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Summary: What a book
Comment: Another excellent publication by Dr. Unno. This is a compilation of Shinran's thoughts and talks. It is excellent. I found it very necessary in my studies.
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Summary: Shin Buddhism in a Nutshell
Comment: Tannisho is a compilation of key sayings by the great medieval Japanese Buddhist teacher, Shinran Shonin (1173-1263 C.E.), who first promulgated the True Pure Land Sect (Shin Buddhism, for short), or the receiving of the mind of faith from Amida Buddha which leads to the individual's total enlightenment in his/her next birth. Tannisho is, one might say, the Shin Buddhist equivalent of the famous Dhammapada from the Pali canon. Shin Buddhism is the largest sect of Buddhism in Japan, and there is a fair number of betsuin and temples in the denser population areas of USA, Canada and Europe. Tannisho dates from around 1300, or a few decades after Shinran's death.The title, Tannisho, really means "Deploring the heterodoxies", i.e., it constitutes a gentle but firm refutation of offshoot beliefs after Shinran's time which purported to teach the True Pure Land way but are dangerously misleading interpretations of the Pure Land canon and Shinran' writings. The person who put the Tannisho all together was not Shinran himself but instead a direct follower of Shinran named Yuienbo, who adds his own opinions along with the direct quotes from Shinran. The whole book can be read in an hour, but it has grist for a lifetime of contemplation.
Tannisho cuts to the heart of Pure Land Buddhist issues, and does so in a direct and readily understandable (one might even say "user friendly") fashion. But the wonder and delight of this short volume would be lost to western readers were it not for the diligent care in translation by Rev. Taitetsu Unno (also author of RIVER OF FIRE, RIVER OF WATER, and editor of THE BUDDHA OF INFINITE LIGHT). Dr. Unno's translation is now in its third version, and is accompanied by his own commentary of equivalent length.
Shin Buddhism is becoming better known in the English-speaking world (and also the French, Flemish, Polish and Portuguese speaking countries) due to the efforts of dedicated scholars and Buddhist teachers such as Dr. Unno, Rev. Alfred Bloom and Rev. Ruth Tabrah.
In a nutshell, Shin Buddhism - or (in Japanese) Jodo-shinshu - which was taught by Shinran and those after him preaches a simple mind of faith in and worship of the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life, Amida Buddha, as the avenue to ultimate enlightenment. It presupposes that the individual, enmired in evil karma, is incapable of realizing any efforts towards illumination or 'nirvana', and thus such individuals must turn to faith as the answer to their life's problems now and forever after. Tannisho explains this much better than my rudimentary words, so I highly recommend people purchase and study this work which is considered a textbook classic in Japan. In my opinion, this book should be on the shelf of everyone interested in or practicing Buddhism.
