Changes to Shinran’s True Pure Land Doctrine as Seen in Ryōkai’s Tariki Shinjin Kikigaki

Abstract

Shinran wrote that devotees who had faith would reach True Pure Land (shinjitsu hōdo 真実報土), that self-reliant righteous people would end up in an expedient Pure Land (hōben kedo 方便化土), and that both places were Pure Lands of Amitābha. This is a unique view not seen prior to Shinran.

What is noteworthy is that Ryōkai 了海, one of the disciples of Shinran, made an argument similar to Shinran’s True Pure Land doctrine in his Tariki shinjin kikigaki 他力信心聞書.For this reason, it became necessary to re-examine the Tariki shinjin kikigaki.

In light of what he wrote in the Tariki shinjin kikigaki, it could be surmised that Ryōkai understood Shinran’s True Pure Land doctrine correctly. However, Ryōkai’s unique view of the Pure Land, including his teaching about the 21 billion Pure Lands chosen by Bodhisattva Dharmākara, as well as the concepts of sō (総, general ideas) and betsu (別, special ideas), could have been influenced by the doctrine of the attainment of Buddhahood during life through spiritual friendship. These were the changes he made to Shinran’s True Pure Land doctrine.