Pure Land Practices - Why?

[Shi Hong Yang]

Why we do the practice is to calm our minds.  We need a calm mind to be able to focus our minds attaining peace being undisturbed by any obstacle in our life either mentally or physically particularly upon our dying day when our body strives conflicted with living and dying at the same time.

Who does this practice?  Buddhists in China, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Americas, Africa, Europe.  This is largely practised by Buddhists in the Mahayana tradition; mainly among the monastics and some Theravada monastics and ethnic Buddhists and to a lesser degree by new Buddhists from other religions or beliefs.

Buddha name recitation remains the most popular method (3, 7, 21, 49, 54, 108 times)
"Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amituofo! (Chinese pinyin)
and in English
"Namo Immortality Buddha! / Namo Infinite Life Buddha! / Namo Infinite Life Buddha!

[inkpeninmd]

Can you explain the differences between Pure Land, Jodo Shinshu, and Shin Buddhism?

Thanks

[Rory]

Gassho inkpenmind;
  I practice in the Jodo Shu school, this is the Japanese Pure land school founded by Honen Shonin. I chant Nembutsu Amitabha's name so that upon death I will be born in Amitabha's Western Paradise, where without regressing I will practice and eventually become a Buddha.
    Jodo Shu encourages a lot of chanting, they trace their lineage to the Chinese Pure Land master Shan dao . It's a flexible school, Honen Shonin would advise his disciples according to their different personalities.
     here is a good link http://www.jsri.jp/English/Main.html

Naturally when you chant a lot, you get lots of clarity etc, but this isn't the reason for my practice. I hope this helps
              gassho Rory

 P.S.  Jodo Shinshu, is the Shin Buddhist school & I'm not really competant to discuss their doctrines.

[inkpeninmd]

Gassho Rory,
Thanks for the link.  If I understand you correctly, Jodo Shinshu and Jodo Shu are distinct schools?

gassho greg

[Rory]

Yes Greg, they are separate schools, sects. Jodo Shu's head temple is Chion-in in Kyoto &  Jodo Shinshu's is Honpa Hongan-ji in Kyoto.
Jodo Shinshu's found Shinran Shonin was a disciple of Honen so maybe that's why it's confusing.

 Shinran married and his descendants are heads of the sect. Honen maintained his monastic vows throughout his life and today there are still monks and nuns, along with married clergy in Jodo Shu. Shinshu doesn't have celibate clergy, they were the first to marry, which is a big deal.  Honen left Mt. Hiei to spread Pure Land among all the people, so I really love this, to practice where you are.

I think Anders Honore in the Zen Forum can tell you all about Shinshu.
glad to have helped, just ask if you want to know something
                                        gassho Rory

[ph0kin]

Can you explain the differences between Pure Land, Jodo Shinshu, and Shin Buddhism?

Thanks

Hello,

Jodo Shu and Jodo Shinshu are simply two independent schools within the larger Pure Land Buddhist tradition.  Unlike the mainland, the Japanese ones happen to be distinct schools, though other Buddhist sects in Japan have extensive Pure Land practices too.