Article by Kobai Sensei on the occasion of 750th Shinran Shonin Memorial

I wish to share with you the most recent article of Eiken Kobai Sensei, written on the occasion of the 750^th Memorial Service for Shinran Shonin. I find it easy to understand and very useful. Please read it.

ON RECEIVING SHINJIN

                       Eiken Kobai

INTRODUCTION

Clearly, the most important matter in our Jodo-Shinshu teaching is receiving shinjin. There can be no doubt about this because of the many references to it in the Venerable Master Shinran’s voluminous writings.

I wonder, however, if I am the only one who has misgivings about the fact that recently this most important aspect of our Jodo-Shinshu teaching is becoming obscured by other matters. With the approaching 750th Memorial Service for the Venerable Master in mind, I would like to comment on this most important subject.

Which teachers are actually worth listening to?

-revised and updated 05 01 2010-
This is a response by Paul Roberts, posted on true shinbuddhism yahoo group, to someone who asked for names of nowadays authors and teachers that he recommends. Of course, it is related to the modern divergences from Shinshu teaching, a topic that will always be given the necessary attention and space on this blog.

A Dharma dialogue on modern divergences from Shinshu teaching

Here is a dialogue from true shinbuddhism yahoo group, between a reader experiencing doubt because of what some modernist Shinshu teacher is saying and my Dharma friend, Paul. The name of that teacher is not hidden by me, but by either Carlos or Paul. I hope this dialogue will prove useful to all those who have doubts on the Shinshu Dharma after hearing the divergences of some modern scholars blinded by their own lack of faith.

Message to a New Member of the Sangha

This article was written by my Dharma friend, Paul Roberts, webmaster of http://www.shinuglyblog.com

and moderator of True Shinbuddhism yahoo group :

More on modern divergences from Jodo Shinshu teaching

I've just came back from Tariki Dojo Craiova and found this very interesting discussion from true shinbuddhism yahoo group supporting my actions of exposing and correcting the modern divergences from Jodo Shinshu teaching.
I invite you all to read it, and meditate on it, especially on the quotes presented there from the sacred writings.
One of the reasons I post other people's articles, discussions, letters on the topic of modern divergences is to show to the international Shinshu sangha that there are many, not only me, who are tired of seeing the Dharma being distorted with ideas and opinions that can't be found in the writings of the Masters of our school. I also hope that others will find the courage to speak.

Reactions to my criticism of Rev Unno's writings (part2)

Please also read: "Reactions to my critics of Rev Unno's writing(1)."

Reactions to my criticism of Rev Unno's writings

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Dear friends in the Dharma,

Recently, Rev Toshikazu Arai reacted to the articles published on this blog about divergences from the Jodo Shinshu teaching contained in the books of Rev Unno.

Against Shigaraki's false teachings

I am presenting you here, a very good article written by my Dharma friend, Paul Roberts, in which he deconstructs some false statements made by one of the many false teachers of our international sangha - Takamaro Shigaraki.
Please have the patience to read it - I assure you it will be very helpful.

And also please read the discussions about Shigaraki that took place on true shinbuddhism yahoo group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/true_shin_buddhism/messages/1213?threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1
and:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/true_shin_buddhism/messages/1228?threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1

This group is indeed the most active and reliable online place for discussing and understanding the Jodo Shinshu Dharma.

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In his essay entitled "The Problem of the True and the False in Contemporary Shin Buddhist Studies: True Shin Buddhism and False Shin Buddhism", Takamaro Shigaraki asks and answers the following three questions:

1. Is Amida Buddha an Entity or a Symbol?
2. Is Shinjin in Shin Buddhism Non-dualistic or Dualistic?
3. Is Shin Buddhism a Religion of Power or a Religion of Path?

Amida as a Sambhogakaya Buddha

On the true shinbuddhism yahoo group, Paul Roberts posted the following article after he quoted

“Some doctrinal explanations on the nature of Amida Buddha” from this blog.

So, please first read my article and then, read this one.

I will soon post more articles on this topic, “the nature of Amida Buddha” at the section Amida Buddha of this blog, in order to fight against many of “modern” divergences from the true teaching of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism as presented in the sutras and commentaries of our Masters - which anyone can find in the Jodo Shinshu (Shin) traditional canon.

"…………I think this is a subject of extreme importance, because today the most lamentable divergence in the Sangha is false teachers declaring that Amida Buddha is only a symbol.

It is also critical to recognize that there are essentially two different means of talking about Buddhism that correspond to the two essentially different paths of self-power and Other-power.