It has been generally agreed that Hōnen was greatly influenced by Genshin 源信 (942–1017) in constructing his Pure Land thought. In fact, in his writings and preachings he made several references not only to Genshin’s evaluation of nembutsu practice, but to his interpretations of the Pure Land sūtras. By comparing Hōnen’s understandings of Amitābha Buddha and Buddha-nature found in his Gyakushu Seppō 逆修説法 and others with those of Genshin in his Amidakyō Ryakki 阿弥陀経略記,however, we can find both similarities and differences between their notions. They are in accord about the theory that Amitābha has the three bodies; the Dharma, the Reward and the Transformation body. The difference becomes obvious when we focus on how they regard Buddha-nature as a requisite for ‘enlightenment’. While Genshin maintains that all sentient beings are equipped with Buddha-nature and able to possess the ultimate truth of Buddha-nature, Hōnen seems to be tentative about or gives up the possibility of its existence within human beings. Here we see a distinctiveness of his Pure Land thought, and this cognizance could be said to have led him to emphasize the importance of ‘sole practice nembutsu’ (念仏一行) and the idea of the duality of the world.
