Jōdo shū

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Repetition of the nembutsu is a common feature of Jodo Shu, which derives from the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha. However, in addition to this, practitioners are encouraged to engage in "auxiliary" practices, such as observing the Five Precepts, meditation, the chanting of sutras and other good conduct. There is no strict rule on this however, as the compassion of Amida is extended to all beings who recite the nembutsu, so how one observes auxiliary practices is left to the individual to decide.

The Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life is the central Buddhist scripture for Jodo Shu Buddhism, and the foundation of the belief in the Primal Vow of Amida. In addition to the Larger Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra and the Amitabha Sutra (The Smaller Sutra of Immeasurable Life) are important to the Jodo Shu school. The writings of Hōnen are another source for Jodo Shu thought including his last writing, the "One-Sheet Document" (jp: ichimai-kishomon) among others.

Jodo Shu, like other Buddhist schools, maintains a professional, monastic priesthood, who help to lead the congregation, and also maintain the well-known temples such as Chion-in. The head of the Jodo Shu school is called the "monshu" in Japanese, and lives at the head temple in Kyoto, Japan, Chion-in Temple.

Jodu-Shu and Jodo-Shinshu

Jodo-Shu is often compared with the related sub-sect, Jodo Shinshu, which was founded by Hōnen's disciple, Shinran. Because Shinran was a devoted student of Hōnen, Jodo Shinshu differs little from Hōnen's Jodo Shu sect, but there are some doctrinal differences:

* Jodo Shu believes in rebirth in the Pure Land through explicit recitation of the nembutsu, while Jodo Shinshu places more emphasis on faith, and less on the act of nembutsu. However, in Jodo Shu, sincere faith is still an important element. [ [http://www.jodo.org/teachings/teachings01.html JODO SHU English ] ]

* Jodo Shu believes that the desire to recite the nembutsu comes from one's own efforts, while Jodo Shinshu views that the nembutsu is entirely a gift from Amida Buddha. [cite book | last = Hattori | first = Sho-on | title = A Raft from the Other Shore : Honen and the Way of Pure Land Buddhism | publisher = Jodo Shu Press | year = 2001 | isbn = 4883633292 | pages=37]

* Jodo Shu considers Amitabha Buddha to be the Trikaya, or all three bodies of the Buddha [Ibid., pg. 28] , while Jodo Shinshu considers Amitabha to be Dharmakaya-as-compassion. [ [http://www.shinranworks.com/commentaries/essentialnotes1.htm The Collected Works of Shinran Commentaries Notes on the Essentials of Faith Alone 1 ] ]

Both sects view that even people who have committed grave acts can still be reborn in the Pure Land, and that the nembutsu should be the primary devotional act for a Pure Land Buddhist.

Sub-sects

The main 'Chinzei' branch of Jodo Shu was maintained by the so-called "Second Patriarch" and disciple of Honen, Shoko, also known as "Benchō". However, other disciples of Hōnen branched off into a number of other sects and interpretations of Jodo Shu thought, particularly after they were exiled in 1207: [ [http://www.jsri.jp/English/Jodoshu/disciples/eras/4eras.html The 4 Eras of Honen's Disciples ] ]

* Shoku founded the Seizan branch of Jodo Shu, which structured the Buddhist teachings into a hierarchy with the nembutsu at the top.
* Ryukan taught that faith in Amida Buddha mattered, not so much the actual practice of the nembutsu. He was exiled to eastern Japan.
* Kōsai taught the idea that a single recitation of the nembutsu was all that was necessary. He was exiled to the island of Shikoku.
* Chosai, the last of Hōnen's direct disciples, felt that all practices in Buddhism would lead to birth in the Pure Land.
* Awanosuke, the fortune-teller. He is credited with the double-stranded rosary, or juzu used in Jodo Shu sects, though he did not establish a branch of his own.

Another disciple, Shinran founded the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism, which diverges somewhat doctrinally, but otherwise is heavily influenced by Hōnen and his teachings. In Jodo Shinshu, Hōnen is considered the Seventh Patriarch. Depending on the viewpoint, Shinran and Jodo Shinshu are considered another branch of Jodo Shu.

Geographic distribution

Although Jodo Shu is mainly found in Japan, a sizable Jodo Shu community exists in Hawaii as well as a few temples in the continental United States.

References

External links

* [http://www.jodo.org English Language Site for Jodo Shu] - The official website for Jodo Shu. Also contains information on Pure Land Buddhism in general.