The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2233 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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Shin Ky
ha Shinto
(Shinto organization in Japan):
Shinnyo
.
Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character for the Skt.,
tathat
.
Shinran
(Sh
nin Shinran;
1173–1262).
Founder of
J
do-shin-sh
, a major school of Japanese Buddhism, a pupil of
H
nen
. When H
nen was exiled in 1207, Shinran rejected the necessity of monastic rules and residence. He married and fathered children. He was pardoned in 1211, and began to establish a community of followers. His belief that the buddhas and bodhisattvas fulfil their commitments and vows to help all in need led him to reject all ‘ways of effort’ (
jiriki
) and to rely on ‘the power of the other’ (
tariki
; see
JIRIKI
), concentrated on the Buddha
Amida
. Not even repeated calling on Amida's name (
nembutsu
) was strictly necessary: one plea sincerely meant will bring Amida's help. He spent the remainder of his life working on his
Kyogyo-Shinsh
(True Teaching, Practice and Realization of the Way).

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