Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the September 2007 issue of the Buddhist Wheel 

The person who attains
Shinjin and joy
Is taught to be equal to the
Tathagatas.
Great shinjin is itself
Buddha-nature;
Buddha-nature is none other
Than Tathagata
(From Shinran Shonin)

“Shinjin” frequently has been translated as “faith”. However because “faith” is commonly defined in most world religions as believing in something unexplainable, in Jodo Shinshu, the True Teaching of Pure Land, we use the term “Shinjin” instead of “faith” because Shinjin as interpreted in English means “true entrusting.”

What is “Shinjin” specifically? How is it related to our own life?  People think that if they believe in Amida, then Amida will save them. However, this is a misunderstanding. One is not saved only by believing in Amida.  When one truly entrusts in Amida, one is already saved by Amida. Thus, complete entrusting in Amida’s power is Shinjin.

In the Jodomonruihu-Sho, Shinran Shonin says:  Shinjin is awakened when we hear the great Practice of the Name as shown in the fulfillment passage of the 18th Vow. Shinjin is also referred to as great Shinjin. Shinjin of truth and mind is with Namo Amida Butsu.

Amida’s aspiration in the 18th Vow is to nurture the person with a desire to be born in the Pure Land, and to deliver that person to the Pure Land. Thus, Shinran Shonin advised us to engage only in the practice of Nembutsu.

When Honen Shonin was seventy-five years old, he was exiled to Kochi Prefecture in Japan, causing his disciples to become very sad and worried about their teacher. His disciple cried, “Why does Honen Shonin have to be exiled? Honen Shonin is not young anymore. It is not good for his health.”

In reply, Honen Shonin said to his disciples, “I really appreciate it that all of you are thinking of me. But all of you don’t need to worry about me. You don’t need to cry. I am not unhappy. Rather I am grateful to be able to go to this unknown area because there is much suffering anywhere human beings live. Therefore, I am being given an opportunity to preach the path of the Nembutsu. So I am very grateful to be able to go to Kochi.”

At the same time, when Shinran Shonin was exiled to Niigata Prefecture, he said to his companions,

“Thanks to Honen Shonin, I am able to go to Echigo. In Echigo, I will meet many new people. Like my teacher Honen Shonin, I am being given an excellent opportunity to share the teachings of Nembutsu. Even in this severe situation, how joyful I am!  Even though I may face hard times, this change to a far off province is positive. Shinjin helps me accept difficult things positively. Shinjin creates confidence. That is why through Shinjin, we are adherents of Amida. Always where there is Shinjin, there is Amida Buddha.” Without reciting Namo Amida Butsu, without hearing Amida calling me, Shinjin does not exist. What is important is that there is no Shinjin separate from Nembutsu. Simultaneously, there is no Nembutsu separate from Shinjin.

Many of you may think that it was easy for Honen Shonin and Shinran Shonin to be so compassionate because they were different from you and me. Yet, in our daily lives, spontaneous and random acts of kindness can also be simple ways to live Shinjin.

For example, a little boy who without being asked, stops to help an old woman cross the busy street, is a glimpse of Shinjin at work. Another example is our mothers.  They unfailingly wash our clothes, make our beds, cook for us, and clean our rooms. When we become aware of how hard our mothers work for our sake, we become aware of things we never noticed. This is an awakening experience. When you act on your realization and help your mother even a little bit, it is the beginning of Shinjin for children.

Thus, Shinjin is the power with which we endure hardships. Those who listen to the teachings of Amida Buddha will discover the direction they should go. In the Jodo Shinshu, “deep listening” is very important in our daily lives. Therefore, listen with your ears, your mind, and your heart. By listening to the teachings of Amida Buddha, our way of thinking and our view of life are transformed. We live, truly entrusting in Amida. This is Shinjin. Shinjin is Amida Buddha’s Vow working in each of us.

In Jodo Shinshu, Shinjin is therefore very important because Shinjin supports us in our daily lives. No matter the difficulties, we are able to overcome emotional pain through Shinjin. The distress or suffering does not change, but our outlook towards the distress changes. The meaning of suffering is thus changed through Shinjin. Because entrusting in Amida Buddha is Shinjin, when we abide by Amida’s teaching, we remain on the path to the Pure Land.  Amida’s great compassion and Amida’s aspiration are expressed with the awakening of Shinjin or an entrusting heart in all ordinary people.

Living our daily life with “Namu Amida Butsu” makes us appreciate this life and we are able to deal with hardships.

Through the practice of the Nembutsu, I wish that Shinjin will be awakened in each one of you.

Namo Amida Butsu.

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