A Study of the Twofold Analysis of the Cause of Birth in the Gyōmonrui of the Kyōgyōshinshō

Abstract

This study examines the concept of “practice” in Shinran’s 親鸞 thought. In this essay, I focus my study on Shinran’s interpretation of the twofold analysis of the cause of birth in the Gyōmonrui 行文類 of the Kyōgyōshinshō 教行信証, in which he demonstrates his understanding of Pure Land practice from the two perspectives of the three dharma gates (teaching, practice, and realization) and the four dharma gates (teaching, practice, shinjin 信心, and realization). I conclude that the content of Shinran’s Pure Land Buddhist practice differs according to whether his focus is from the aspect of the true teaching itself or from the aspect of sentient beings who receive it.