The main difference between Esoteric Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

Question:

Please tell me in a few words the main difference between esoteric Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.

My answer:

Both Dharma Gates are true and both aim at attaining Buddhahood for oneself and all beings. However, they differ in the means of attaining it. For example, Esoteric Buddhism thinks they can attain it in the present body, while Jodo Shinshu says it will be attained in the Pure Land.

If you want to attain Buddhahood in this body, then you can try the advice of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon (esoteric) Buddhism:

"Form mudras with your hands,
recite mantras with your mouths,
and dwell in meditation with your minds."

(Attaining Buddhahood in This Body, Kobo Daishi)

However, if you know you cannot attain Buddhahood in this body and you wish to attain it in the Pure Land after death, follow this modified advice:

Put your hands in gassho,

say Namo Amida Bu with your mouth

and entrust to Amida Buddha with your mind.

This is similar with following the instructions of Amida in His Primal Vow:

“entrust yourself to me, say my Name and wish to be born in my Land”.

Amidaji is open to international membership

Do you want a Sangha which focuses on solving “the greatest matter of afterlife” through simple faith in Amida Buddha?

Do you want a Sangha which is not ashamed to be religious, devotional and faith oriented?

Do you want a Sangha which is not affiliated to the ideological agenda of political groups?

Do you want a healthy Dharmic environment focused on listening deeply to the Jodo Shinshu teaching as it was taught by Shakyamuni Buddha, Shinran Shonin and Rennyo Shonin?

Do you want a place without modernists and false teachers who are not capable to accept the existence of Amida Buddha and His Pure Land?

If your answer to the above is YES, then Amidaji International Temple might be the right place for you! We accept members from any country and we intend to develop a genuine Sangha of orthodox Jodo Shinshu Buddhists all over the world.

Click here to read Amida Dharma –the essential doctrine of Amidaji.

Click here to download our Constitution, find everything you need to know about the purpose of Amidaji, activities, membership, priesthood, organization, etc.

Click here to read the conditions to be accepted as a member of Amidaji

Please read carefully the information from the above links and think deeply before joining us.  Do not hurry. Life and death is serious business and we are looking for dedicated people.

Namo Amida Bu 

Amidaji members: Gansen Catalin Suru (Romania)

Josho and Gansen Catalin Suru

at Amidaji

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My name is Gansen Catalin Suru. I became a Jodo Shinshu follower   because  of the simplicity of the teachings and the orthodox/authentic     style  of  Amidaji. I feel at home here, in this sangha, and I enjoy the true   spirit of camaraderie among the members. I could not be in another place   for two simple reasons: I can’t attain Enlightenment through my own   power and Amida’s Primal Vow was made especially for me, so I can’t   refuse Him, like you cannot refuse somebody who is saving your life.   Amida Buddha is not only saving my life from this body, but from all the   deaths of samsaric dream, so it’s impossible for me to refuse His Call.  

Gansen repairing the
electricity of Amidaji

Before coming to Jodo Shinshu I was not so much   interested in religion, so I can't say I have a spiritual past. However, my eyes were opened by the Buddha Dharma to the hidden reality beyond the ordinary appearances and made me ask questions that I had never asked before. After understanding the teachings on karma, rebirth and Nirvana, aspiration for the permanent true Reality of Buddhahood was awakened in me and I realized that the only Path to reach it is through the Compassionate Vow of Amida. 

Namo Amida Bu,

Gansen Catalin Suru

Gansen Catalin Suru always comes on his bike to Amidaji

Gansen Catalin Suru is the electrician of Amidaji. Whenever there is any problem with the electrical system or the computer, he comes and fixes it. I always call him "Boss" ("Sefu" in Romanian, "Jefe" in Spanish) Its a nickname I gave him out of respect and gratitude. 

Members of Amidaji: Shingyo Yuri (Russia).

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UPDATE: Since August 23, 2022 Shingyo has been appointed as lay teacher of Amidaji sangha

My Dharma name is Shaku Shingyo. I am from Russia. I am a member of Amida-ji International Temple since I received kieshiki from my sensei Rev. Josho,  back in June 2020.

My spiritual quest, which lasted almost 30 years, began in early childhood, when my inner world literally exploded when I accidentally got immersed in a kind of meditation, during which I realized that I am not a body. Since then, I started my search.

Amidaji members: Jinshin Catalina (Romania)

Jinshin Catalina

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Spiritual biographies of Amidaji members

My name is Jinshin Catalina. I started my spiritual search early in life and six years ago, I joined Amidaji sangha. Buddhism offers me the most logical explanations of why there is suffering in the world, why I am who I am, why I was born, why I die, and it also shows me a way out of the cycle of repeated births and deaths through Amida’s Primal Vow.  It is a Path through which I no longer need to blame others for what is happening to me, and where I feel accepted as I am.

I am grateful to walk with you in the Light of Amida Buddha.

Namo Amida Bu

Members of Amidaji: Gansen John Welch Sensei (Australia)

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My Path to True Shin Buddhism 

Gansen John Welch Sensei

By Gansen John Welch

I am writing this at the request of my teacher, Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and in the hope that others may be encouraged, inspired and motivated to listen to and read Amida Dharma, find a good teacher of True Shin Buddhism and “entrust your karmic destiny entirely, utterly and completely to Amida Buddha.” This too was my motivation for narrating Josho’s excellent books and writing verses inspired by Amida Dharma.

I was born in 1958 and thus, if I live an average lifespan, I have only about 20 years left in this body. But, of course, no one (except a fully enlightened Buddha) knows exactly when or how they will die and more importantly what negative karmic seeds will ripen at the time of death causing us to be reborn in realms lower than the human realm resulting in perhaps many millions of years before again having the opportunity to benefit from Buddha Dharma. According to Shakyamuni, it is only human beings who have the best opportunity to learn and benefit from Buddha Dharma.

Members of Amidaji: Shaku Daishin (Germany)

                       

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biographies of Amidaji members

My name is Shaku Daishin. I am a member of Amida-ji International Temple since I received kieshiki from my teacher Rev. Josho, Sensei back in April 2019.

I am a Buddhist since 25 years, practiced in the tibetan Karma Kagyu and Gelug Tradition and studied Buddhist philosophy for 3.5 years under Geshe Thubten Ngawang from the Tibetan Center in Hamburg.
During all my years of practice, study and receiving Dharma Teachings from many teachers - Lamas, Rinpoches and even HH the Dalai Lama, I did not make any progress. I always failed in whatever I did and tried to practice. I even stopped all my practice and did not meditate for two years. Then I started again, because I knew my Destination was Vajra Hell, after breaking all my vows and samayas.

I started reciting the Mantra of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who is an Emanation of Amida Tatagatha. I asked for advice what I should do - and after one year Amida Buddha's light shined through and I became aware of Amida Dharma. Now I know, by the boundless compassion of Amida Buddha and His Primal Vow that I am saved. My destination is not Vajra Hell, my destination is Amida's Pure Land, where I will overcome all my hatred, my greed, my Illusions - all my blind passions.

I am so grateful to have met Rev. Josho because I know that he is teaching the true Amida Dharma as it is taught by the Venerable Master Shinran and Master Rennyo. I am grateful for being a member of Amida-ji International Temple and being a Student of Josho Sensei.
I am saved. How can i express my joy?
No more please...just a big Thank you, Amida Buddha!

"The Nembutsu alone is true and real" (Master Shinran)

*

Mi nombre es Shaku Daishin. Soy miembro del Templo Internacional Amida-ji desde que recibí kieshiki de mi maestro, el reverendo Josho Sensei en abril de 2019.

Soy budista desde hace 25 años, practiqué el Karma Kagyu tibetano y la tradición Gelug y estudié filosofía budista durante 3,5 años con Geshe Thubten Ngawang del Centro Tibetano de Hamburgo.

Durante todos mis años de práctica, estudio y recepción de Enseñanzas del Dharma de muchos maestros: Lamas, Rinpoches e incluso SS el Dalai Lama, no logré ningún progreso. Siempre fallaba en todo lo que hacía y trataba de practicar. Incluso dejé toda mi práctica y no medité durante dos años. Luego comencé de nuevo, porque sabía que mi Destino era el Infierno Vajra, después de romper todos mis votos y samayas.

Comencé a recitar el Mantra de Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), que es una Emanación de Amida Tathagata. Pedí consejo sobre lo que debía hacer, y después de un año, la luz del Buda Amida brilló y me descubrí el Dharma de Amida. Ahora sé, por la compasión ilimitada del Buda Amida y Su Voto Primordial, que soy salvado. Mi destino no es el infierno de Vajra, mi destino es la Tierra Pura de Amida, donde superaré todo mi odio, mi codicia, mis ilusiones y todas mis pasiones ciegas.

Estoy muy agradecido de haber conocido al Rev. Josho porque sé que él está enseñando el verdadero Dharma de Amida tal como lo enseñan el Venerable Maestro Shinran y el Maestro Rennyo. Estoy agradecido por ser miembro del Templo Internacional Amida-ji y ser estudiante de Josho Sensei.

Estoy salvado. ¿Cómo puedo expresar mi alegría?

No más por favor... ¡solo un gran agradecimiento al Buda Amida!

 "Solo el Nembutsu es verdadero y real"

(Maestro Shinran)