Keishu’s 慶秀 View of “Practice” and “Entrusting Heart” in Shinran’s Teaching: The Understanding of the Seventeenth Vow

Abstract

Keishu (慶秀, 1558–1609) was a Jōdoshinshū scholar in the earliest period of its history. This paper considers his view of Amida’s seventeenth vow concerning the practice of saying the Name. While considering Amida’s Name to be what is recited by the practicer, he regarded it as Amida Buddha’s compassion working on the one who practices it. Namely, he viewed Amida’s Name (Namo-amida-butsu) from the two perspectives.