RELG 253 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Mahayana, Kamakura Period, Nianfo

• School: McGill University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELG 253
• Professor: Victor S?gen Hori

Document Summary

To become buddha to save all sentient beings; not to become buddha. To get to nirvana you need to be reborn again. To be born into the pure land is to be born inside a lotus flower floating on a river. 49 days of death then rebirth in one of the 6th rounds of samsara. To attain buddhahood, all beings in ten quarters (the entire universe) must be born in the pure land. Shinran is one of the the founders of the pure land buddhism. Hard path (saints and sages) --> easy path (pure land path) Only sinners are saved to only non-sinners are saved. The pure land path is for common mortals. Faith that seeks rebirth via transfer of merit. Even those who have committed the five grave sins. Especially those who have committed the five grave sins. Can only be read in texts, cannot practice them. Govt prohibits nembutsu, so honen and shinran exiled.