Kyogyoshinsho - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The preface to this chapter begins with Shinran discussing his belief in shinjin, or total entrusting to Amitabha Buddha, and how other schools focused on self-power are floundering in their efforts.

In Chapter 3 itself, Shinran discusses shinjin in much detail, and why it is central to Jodo Shinshu practice. For Shinran, the total entrusting to Amitabha represented the most assured way for the common man to be reborn into the Pure Land, because rebirth would occur entirely through the compassion and wisdom of Amitabha. Again, Shinran quotes at length from both Tan-luan and Shan-tao who expounded the subject in detail in explaining the ideas of reciting Amitabha's and entrusting one's self to the practice of it.

Shinran then discuss the nature of shinjin, and describes it as the "mind aspiring for great enlightenment" in a transcendent, crosswise manner, as opposed to the direct manner found in self-oriented practices. Here Shinran reiterates the point that if one abandons "sundry practices" and entrusts themselves to Amitabha for one thought-moment, they will attain a state of shinjin and their birth in the Pure Land will be assured.

Shinran then lists the benefits of practicing the nembutsu, or recitation of Amitabha's name. These include a great sense of joy, the praise of the myriad Buddhas, the protection of the myriad Buddhas, and a state of being "truly settled". The last section of Chapter 3 focuses on what defines people who cannot be saved by other Buddhist practices, who are seen as the main focus of Amitabha's Primal Vow.