Major Expositions

KGSS III:1-8

The Vow of Sincere Mind and Entrusting
The Person in the Stage of the Truly Settled

III

A Collection of Passages Revealing
The True Shinjin of the Pure Land Way

Compiled by Gutoku Shinran,
Disciple of Sakyamuni

1 Reverently contemplating Amida's directing of virtue for our going forth, I find there is great shinjin. Great shinjin is the superlative means for attaining longevity and deathlessness. It is the wondrous way to awaken aspiration for the pure and rejection of the defiled. It is the straightforward mind directed to us through the selected Vow. It is shinjin* that actualizes Amida's profound and vast benefiting of others. It is true mind that is diamondlike and indestructible. It is pure shinjin by which a person easily reaches the Pure Land where no one goes. It is the mind that is single, realized by the person who is grasped and protected by the compassionate light. It is great shinjin, rare and unsurpassed. It is the quick path difficult for people to accept. It is the true cause of attaining great nirvana. It is the white path by which all virtues are fulfilled instantly. It is the ocean of shinjin that is itself suchness or true reality.

This mind arises from the Vow of birth through the nembutsu. This great Vow is known as "the selected Primal Vow," "the Vow of the threefold mind of the Primal Vow," "the Vow of sincere mind and entrusting," and, further, may be called "the Vow of shinjin, which is Amida's directing of virtue for our going forth."

For the foolish and ignorant who are ever sinking in birth-and-death, the multitudes turning in transmigration, it is not attainment of the unexcelled, incomparable fruit of enlightenment that is difficult; the genuine difficulty is realizing true and real shinjin.* Why? Because this realization takes place through the Tathagata's supportive power; because it comes about wholly through the power of great compassion and all-embracing wisdom. If pure shinjin should be realized, that mind will not be inverted; that mind will not be vain or false. Thereupon that sentient being of extreme evil, profound and immense, will realize the mind of great joy and receive the veneration and love of all the sacred honored ones.

[The Sutra Passages]

2 The passage stating the Primal Vow of sincere mind and entrusting in the Larger Sutra:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the sentient beings of the ten quarters, with sincere mind entrusting themselves, aspiring to be born in my land, and saying my Name perhaps even ten times, should not be born there, may I not attain the supreme enlightenment. Excluded are those who commit the five grave offenses and those who slander the right dharma.

3 The Sutra of the Tathagata of Immeasurable Life states:

If, when I have realized the supreme enlightenment, living beings in other Buddha-lands should hear my Name, I will with sincere mind direct all my roots of good to them. Aspiring to be born in my land, they shall say my Name perhaps even ten times. If they should not be born there, may I not attain enlightenment. Excluded are those who commit evil acts that condemn them to Avici hell and those who slander the right dharma or the sages.

4 The passage declaring the fulfillment of the Primal Vow in the [Larger] Sutra states:

All sentient beings, as they hear the Name, realize even one thought-moment of shinjin and joy, which is directed to them from Amida's sincere mind, and aspiring to be born in that land, they then attain birth and dwell in the stage of nonretrogression. Excluded are those who commit the five grave offenses and those who slander the right dharma.

5 The Sutra of the Tathagata of Immeasurable Life states:

When, upon hearing the Name of the Tathagata of immeasurable life, sentient beings of the Buddha-lands of other quarters awaken one thought-moment of pure shinjin, rejoice, and - cherishing Amida's directing of his roots of good to them - aspire to be born in the land of immeasurable life, then all shall be born in accord with their aspiration, attaining the stage of nonretrogression and, ultimately, the supreme perfect enlightenment. Excluded are those who commit the five evil acts that condemn them to Avici hell and those who slander the right dharma or the sages.

6 Further, [the Larger Sutra] states:

The one who hears and never forgets this dharma,
But sees and reveres it and greatly rejoices in attaining it-
That person is my true companion;
Therefore, awaken this mind!

7 Further, [the Sutra of the Tathagata of Immeasurable Life] states:

Such a person is one of great, majestic virtue. He or she shall enter the preeminent gateway of the boundless Buddha-dharma.

8 Further, it states:

The virtues of the Tathagata are known solely to Buddhas;
Only a world-honored one is able to reveal them.
They lie beyond the grasp of devas, nagas, and yaksas,
And the two vehicles by nature are incapable of expressing them.
Even if all sentient beings were to become Buddhas,
Perform activities surpassing even Samantabhadra's, and reach the other shore,
Though they try to enumerate and expound the Buddha's virtues,
It would not be accomplished even in incalculable kalpas.
Even if, in the meanwhile, their bodies were to pass into extinction,
Still they would not have exhausted the Buddha's incomparable wisdom.
For this reason, those who realize shinjin, hear,
And are embraced by true friends-
Those who come to hear this profound and peerless dharma-
Shall be venerated and loved by all sacred honored ones.
Only Buddhas comprehend the significance and words
Of the teaching of the Tathagata's supreme wisdom, which pervades all space.
Hence, listening well concerning the land of all-knowing wisdom,
Entrust yourself to the true words of my teaching.
It is immensely difficult to receive human existence,
And, again, difficult to encounter a Tathagata's appearance in the world.
The consummate wisdom of shinjin is rarely realized;
Hence, the practicer must be diligent.
When you have actually heard this excellent dharma,
You constantly bring joy to all the Buddhas.