Problems of the Ichinen Kakuchi 一念覚知 Theory in the Honganji Sect

Abstract

The theory of Ichinen Kakuchi 一念覚知 （knowledge of when the one thought-moment [of shinjin 信心, faith] was awakened） was advocated by the Sangō 三業 （or Shingi 新義） faction, and was judged to be heterodox when the Sangō Disturbance 三業惑乱1797–1806 broke out in the Nishi Honganji during the Edo period. This theory emphasized that one must remember the date and time when faith was obtained. Perhaps because the ruling was given by the shogunate at the time, it seems that there was a tendency for the Honganji sect to be especially cautious afterwards. In recent years, a strange phenomenon seems to be occurring, in which talking about one’s religious experience is itself claimed to be the mistaken doctrine of Ichinen Kakuchi, and the religious experience （the experience of obtaining faith） itself is denied. I would like to consider this problem.