JODO SHINSHU BUDDHIST BOOKS - An Amidaji selection of free online editions

last update - March 3rd, 2024 - scroll down to see the new books!  

Amida Dharma, by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea

This book represents the essence of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teaching as it is taught at Amidaji temple and in our international Sangha. Its study is an obligation for any follower. If somebody can’t read it, it will be read to him by the priest or one of the Dharma colleagues.
Amida Dharma contains the minimum knowledge required for a member of Amidaji. It is a simple book without quotations and technical terms, limited to what is strictly necesary to understand the world of repeated births and deaths (samsara) and the Path to escape from it.

Click here to download the free online edition
Click here to listen to the audio version on my youtube channel
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PRINTED VERSION


The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea

This book is, as the title shows, an attempt to explain the meaning of faith and Nembutsu in accordance with the teaching of our school. It contains a very detailed explanation of the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha, sentence by sentence, word by word, and other important teachings and explanations related with faith (shinjin) and nembutsu (the saying of the Name of Amida Buddha). 

Click here to download the free online edition
Click here for the audio version on my youtube channel 
Click aquí para la versión en español (pdf)
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PRINTED VERSION

Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Teachings - 2nd revised edition by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea NEW!

Jodo Shinshu does not give moral speeches and it doesn’t contain difficult practices. While other Buddhist methods talk about the ideal of Buddhahood and the possibility to attain it in this life, Jodo Shinshu starts with the sense of failure.

It is a simple path for ordinary people like you and me, lost from morning till evening in the fight for daily survival, filled with illusions and attachments to which we see neither the beginning nor the end. Jodo Shinshu is not a path for saints, but for losers, for those who cannot attain by themselves anything stable in the spiritual life.

Not the promise of purification, but of salvation as we are is the essence of Jodo Shinshu. Nothing special, no state of mind to be attained or developed. Only faith in the Infinite Compassion of Amida Buddha.

This book is an adaptation of some Dharma sermons given at Tariki Dojo, Amidaji temple and letters to my Buddhist friends all over the world.

On the Monks and Nuns of Amidaji Branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

This short introduction presents the doctrinal foundation for the monks and nuns ordination in Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, as well as their duties, activities and way of life.

Click here to download the free online edition in pdf or buy the printed version.

 
 
The Four Profound Thoughts which Turn the Mind Towards Amida Dharma, by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea
This book offers a detailed explanation and deep contemplation on the basic Buddhist teachings of 1) the preciousness of human birth, 2) impermanence and death, 3) karma, and 4) the suffering of the various samsaric states of existence (including bardo), all in relation with Amida Buddha's undiscriminative salvation.    

Click here to download the free online edition
Click here for the audio version on my youtube channel
Click aquí para la versión en español (pdf)
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PRINTED VERSION


The Path Between the Thorns - the spiritual autobiography of a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest, by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea

I called this book The Path Between the Thorns because for me, the 18 years since I became a priest where a constant fighting and struggle against inner and outer obstacles placed in my way by my own delusions as well as proponents of wrong views. I am happy to say that despite all these, I have never lost my Path, and although the thorns sometimes hurt my feet, I always knew the right direction to take as Amida Buddha and the true teaching of Shakyamuni and the lineage Masters were always my guiding light. 

(the spiritual journey of Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea - the founder of Amidaji International Temple)



The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land, 
by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea

The Dharma is the supreme medicine given by the Buddha, the supreme Doctor, and in receiving it we must have the attitude of humble patients whose health and salvation depend totally upon the Doctor’s prescription and proper administration of the medicine. If we are priests or teachers we simply cannot be careless with people’s salvation from birth and death, just like a good pharmacist does not give poison to those who come to him looking for the medicine prescribed by their doctor.
As long as we ourselves are not Doctors (Enlighted beings/Buddhas) we should also not change the Medicine (the Dharma), but instead act as the good pharmacist and give to others exactly what the Doctor has prescribed. Trully, Amida Dharma is not our property and in dealing with it, we should act only as transmitters, not creators of the teaching. This is exactly what I am trying to do in this book – to show the true teaching about Amida Buddha and His Pure Land, while also counteracting some of the most spread wrong views of our time. 

Click here to download the free online edition
Click here for the audio version on my youtube channel
Click aquí para la versión en español (pdf)
Click here for the Portughese edition (pdf)
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PRINTED VERSION


Simple Teachings on Emptiness and Buddha nature, 
by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea

All sentient beings have Buddha nature. This Buddha nature is now obscured, but it has always been there. Obscured Buddha nature may become unobscured Buddha nature if the obscurations are purified, and they will be automatically purified when we are born in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha. There, in that Enlightened realm, everything is conducive to Enlightenment, unlike here, in samsara, where everything is conducive to more obscurations, blind passions and suffering.
To practice for the attainment of Enlightenment in this samsaric environment is like trying to melt ice by placing it in the snow, while to be born in the Pure Land is like putting ice into a powerful stove. The ice of our obscurations will be melted by the Enlightened Power of Amida and His Pure Land, thus revealing our innate Buddha nature with its myriad qualities.
Perhaps by clearing up the confusions brought by false teachers who talk about emptiness and Buddha nature in a way that leads to nihilistic and materialistic views, my readers will be able to discover the joy of faith and true aspiration for that wonderful ultimate Reality of Wisdom, Compassion and unconditional Freedom where Amida and all Buddhas are guiding us through the Pure Land teaching.

Click here to download the free online edition
Click here to listen to the audio version on my youtube channel
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PRINTED VERSION


Commentary on the Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life, 
by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea
This is not an academic, secular or historical study, but a religious commentary. Its goal is to explain in easy to understand terms the deep meaning of the Larger Sutra so that people can receive faith in Amida Buddha and be born in His Pure Land after death. 
There are many ways to read the Larger Sutra and various layers of interpretation, which is why different types of practitioners benefit from it - those who choose to focus on Amida Buddha but still cling to their self-power like followers of the 19th and 20th Vows, as well as followers of the Primal Vow (18th) who rely exclusively on Amida’s power.
However, because Jodo Shinshu is the school of the Primal Vow, this commentary and explanation is written from the perspective of the Primal Vow and the complete reliance on the Power of Amida Buddha.
Members and followers of Amidaji temple should look to this commentary as their guide in reading and studying the Larger Sutra.

A new and revised explanation of the 48 vows is included in this book.

Click here to download the free online edition.
Click here to listen the audio version on my youtube channel 
Click aquí para la versión en español (pdf)
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PRINTED VERSION


NEW! Selected Teachings from Honen Shonin with Commentary, by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea

The role of a teacher is to make things simple and this is exactly what I’m trying to do through my books. I pick and choose that which is easy to understand from the many volumes of the sacred texts and organize and explain them in such a way so that both the idiot and the scholar can understand and receive faith (shinjin).

I also try to make useful connections between various Masters and their teachings. For example, in this book I show that Honen and his disciple Shinran, spoke the same language of faith and essentially taught the same teaching although sometimes the words and context are different.

Among the many sayings of Honen, I chose a few in this book and my other books, that I consider to be very important and which can serve as a standard of reading and understanding him in our Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. 

Click here to download the free online edition in pdf or buy the printed version



The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho, 
by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea


This book is an adaptation of my Dharma talks on the sacred text of Tannisho – Notes on Lamenting Divergences, given  at Tariki Dojo Craiova during the usual days of practice. Each chapter is explained in easy to   understand terms so that to be accesible to beginers and the general public. 

Click here to download the free online edition
Click here for the audio version on my youtube channel
Click here to order a printed copy and support Amidaji 
Click aquí para la versión en español (pdf)
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PRINTED VERSION
 
 
Worshiping Amida Buddha - Liturgies and ceremonies of Amidaji Temple, by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea
 
All parts of this present book, every word and explanation are intended to help you focus exclusively on Amida Buddha and remember Him in all aspects of your daily life. Although it is dedicated to the Sangha of Amidaji International Temple, I hope that non-members will also find it useful. No initiation or empowerment are needed to follow the liturgies and instructions presented here, so feel free to pick and choose what you like. 


A Seed in Amida's Hand - Samsara and Nirvana in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, by Kosho Arana 

Foreword by Reverend Jōshō Adrian Cirlea, founder and Daisojo of the Amidaji International Temple:

 A Seed in Amida's Hands -Samsara and Nirvana in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism is effective in gradually leading the reader from the misconception of materialism towards the Dharmic truths of karma, rebirth, Samsara and Nirvana from the perspective of Buddha Dharma (The Buddhist Teachings) with an emphasis on Amida Dharma.

 Kōshō does this by quoting various sutras (the words of the Buddha), shastras (commentaries of the Buddhist patriarchs) and in turn complements this by quoting my books on  Jodo Shinshu. This book provides a wide variety of material to reflect on these Buddhist truths which could help many people to consider that there is much more to the universe than what our body can currently perceive and thus, this opens us to the possibility of validating and accepting the important Buddhist truths of rebirth, the bardo, the 6 realms of samsaric existence, Supreme Enlightenment/Buddhahood and finally the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha (the heart of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism). I wholeheartedly encourage readers to study the arguments, examples, and analogies that Kōshō uses to explain the fundamental elements of the Buddha Dharma in general and Jodo Shinshu in particular. 

Namo Amida Bu 

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IMPORTANT NOTICE by Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea!
I often repeat some things in my books or even in the same book. Learned scholars might laugh about it, but I don't care. I am not a scholar and I do not write for scholars. I repeat myself intentionally because I want people to remember those things that I consider extremely important and make the right connections. My books are not academic studies nor some kind of elevated literature, but religious instructions for escaping birth and death.

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