In general, Suzuki Daisetsu is known well as a man of Zen Buddhism. However, he had also deep concern and understanding about Shin Buddhism, and taught us much of it. The aim of this paper is inquiring into his thought of the Land of Purity. For that, we approached this matter from the following three points of view: First in the section 1, we inquired into how Daisetsu saw Teaching of the Land of Purity in the whole history of Buddhism. In other words, his positioning of Pure Land Buddhism and its view-point were cleared up.
Secondly in the section 2, the fundamental standpoint and distinctive features of his understanding and interpretation about Shin Buddhism doctrine were examined and explained.
Finally, Daisetsu’s own thought of the Land of Purity was investigated. What should be here paid attention to is the following two things: His own thought of the Land of Purity is distinguished from his understanding or views of Shin Buddhism doctrine, and it means the thought of Pure Land Buddhism which Daisetsu himself had grasped. Another is that the idea of the Land of Purity, Birth in Amida’s Land of Purity, the relationship of the Land of Purity to the world, and Recitation of Amida’s name i.e. to say ‘
Namu Amidabutsu’ are main problems there.
On one hand, his such thought of the Land of Purity discovered the universal significance and possibility of
Myokonin’s religious experiences, on the other hand it was more concreted and deepened through his encounter with them.
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