Talk:Shinran

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More information about this article... The following comments have been left for this page: I have some problems with use of the term "faith" in the article. It's been pretty well established for some time now that faith is a poor translation of the Japanese term shinjin, which is more accurately translated as "entrusting". Faith implies a dualistic relationship, an almost passive relationship, between the believer and Amida Buddha, which undermines the idea that all living beings have Buddha-nature. As Richard St. Clair, in his site at [1] explains: Shinjin is totally different from either shinko or shinrai [other terms used to explain aspects of the term faith] in that it has no intimation whatsoever of "looking up to" but expresses a condition of trust in Amida Buddha and his Vow to save all beings everywhere at all times. In this entrusting there is no subject, no object, no "I believe in something." It is an entrusting relating to the Sanskrit word prasada, which describes a condition that is very calm, still, pure. Cittaprasada is "the mind and heart which is clear and pure," translated in the Chinese text as joshin, "clear or pure mind." Shinran chose shinjin as the word more adequately carrying his intended meaning of "the truth of one 's heart and mind in a clear and pure way. " Here "pure" is to be carefully understood not as moral purity in the puritanical sense, but as the purity that is the result of non-calculation and non-ego. It is at the point where the pure, clear mind (cittaprasada) becomes my condition that the shinjin of Shinran's teachings becomes manifest. Thus shinjin is neither "faith" in a secular nor in the commonly held religious sense of the English word. It's a difficult word to work with, but I strongly suggest reconsidering its use in this particular article. (edit)

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Article Grading: The following comments were left by the quality and importance raters: (edit · refresh) I have some problems with use of the term "faith" in the article. It's been pretty well established for some time now that faith is a poor translation of the Japanese term shinjin, which is more accurately translated as "entrusting". Faith implies a dualistic relationship, an almost passive relationship, between the believer and Amida Buddha, which undermines the idea that all living beings have Buddha-nature. As Richard St. Clair, in his site at [2] explains: Shinjin is totally different from either shinko or shinrai [other terms used to explain aspects of the term faith] in that it has no intimation whatsoever of "looking up to" but expresses a condition of trust in Amida Buddha and his Vow to save all beings everywhere at all times. In this entrusting there is no subject, no object, no "I believe in something." It is an entrusting relating to the Sanskrit word prasada, which describes a condition that is very calm, still, pure. Cittaprasada is "the mind and heart which is clear and pure," translated in the Chinese text as joshin, "clear or pure mind." Shinran chose shinjin as the word more adequately carrying his intended meaning of "the truth of one 's heart and mind in a clear and pure way. " Here "pure" is to be carefully understood not as moral purity in the puritanical sense, but as the purity that is the result of non-calculation and non-ego. It is at the point where the pure, clear mind (cittaprasada) becomes my condition that the shinjin of Shinran's teachings becomes manifest. Thus shinjin is neither "faith" in a secular nor in the commonly held religious sense of the English word. It's a difficult word to work with, but I strongly suggest reconsidering its use in this particular article.

[edit] Term 'Shonin'

'Shonin' can be written 聖人, 圣人 or 上人. 聖人 means an enlightened being (sage) and is rarely used, 上人 means an 'excellent' or 'superior' person and is much more common. Shinran is termed 聖人 or 圣人 whilst the subsequent leaders of the Jodo Shinshu tradition are termed 上人.

[edit] Eshinni

She has not been mentioned in the article by now. [3] Here it is said:

Eshinni (1182-1268?), a Buddhist nun and the wife of Shinran (1173-1262), the celebrated founder of the True Pure Land, or Shin, school of Buddhism, was largely unknown until the discovery of a collection of her letters in 1921. In this study, James C. Dobbins, a leading scholar of Pure Land Buddhism, has made creative use of these letters to shed new light on life and religion in medieval Japan. He provides a complete translation of the letters and an explication of them that reveals the character and flavor of early Shin Buddhism. Readers will come away with a new perspective on Pure Land scholarship and a vivid image of Eshinni and the world in which she lived. After situating the ideas and practices of Pure Land Buddhism in the context of the actual living conditions of thirteenth-century Japan, Dobbins examines the portrayal of women in Pure Land Buddhism, the great range of lifestyles found among medieval women and nuns, and how they constructed a meaningful religious life amid negative stereotypes. He goes on to analyze aspects of medieval religion that have been omitted in our modern-day account of Pure Land and tries to reconstruct the religious assumptions of Eshinni and Shinran in their own day. A prevailing theme that runs throughout the book is the need to look beyond idealized images of Buddhism found in doctrine to discover the religion as it was lived and practiced. Scholars and students of Buddhism, Japanese history, women's studies, and religious studies will find much in this engaging work that is thought-provoking and insightful."

Now it's 2008 according to gregorian calendar, we can mention her in wikipedia. Can we not?

Austerlitz -- 88.75.70.231 (talk) 16:46, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

oh, so sorry, she has been mentioned already!

Austerlitz -- 88.75.70.231 (talk) 16:47, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

Review, part of quote: "Eshinni (1182-1268?) was both nun and wife as well as spiritual partner of the priest Shinran (1173-1262)."

[edit] Ashes of Shinran Shonin

Reported as being found in March 2008. Shouldn't that be 'what is thought to be the ash remains of Shinran Shonin ....' How the heck would they know for sure. (I don't read Japanese so can't comment on the references.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by RegentsPark (talk • contribs) 01:49, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Let's call it assumed. Can someone provide an English language cite for this article?--RegentsPark (talk) 21:44, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

I agree. Apart from anything it is common to split up remains in Japan and there are other relics that are said to contain some of his ashes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Nio-guardian (talk • contribs) 13:40, 26 March 2008 (UTC)