PROMISE OF AMIDA BUDDHA: Honen's Path To Bliss

Honen Shonin, who lived in Japan in the 12th century, saw that the complexity of traditional Buddhist practices made them inaccessible to people outside the monastic elite. Drawing on the Chinese Pure Land tradition, he reimagined Pure Land practice for Japan and ushered in a new and dynamic lineage that continues to the present day. In our degenerate age, says Honen, we cannot hope to reach enlightenment via the practices employed by the Buddhist masters of old. For us there is only one avenue to liberation ù rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha, from whence our progress is irreversible and our ultimate release assured. The Pure Land is a heavenly destination made manifest through the pure vow of Amitabha to save all beings, and we secure passage to this land in our next life through pure faith in Amitabha at the very moment of death. And the practice of faith in Amitabha is performed through Nembutsu, the continual recitation of the mantra Namo Amida Butsu, which bonds us to Amitabha and brings us into his care.