General Ediror: Yoshifumi Ueda
PREFACE
His Eminence Koshin Ohtani assumed the responsibilities of transmitting the teaching of Shinran Shonin upon acceding to the seat of Monshu of Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha on April 1, 1977, on the abdication by the Monshu Emeritus. Monshu Koshin Ohtani will formally announce to the Buddha and the Founding Shonin his accession and affirm his determination to propagate the teaching of Jodo Shinshu at the Accession Commemorative Celebrations in 1980.
In order that the Accession Commemorative Celebrations may become an occasion for one of the meaningful steps in the long-range program of our Hongwanji, many plans were inaugurated in 1979. In the area of international propagation a 12 year commemorative program, divided into 3 periods, for the translation and publication in English of the basic Canons of Jodo Shinshu was activated.
I am very happy to be able to present to the public, even before the start of the Accession Commemorative Celebrations, this book, NOTES ON ‘ESSENTIALS OF FAITH ALONE’, as the first result from the commemorative program. And I take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to everyone concerned for their efforts in its translation and publication.
I sincerely hope that Shinran Shonin’s persuasion may be understood truly and deeply by all who shall read this book.
BISHOP DAIJUN TOYOHARA
Director General
JODO SHINSHU HONGWANJI-HA
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
NOTES ON ‘ESSENTIALS OF FAITH ALONE’ by Shinran
THE ESSENTIALS OF FAITH ALONE by Seikaku
GLOSSARY OF SHIN BUDDHIST TERMS
LIST OF NAMES AND TITLES
NOTE ON THE TEXT
INDEX