The Simple Life in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

In his lectures on Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, or “Shin Buddhism”, D. T. Suzuki explored the notion of Other Power, which is originally a term coined by Honen, but popularized by his disciple Shinran. Instead of the self-power efforts to attain awakening, one relies on Amida Buddha, who embodies the Dharma and vows to lead all beings to Enlightenment. This is a concept that can really confuse a lot of people who first come to Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and even Suzuki admits:

So attaining the truth is no easy task. It is not joke, not just talk to pass the time. It is really serious work. Shin, especially, is more difficult really to understand than other teachings of Buddhism. Although Shin [Buddhism] teachers say that it is the easiest way to attain Buddhahood, to my mind it is the most difficult way to attain Buddhahood.

–Suzuki, Buddha of Infinite Light, pg. 72

The most difficult concept in Jodo Shinshu though is the notion of jinen-hōni (自然法爾) which means “one is made to become so, by virtue of the Dharma”. Shinran, in this Tannisho speaks of jinen-hōni like so:

Once true entrusting is settled, we realize that our birth is due to the working of Amida and not to our calculations. Even though we may do evil, even more should we think about the power of the Vow. Then, tenderness and forbearance will appear by virtue of “made to become so by itself.”

Suzuki explains it like so:

This relative world is characterized by all kinds of strivings, and unless we strive we cannot get anything. But once we transcend relativity, striving, self-power, pride and hakarai [contrivance], no effort is expended. Self-power is replaced by Other-power, pride by humility. Hakarai is displaced by jinen-hōni…

–Suzuki, Buddha of Infinite Light, pg. 60.

People reading this may find the concept very appealing. A famous Japanese poet, Miyazawa Kenji wrote on this same ideal in his poem Unbeaten by Rain. Elsewhere, another of Honen’s disciples, Benchō spoke of the beauties of a simple, unassuming Buddhist practice.

However, it’s very easy to get caught up in the form, not the substance. People intentionally try to simplify the outward appearance of their lives, or believe that if they give up all their stuff, they’ll be living this simple life. However, even the Buddha warned about not getting hung up on outward form, instead focusing on the substance.

The notion of jinen-hōni is not something you can contrive, or calculate. You can’t speed it up, or cultivate it. The whole point of a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist relying on Other-power is that, as Shinran stated, tenderness and forbearance will arise of their own accord through Amida’s power. We just have to set the whole issue aside and just recite the nembutsu.

A Jodo Shinshu priest and post, Kobayashi Issa, once wrote on the subject:

Those who insist on salvation by faith and devote their minds to nothing else, are bound all the more firmly by singlemindedness, and fall into the hell of attachment to their own salvation. Again, those who are passive and stand to one side waiting to be saved, consider that they are already perfect and rely on Buddha than on themselves to purify their hearts — these, too, have failed to find the secret of genuine salvation. The question then remains — how do we find it? But the answer, fortunately, is not difficult.

We should do far better to put this vexing question problem of salvation out of our minds altogether and place our reliance neither on faith nor on personal virtue, but surrender completely to the will of the Buddha [Amida]. Let him do as he will with us — be it to carry us to heaven or to hell. Herein lies the secret.

Once we have determined on this course, we need care nothing for ourselves. We need no longer ape the busy spider by stretching the web of our desire across the earth, nor emulate the greedy farmer by taking extra water into our own fields at the expense of our neighbors. Moreover, since our minds will be at peace, we need not always be saying our prayers with hollow voice, for we shall be entirely under the benevolent direction of the Buddha.

This is the salvation — this the peace of mind we teach in our religion.

Namuamidabu

P.S. If this sounds funny, just bear in mind that striving and craving are the essence of the endless round of rebirth. Speaking of cycles, check out the Twelve Links of Dependent Arising, sometimes called the Twelve-fold Chain of Causation. Bhikkhu Bodhi has a nice explanation here.