Benchō’s Acceptance of the Shizhu piposha lun

Abstract

The basic doctrine of Hōnen’s法然disciples is to leave aside the Path of Sages and solely enter the Pure Land way, and Benchō 弁長 interprets the Pure Land way as “the Pure Land of the ten drections” and “the Pure Land of the west” in the Tetsu Senjaku hongan nenbutsushū 徹選択本願念仏集. He clarifies “the Pure Land of the ten direc­tions” by citing one sutra and commentary. This commentary is the Yixing pin 易行品 (Chapter of easy practice) of the Shizhu piposha lun十住毘婆沙論. “The Pure Land of the ten directions” expresses his fundamental understanding of the Shizhu piposha lun.

“The Pure Land of the ten directions” of the Shizhu piposha lun is a part of “the easy practice of entrusting as the means.” This practice provides that weak and inferior persons can attain the stage of non-retrogression easily and quickly. The conclusion of this study is the demonstration that Benchō, who is very concerned with how those weak and inferior persons can attain the stage and birth in the Pure Land eventually, has the same intent as does this sutra. Thus, we can see why and how he cites from the Shizhu piposha lun.