly toward enlightenment.

Know that such an encounter is rare, even in a myriad kalpas. In a thousand lifetimes, a person might encounter the Vow but once. From this day to the very end of time, wherever you are, give praise to the Vow, and wherever you may go, encourage others to hear it. Whatever body and land you may be born into as your recompense, whatever the conditions for teaching others, your work is the same as Amida Buddha's, without any difference. This aspiration is boundless; may the Buddha recognize and know this.

For this reason, after this passage we are encouraged three times to entrust ourselves to the Buddha's teaching. To "accept my words" is to entrust ourselves to the teaching. For people not to entrust themselves to "the witness to me of the Buddhas of the ten quarters" would be to take the Buddha's words as false and empty.

Written in Kencho 7 [1255] wood/hare

Eighth month, 27th day

Gutoku Shinran

Age 83

Fascicle Two

Through hearing the shinjin of the wise, the heart of myself, Gutoku ("foolish/stubble-haired"), becomes manifest:

The shinjin of the wise is such that they are inwardly wise, outwardly foolish.
The heart of Gutoku is such that I am inwardly foolish, outwardly wise.

The Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra by the Master of Kuang-ming temple in the T'ang dynasty states:

To begin, regarding those in the highest rank of the highest grade...first, in the passage beginning The Buddha said to Ananda, two meanings are expressed in succession:
1) the Buddha's command is clarified;
2) the definition of the rank is elucidated. These are, in other words, ordinary people who practice the highest good acts of the Mahayana.

Third, in the passage from 'If sentient beings do they attain immediate [or] provisional birth' clarifies comprehensively the kinds of beings born in the Pure Land.

There are four aspects:

1) clarification of those who entrust themselves to the Vow;
2) clarification of aspiration for birth;
3) clarification of the number of minds to be awakened;
4) clarification of the benefit of attaining birth in the Pure Land.

Fourth, the passage from 'What are these three?' to be born without fail in that land clearly delineates the three minds and explains that these are the true cause resulting in birth. There are two points elucidated by this passage. First, it shows that the World-honored one's revealing of benefit in accord with the nature of the practicer is profound in intent and difficult to fathom; thus, if the Buddha had not himself raised the question and presented the point precisely, we would have no way of understanding. Second, it shows that the Tathagata himself answers, setting forth the previously mentioned "three minds."

The sutra states, The first is sincere (shijo) mind. Shi means truth, jo means reality. This shows that the understanding and practice of all sentient beings, cultivated through their bodily, verbal, and mental acts, unfailingly take as essential what was performed [by Amida] with a true and real mind. We should not outwardly express signs of wisdom, goodness, or diligence, for inwardly we are possessed of falsity. We are filled with all manner of greed, anger, perversity, deceit, wickedness, and cunning, and it is difficult to put an end to our evil nature. In this we are like poisonous snakes or scorpions. Though we perform practices in the three modes of action, they must be called poisoned good acts or false practices. They cannot be called true, real and sincere action. Firmly setting our minds and undertaking practice in this way - even if we strive to the utmost with body and mind through the twelve periods of the day and night, urgently seeking and urgently acting as though sweeping fire from our heads - must all be called poisoned good acts. To seek birth in the Buddha's Pure Land by directing the merit of such poisoned practice is completely wrong. Why? Because when, in his causal stage, Amida Buddha was performing practices as a bodhisattva, in every single moment - every single instant - he performed his practices in the three modes of action with a true and real mind. [True practice] depends on this.

What is given [by Amida] constitutes our aspiration; it is all true and real. Further, what is true and real fall into two types: self-benefiting with a true and real mind and [Amida's] benefiting others with a true and real mind.

Further, concerning benefiting others with a true and real mind, there are two kinds:

"What is given [by Amida] constitutes our aspiration; it is all true and real."
"Regarding acts in the three modes that are not good, you should unfailingly take as essential the Buddha's abandoning of them with a true and real mind. And if you perform good in the three modes of action, unfailingly take as essential what the Buddha performed with a true and real mind. It is because a person takes the true and real as essential, whether he or she be within or without, whether of brightness or darkness, that the term "sincere mind" is applied."

[It is stated:]

Self-benefiting with a true and real mind is of two kinds. The first is, with a true and real mind, to stop all one's own and other's evil acts and abandon this defiled world, and, just as bodhisattvas stop and cast off all evil acts, to aspire oneself to do likewise whether walking, standing, sitting or reclining.

The second is to cultivate diligently with a true and real mind what is good for oneself and for others, both ordinary people and sages. As verbal action with a true and real mind, one praises Amida Buddha and the Buddha's two kinds of fulfillment, beings and land. Moreover, as verbal action with a true and real mind, one deplores and loathes the pain and evil of the two kinds of recompense - beings and environment - of oneself and others within the three realms and six courses. In addition, one praises the good performed by all sentient beings in the three modes of action. If their acts are not good, one should respectfully keep one's distance and not rejoice in accord.

Further, as bodily action with a true and real mind, one pays homage, with joined hands, to Amida Buddha and the Buddha's two kinds of fulfillment of body and land, venerates them, and makes offerings to them with the four kinds of gifts. And, as bodily action with a true and real mind, one loathes and abandons the two kinds of recompense - beings and environment - of oneself and others within the three realms of birth-and-death, holding them to be of no account.

Further, as mental action with a true and real mind, one thinks on, observes, and remains mindful of Amida Buddha and the Buddha's two kinds of fulfillment of body and land, as though they stood before one's eyes. And, as mental action with a true and real mind, one despises, loathes, and abandons the two kinds of recompense - beings and environment - of oneself and others within the three realms of birth-and-death.

The first is sincere (shijo) mind. Shi means true, jo means real. It is itself that which is true and real. What is true and real is of two types:

1. Self-benefiting with a true and real mind.

The path of difficult practice
The Path of Sages
Transcending lengthwise: That this body is itself Buddha, and that this body itself becomes Buddha, are [teachings of] self-power.
Departing lengthwise: The teaching of gradual attainment within self-power teachings. This is [the teaching of] performing practices for many kalpas

2. Benefiting others with a true and real mind.

The path of easy practice
The Pure Land Way
Transcending crosswise: This is Other Power of the Tathagata's Vow
Departing crosswise: This is self-power within [the teaching of] Other Power. It consists of all the meditative and nonmeditative practices

Regarding self-benefiting with a true and real mind, there are a further two types:

1. Rejecting [this defiled world] with a true and real mind.

The Path of Sages
The path of difficult practice
Departing lengthwise
Self-power

Departing lengthwise is the teaching of the path of difficult practice. It is based on seeking to become free [of birth-and-death], because it manifests the mind of self-power.

2. Desiring [to be born in the Pure Land] with a true and real mind.

The Pure Land Way
The path of easy practice
Departing crosswise
Other Power

Departing crosswise is the teaching of the path of easy practice. It is based on earnest desire [for the Pure Land], for one is brought to discard birth-and-death through the power of the Vow.

Further, regarding departing crosswise with a true and real mind, there are three types:

Desiring with a true and real mind [to be born in the Pure Land] through verbal action, and with a true and real mind rejecting [birth-and-death] through verbal action
Desiring with a true and real mind [to be born in the Pure Land] through bodily action, and with a true and real mind rejecting [birth-and-death] through bodily action
Desiring with a true and real mind [to be born in the Pure Land] through mental action, and with a true and real mind rejecting [birth-and-death] through mental action

Reflecting on the commentary of Master [Shan-tao], I find that the passage from The first is, with a true and real mind to what is good for oneself and for others, both ordinary people and sages takes rejecting [birth-and-death] to be foremost and desiring [birth in the Pure Land] to be secondary. This refers, therefore, to the path of difficult practice, or the teaching of self-power and departing lengthwise. The passage from As verbal action, with a true and real mind to the two kinds of recompense - beings and environment - of oneself and others refers to the path of easy practice, or the teaching of Other Power and departing crosswise.

[It is stated:]

The second is deep mind. Deep mind is the deeply entrusting mind. There are two aspects. The first is to believe deeply and decidedly that you are in actuality a foolish being of karmic evil caught in birth-and-death, ever sinking and ever wandering in transmigration from innumerable kalpas in the past, with never a condition that would lead to emancipation. The second is to believe deeply and decidedly that Amida Buddha's Forty-eight Vows grasp sentient beings, and that allowing yourself to be carried by the power of the Vow without any doubt or apprehension, you will attain birth.

The deeply entrusting mind expounded above is the diamondlike mind that is the consummation of Other Power, the ocean of true and real shinjin that is the supreme One Vehicle.

Reflecting on the meaning of this passage, we find that in a deeply entrusting mind there are seven forms of deep entrusting and six forms of decidedness.

The seven forms of deep entrusting are:

Deep entrusting is "to believe deeply and decidedly that you [are a foolish being of karmic evil caught in birth-and-death]..." This is, in other words, shinjin that is self-benefiting
Deep entrusting is "to believe deeply and decidedly...being carried by the power of the Vow...[they will attain birth]." This is, in other words, the ocean of shinjin that is [Amida's] benefiting of others.
To believe deeply and decidedly in the Contemplation Sutra
To believe deeply and decidedly in the Amida Sutra
To entrust oneself to the Buddha's words alone and rely decidedly on the practice [of the nembutsu]
In accord with the [Contemplation] Sutra, to entrust oneself deeply [to the practice of the nembutsu]
Further, the deep trust that is deep mind is to decidedly settle one's own mind

Know that the six forms of decidedness are as given above in order.

Concerning the fifth, "to entrust oneself to the Buddha's words alone," there are three kinds of guidance, three kinds of accord, and three kinds of designation.

The three kinds of guidance are:

Practicers "abandon what the Buddha brings them to abandon."
Practicers "practice what the Buddha brings them to practice."
Practicers "leave what the Buddha brings them to leave."

The three kinds of accord are:

This is called "being in accord with the Buddha's teaching."
This is called "being in accord with the Buddha's intent."
"Being in accord with [Amida] Buddha's Vow."

Concerning the three kinds of designation:

First, it is stated, "This is called being a true disciple of the Buddha."

Together with the designations ["This is called being in accord with the Buddha's teaching" and "This is called being in accord with Amida Buddha's Vow"] above, there are three designations.

Concerning the sixth, "In accord with the [Contemplation] Sutra, to entrust oneself deeply [to the practice of the nembutsu]," there are six occurrences of soku ("then," "none other than"), three occurrences of "sanction," three occurrences of mu ("deficiency"), six occurrences of "right," and two occurrences of "fully expressed."

The six occurrences of soku ("then," "none other than") are:

"When one is in accord with the Buddha's intent, then the Buddha will give sanction, saying 'So it is, so it is.'"
"If one is not in accord with the Buddha's intent, then the Buddha will say, 'Concerning what you say: it is not so.'"
"Not giving sanction carries none other than the same meaning as 'not to be discussed,' 'profitless,' 'without benefit.'"
"The Buddha's bestowing of sanction means none other than that one is in accord with the Buddha's right teaching."
"Every word and pronouncement of the Buddha is none other than the right teaching."

"What is taught by the Buddha is none other than the fully expressed teaching."

The three occurrences of "sanction" are:

Then giving sanction
Not giving sanction
The Buddha's bestowing of sanction

The three occurrences of sanction are in the passages of the six occurrences of soku.

The three occurrences of mu ("deficiency") are:

Not to be discussed
Profitless
Without benefit

The three occurrences of mu are in the passages of the six occurrences of soku.

The six occurrences of "right" are:

The right teaching
The right meaning
The right practice
The right understanding
The right act
The right wisdom

The two occurrences of "fully expressed" are:

"What is taught by the Buddha is none other than the fully expressed teaching."
"What bodhisattvas and others teach is to be labeled the teaching not fully expressed. This should be known."

Concerning the seventh, "Further, the deep trust that is deep mind is to decidedly settle one's own mind," there are two occurrences of "different," three occurrences of "other," and one question-and-answer.

The two occurrences of "different" are:

Different understandings
Different practices

The three occurrences of "other" are:

Other teachings
Other views
Other opinions

In the one question-and-answer there are four kinds of difference and four kinds of trust.

The four kinds of difference are:

Difference in places
Difference in times.
Difference in types of beings addressed
Difference in benefits

The four kinds of trust are:

Trust regarding attainment of birth in the Pure Land. This answers the doubts and questions of ordinary people
Pure heart of trust. This answers the doubts and questions of bodhisattvas below the first stage, arhats, and pratyekabuddhas
Supreme heart of trust. This answers the doubts and questions of those of the first stage to the tenth stage
Ultimately never giving rise to a single thought of doubt or vacillation

This answers the doubts and questions of fulfilled Buddhas and transformed Buddhas.

Concerning the supreme heart of trust, there are five aspects regarding reality and two aspects regarding difference.

The five aspects of "truly" are:

Truly ascertaining
Truly knowing
Truly understanding
Truly seeing
Truly realizing

The two kinds of "difference" are:

Different views
Different understandings

Concerning the doubts and questions of fulfilled Buddhas and transformed Buddhas, the Amida Sutra is quoted as encouraging beings to trust. Here, there are two kinds of singleness, four kinds of sameness, two aspects of what is taught, six kinds of evil, two aspects of sameness, and three aspects of what is performed:

The two kinds of singleness are:

Practicing the saying of the Name alone
Single praxis. There are five kinds

The four kinds of sameness are:

Praising [the nembutsu teaching] with the same intent
Urging [beings to follow the teaching] with the same intent
Bearing witness with the same intent
Being the same in essence

Two aspects of what is taught are:

What one Buddha teaches is what all Buddhas teach
What all Buddhas teach is what one Buddha teaches

The six kinds of evil are:

The evil age
The evil world
Evil sentient beings
Evil views
Evil passions
The time when evil acts and lack of faith prevail

The two occurrences of "same" are:

The Buddhas throughout the ten quarters, with the same intent
At the same time they each extend their tongues

The three aspects of what is performed by Sakyamuni are:

What is taught
What is praised
What is given witness to

"What one Buddha teaches, all Buddhas give witness to. This is known as 'establishing belief through the Buddha.'" This should be known.

"Next, concerning 'establishing belief in relation to practice,' there are two kinds of practices:

Right practice
Sundry practices

Concerning right practice, there are five kinds of right practice, six kinds of single-heartedness, and six kinds of single praxis of the five right practices.

The five right practices are:

To single-heartedly recite only [the Pure Land sutras]
To single-heartedly observe only [the adornments of the Pure Land]
To single-heartedly worship only [Amida Buddha]
To single-heartedly say only the Name of [Amida] Buddha
To single-heartedly praise and make offerings only [to Amida Buddha]

Further, right practices are divided into two:

Single-heartedly practicing the saying of the Name of Amida alone. This is called "the act of true settlement."
If one engages in worship, sutra-chanting, and so on, these are called "auxiliary acts."

The six kinds of single-heartedness are the kinds of single-heartedness listed above in order.

The six kinds of single praxis are the single praxes listed above in order.

Further, concerning right and sundry practice, there are two kinds of practice:

Meditative practice
Nonmeditative practice

Further, concerning right and sundry, there are two kinds:

Nembutsu
Buddha-contemplation

Further, concerning nembutsu, there are two kinds:

Amida nembutsu

Dharma-body
Fulfilled body

Nembutsu of all the Buddhas

Accommodated body
Transformed body

Further, concerning Amida nembutsu, there are two kinds:

Nembutsu of right practice with a meditative mind
Nembutsu of right practice with a nonmeditative mind

Know that meditative and nonmeditative Amida nembutsu is the "true" gate of the Pure Land way. Further, it is termed wholehearted single praxis.

Further, concerning nembutsu of all the Buddhas, there are two kinds:

Nembutsu of sundry practice with a meditative mind
Nembutsu of sundry practice with a nonmeditative mind

Know that meditative and nonmeditative nembutsu of all the Buddhas is single praxis within sundry practice.

Further, concerning Buddha-contemplation, there are two kinds:

Right Buddha-contemplation
Sundry Buddha-contemplation

Further, concerning right Buddha-contemplation, there are two kinds:

True contemplation
Provisional contemplation

Further, concerning true and provisional, there are thirteen contemplations:

Contemplation of the sun
Contemplation of the water
Contemplation of the land
Contemplation of the treasure trees
Contemplation of the treasure ponds
Contemplation of the treasure pavilions
Contemplation of the lotus throne
Contemplation of the Buddha-image
Contemplation of the true body of Amida
Contemplation of Avalokitesvara
Contemplation of Mahasthamaprapta
Comprehensive contemplation
Miscellaneous contemplation

Further, concerning right nonmeditative practice, there are four kinds:

Recitation of sutras
Worship
Praise
Making offerings

Know that performing the six kinds of meditative and nonmeditative practices mentioned above together is termed sundry praxis. This may be called [performance of] auxiliary acts. It is the provisional gateway of expedience. Further, it is termed the "essential" gate of the Pure Land way.

Further, concerning sundry Buddha-contemplation, there are two kinds.

Also, there are the true and the provisional:

Formlessness-contemplation and cessation of thought
Visualization of forms and fixing the mind

Further, concerning sundry nonmeditative practice, there are the three types of meritorious conduct.

Filial piety, reverence for teachers and elders, compassionate non-killing, performance of the ten good acts
Keeping the three refuges, observing monks' precepts, not violating rules of deportment
Awakening the mind aspiring for enlightenment, deeply believing in cause-and-effect, reciting the Mahayana sutras, encouraging practicers

Know that all meditative and nonmeditative good acts mentioned above are termed sundry practices. In contrast to the six kinds of right practice, there are the six kinds of sundry practice. Because they include the understandings and practices of human beings, devas, and bodhisattvas, they are called "sundry." Originally, they are not acts that result in birth in the Pure Land. They are termed practice that requires awakening of aspiration. Further, they are termed practice that requires directing one's thought [in aspiration for birth]. Hence, they are known as sundry practices of the Pure Land way. They are the provisional gateway of expedience of the Pure Land way. Further, they are the "essential" gate of the Pure Land way. Generally speaking, the right and sundry practices, both meditative and nonmeditative, taught in the Path of Sages and the Pure Land way are practices that require directing one's thought [in aspiration for birth].

Concerning the words, "The third is the mind of aspiration for birth through directing merit," with regard to the mind of aspiration for birth through directing merit, there are two kinds:

To aspire, with a mind of genuine deep trust, to attain birth in that land through directing all roots of good performed by oneself and others from the past down to the present life
Those who seek to be born with the mind of aspiration and directing of virtue aspire for attainment of birth by unfailingly and decidedly taking as essential the Vow directed to them from the true and real mind, thereby becoming sure of the attainment of birth

Concerning those who seek to be born with the mind of aspiration through directing merit, there is trust.

Concerning entrusting:

One becomes sure of the attainment of birth. This mind, being deep trust, is like diamond.

In the passage on deep trust, there is one metaphor, two occurrences of "other," two occurrences of "different," one question-and-answer, and two occurrences of "directing merit."

The one metaphor is: "This deep mind, being deep trust, is like diamond."

The two occurrences of "other" are:

Other views
Other teachings

The two occurrences of "different" are:

Different understandings
Different practices

Concerning the one question-and-answer, there are seven kinds of evil, six metaphors, two kinds of gateway, four occurrences of "correspondence with conditions," two occurrences of "what is sought," two occurrences of "what is desired," two occurrences of "desire for understanding," and two occurrences of "by all means."

The seven kinds of evil are:

The ten transgressions
The five grave offenses
The four serious offenses
Violation of precepts
Destruction of right views
Slander of the dharma
Lack of the seed of Buddhahood

The six metaphors are:

Light dispersing darkness
Space enveloping all things
The earth bearing and nurturing
Water bringing forth and nourishing
Fire ripening and consuming
The two rivers: river of water, river of fire

The two kinds of gateway are:

To emerge from one gateway is to emerge from one gateway of blind passions
To enter one gateway is to enter one gateway of emancipation-wisdom

The four occurrences of "correspondence with conditions" are:

Why do you obstruct and confuse me with what is not the essential practice corresponding to my conditions?
What I desire is the practice corresponding to my conditions; that is not what you seek.
What you desire is the practice corresponding to your conditions; that is not what I seek. Each person's performance of practices in accord with his aspirations unfailingly leads to rapid emancipation.
If you desire to undertake practice, by all means follow the method of practice corresponding to your own conditions. In return for a little effort, you will gain great benefit.

The two occurrences of "what is sought" are as in the above passages.

The two occurrences of "what is desired" are as in the above passages.

The two occurrences of "desire for understanding" are:

Practicer, know that if you desire to gain understanding, you will be able to study without obstruction the teaching relevant to the stages of ordinary beings or sages or to the fruit of Buddhahood.
If you desire to undertake practice, by all means follow the method of practice corresponding to your own conditions.

The two occurrences of "by all means" are as in the above passages.

In this [passage on] deep entrusting, there are two occurrences of "directing merit." They are:

[All practicers] always have this thought. Because they always dwell in this understanding, it is called "the mind of aspiration for birth through directing of merit."
Moreover, concerning "directing merit": after being born in that land, one now awakens great compassion and re-enters birth-and-death to teach and guide sentient beings; this too is "directing merit."

In [the parable of] the Two Rivers, it is stated:

"I will now present a parable for practicers so that their shinjin be protected from attacks by those of wrong or nonbuddhist views and of different opinions."

"This path, from the eastern bank to the western bank, is one hundred paces in length."

Concerning "one hundred paces": This is a metaphor for human life of one hundred years.

Concerning "brigands and wild beasts": Brigands refers to different understandings, different practices, other views, other opinions, evil views, wrong thinking, and the mind of self-power, meditative or nonmeditative.

Wild beasts refers to the six sense organs, the six forms of consciousness, the six kinds of objects, the five aggregates, and the four elements.

Concerning the phrase, "One constantly joins with evil companions": Evil companions contrasts with "good friend"; it refers to people of various poisons and falsity.

Concerning the phrase, "Vast wilderness where there is no one to be seen":,This refers to evil companions. One does not meet a true teacher.

True contrasts with false and provisional.

True teacher contrasts with false teacher:

Genuine true teacher
Right true teacher
Sincere true teacher
Correct true teacher
Good true teacher
Person of good nature

Concerning the evil teacher:

Provisional teacher
False teacher
Wrong teacher
Erroneous teacher
Bad teacher
Evil "true teacher."
Person of evil nature

Concerning "the white path, four or five inches wide":

Concerning white path: "white" contrasts with black; "path" contrasts with trail.

White: refers to the six paramitas and the myriad practices, meditative and nonmeditative. It refers to the trail of small good endeavoured in through self-power.

Black: refers to the dark evil path of the six courses, the four modes of birth, the twenty-five forms of existence, and the twelve kinds of beings in birth-and-death.

Concerning four or five inches: "four" refers to the four elements, which are likened to poisonous snakes. "Five" refers to the five aggregates, which are likened to evil beasts.

Concerning the phrase, "Awakens the pure mind of aspiration for birth":

This is to awaken the diamondlike true mind, the supreme shinjin. This is the entrusting directed to beings by Amida Tathagata.

Concerning the phrase, "When he has gone one or two paces": This is a metaphor for years and time.

Concerning "People of evil views": These are people of arrogance, sloth, wrong views, and doubt.

Further it states: Someone on the western bank calls to him, "O traveler, with mind that is single, with right-mindedness, come at once! I will protect you well."

The phrase, Someone on the western bank calls, refers to the Vow of Amida Tathagata.

O traveler refers to the practicer. This is the definitely settled bodhisattva. Master Nagarjuna states of such practicers in Commentary on the Ten Bodhisattva Stages that they "immediately enter the stage of the definitely settled." Bodhisattva T'an-luan states in his Commentary regarding them that they "enter the group of the truly settled." Master Shan-tao states that such a practicer is "the rare person, the very finest person, the wondrous person, the excellent person, the best among the best" and "the true disciple of Buddha."

The term, mind that is single, refers to shinjin.

The term, right-mindedness, refers to the Primal Vow selected and adopted [by Amida]. Further, it refers to the highest, rare practice; it is the diamondlike, indestructible mind.

The term, at once, contrasts with following a winding path and with going roundabout.

Further, at once means to abandon the provisional gate of expedient means and take refuge in the Other Power of the Tathagata's great Vow. It is used to make clear the "direct" exposition, which is why Buddhas appear in the world in order to teach.

Come contrasts with "leave" and with "go." Further, it is used to lead us to return to the fulfilled land.

"I" indicates the Tathagata of unhindered light filling the ten quarters, the Buddha of inconceivable light.

'Well' contrasts with inability, which indicates people with minds of doubt.

'Protect' expresses the true intent fulfilled by Amida Buddha. Further, it characterizes the nature of Amida's grasping, never to be abandoned. It is, in other words, protecting in the present life.

The phrase, 'think on the path', admonishes us to think on the white path of Other Power.

In the term 'joy' (kyo-raku), kyo is a word indicating sanction; it means to attain. Raku means happiness and joy; it means to dance with joy.

'Reverently embracing Sakyamuni's teaching in his exhortations to advance westward' means to be in accord.

"Further, obeying Amida's compassionate call to us" means to accept.

"The traveler accepts and accords with the mind of the two honored ones; never giving a thought to the two rivers of water and fire and taking their intent to heart at every moment, he entrusts himself to the path of the power of the Vow."

Concerning sincere mind:

The contrast of "difficult" and "easy"
The contrast of "that" and "this"
The contrast of "go" and "come"
The contrast of "poison" and "medicine"
The contrast of "within" and "without"

Concerning the contrast of "difficult" and "easy":

Difficult indicates the untrue and unreal mind of performing good in the three modes of action
Easy indicates the mind directed to beings through the power of the Tathagata's Vow

Concerning the contrast of "that" and "this":

That indicates the Pure Land
This indicates the defiled world

Concerning the contrast of "go" and "come":

Go indicates Sakyamuni Buddha
Come indicates Amida Buddha

Concerning the contrast of "poison" and "medicine":

Poison indicates the mixed mind of good and evil
Medicine indicates the exclusive, single mind

Concerning the contras of "within" and "without":

Within, nonbuddhist teachings; without, Buddhist teachings
Within, the Path of Sages; without, the Pure Land way
Within, doubt; without, trust
Within, evil nature; without, good nature
Within, wrong; without, right
Within, deceit; without, sincerity
Within, incorrect; without, correct
Within, falsity; without, truth
Within, admixture; without, singleness
Within, foolish; without, wise
Within, provisional; without, true
Within, hesitation; without, advance
Within, remote; without, familiar
Within, distant; without, near
Within, roundabout; without, direct
Within, difference; without, accord
Within, conflict; without conformity
Within, disregard; without, reverence
Within, shallow; without, deep
Within, pain; without, joy
Within, poison; without medicine
Within, timidity; without, strength
Within, indolence; without, courage
Within, interruption; without, constancy
Within, self-power; without, Other Power

Concerning "mind," there are two kinds of three minds:

The three minds of self-benefit
The threefold shinjin that is [Amida's] benefiting others

Further, there are two kinds of birth:

Immediate birth
Provisional birth

Reflecting within myself on the birth through the three minds taught in the Contemplation Sutra, I see that this refers to the three minds of self-power that are individually different for each practicer. They are taught in order to bring each practicer to take refuge in the threefold shinjin of the Larger Sutra, and to enter into the threefold shinjin.

The threefold shinjin is the diamondlike true mind, the ocean of inconceivable shinjin.

Further, "immediate birth" is inconceivable birth, or birth in the true fulfilled land.

"Provisional birth" indicates the land resulting from each individual practicer's causal acts; the womb-palace, borderland, realm of indolence and pride; it is birth attained beneath the twin sala trees. Further, it is noncomprehensible birth.

This should be known.

Written in Kencho 7 [1255] wood/hare

Eighth month, 27th day

Gutoku Shinran

Age 83

1997 copyright Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha