In May, we celebrate the birth of Shinran Shonin (1173-1262), the founder of Shin Buddhism. Gotan-e is the formal commemoration of Shinran Shonin’s birthday and it was instituted during the Meiji period.

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Shinran Shonin was born on May 21, 1173, by the banks of Hokaiji Temple in the southeastern part of Kyoto, in a village called Hino. Hino Village belonged to the Hino family, and Hokaiji Temple was their family temple. His father, Hino Arinori, was a descendant of the prestigious Fujiwara clan, even among the aristocracy of his time. In the Edo period, a small temple called "Hino Tanjo-in" was built near Hokaiji Temple in commemoration of Shinran's birth.

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Shinran was born into a time when the aristocratic era was fading, and the warrior class, particularly the powerful clans of the Taira and Minamoto, held sway. During his childhood, the Taira clan was dominant, which brought anxiety to his family since his mother was from the Minamoto lineage, creating a constant fear of reprisals as the Taira gained ascendancy.

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The playground adjacent to Hokaiji Temple might have been a joyful space where young Shinran played with his friends. However, tragedy struck his life early on, as he lost his father at the age of four and his mother at eight, with all his siblings subsequently entering the monastic life. Perhaps Shinran found solace in visiting Hokaiji Temple. At the age of nine, he expressed his wish to be ordained and became a monk on Mount Hiei. His early experiences with death surely shaped his dedication to rigorous training even after becoming a monk on Mount Hiei.

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Shinran's wife, Eshinni, recounted having a revelatory dream where her husband appeared before her as Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The biography of Shinran, "Tannisho," also records these dreams, hinting at Shinran's identity as an incarnation of Amida Buddha. However, from a modern perspective, Shinran is often seen as a seeker of truth, and his story resonates deeply with many as a profoundly human journey.

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Shinran's teachings represent one of the most influential developments in Japanese Buddhism. According to D.T. Suzuki, a prominent figure in Japanese Zen Buddhism, Shinran articulated the ultimate form of Mahayana Buddhism.

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Shinran himself stated, " Looking to and encountering the time when becomes settled Shinjin (entrusting heart,) which is diamondlike and firm: (at the moment) the light of Amida’s heart grasps and protects one, and one parts forever from birth-and death."

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Shinran seemed to have grasped most accurately the essence of Pure Land teaching, transcending time and place.

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Namo Amida Butsu

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For the student readers...

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                                  The Tall Tower
 

     Once upon a time, in a land filled with treasures, there lived a very rich person. They had so much money, that it seemed to overflow from their pockets!
    One sunny day, this rich person decided to go on a journey with their friends. As they traveled, they liked to show off their wealth a little bit. But what they didn't realize was that people weren't impressed by them, just by their money. They didn't know or maybe just forgot that.
    During their journey, they got invited to visit a big house owned by another rich person. And guess what? They were taken to the third floor of the house! From up there, they could see so far. But here's the thing: they didn't even know what a "third floor" was! Where they came from, buildings were much shorter, with only one or two floors.
    They were amazed by this discovery of a "third floor." When they got back home, they couldn't stop thinking about it. They wanted one for themselves!
    So, they called a skilled builder and said, "I want a third floor in my house, please!"
    The builder, though very good at their job, was a bit careful because they'd never built such a tall tower before. Day by day, they worked hard, following the plans step by step.
    But the rich person was getting impatient. Every day, they went to check on the building site, asking, "Is it ready yet?" And every time, the builder said, "Not yet."
    Finally, one day, the rich person got badly frustrated. "Why isn't it done yet?" they asked.
    The builder explained calmly, "I'm still working on the second floor right now. Building the third floor will take more time."
    But the rich person didn't want to wait. They insisted, "Build the third floor now! No need to build the second floor! I just want the third floor!”

-The Sutra of One Hundred Parables by Saṅghasena -

The tale of the tall tower reminds us that good things take time and effort. Rushing without a solid foundation won't make them strong.

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