Lay Buddhism and Spirituality

Edited by

Michael Pye [+–]

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Michael Pye is Professor (emeritus) at Marburg University and a visiting Research Associate of Ōtani University in Kyōto. His writings have ranged widely over problems in the study of religions, studies in Buddhist thought and many aspects of contemporary Japanese religion. His major publications include Skilful Means and Emerging from Meditation.

Early issues of The Eastern Buddhist contain short translations from various Buddhist texts, some of them quite important and all of considerable interest. Since they are set unobtrusively between modern statements and arguments about the nature of Buddhism, and in any case are difficult to locate, they have often gone unnoticed by students. Assembled here is a selection of those texts which have stood the test of time. Drawn from Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese originals, they mainly reflect the Zen and Shin Buddhist traditions, though in the wider context of early Mahāyāna Buddhism. Drawing them together into one volume brings out the fact that these varied Buddhist traditions are intricately related to each other. The result is an unusual and fascinating reader which would grace many a course in Buddhist studies.

Series: Eastern Buddhist Voices

Prelims

List of Illustrations [+–] x

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Preface with Acknowledgements [+–] xi – xii

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Conventions on Names, Titles and Scripts [+–] xiii – xv

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

A Note on The Eastern Buddhist [+–] xvi – xvii

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Introduction

1 Introduction [+–] 1 – 20

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Early issues of The Eastern Buddhist contain short translations from various Buddhist texts, some of them quite important and all of considerable interest. Since they are set unobtrusively between modern statements and arguments about the nature of Buddhism, and in any case are difficult to locate, they have often gone unnoticed by students. Assembled here is a selection of those texts which have stood the test of time. Drawn from Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese originals, they mainly reflect the Zen and Shin Buddhist traditions, though in the wider context of early Mahāyāna Buddhism. Drawing them together into one volume brings out the fact that these varied Buddhist traditions are intricately related to each other. The result is an unusual and fascinating reader which would grace many a course in Buddhist studies. This volume presents a variety of texts which express some of the spirituality of the Buddhist tradition in generally accessible forms. For this very reason, and sometimes intentionally, these texts point to a transcending of any distinction between monastic and lay persons. It is in this perspective that we are able to refer to “Lay Buddhism and Spirituality” in the title of the book.

Part I The Teaching of Vimalakīrti

2 Vimalakīrti’s Discourse on Emancipation [+–] 21 – 98

Izumi Hōkei

Otani University

This chapter presents an English translation of the Vimalakīrti-nirdeśa (Nanjio 146), being the first attempt to introduce the text to Western readers.

Part II Related Strands in Early Mahāyāna Buddhism

3 The Heart Sūtra (Prajñā-pāramitā-hṛdaya-sūtra) [+–] 99 – 106

Shaku Hannya

Otani University

This chapter presents the translation of one of the most popular and at the same time the most important canonical books adopted by the Far Eastern Buddhists is the Prajñā-pāramitāhṛdaya- sūtra (the Heart Sūtra),

4 Nāgārjuna’s Mahāyāna-viṃśaka [+–] 107 – 114

Yamaguchi Susumu

Otani University

This chapter presents the translation of the Mahāyānaviṃśaka into English.

5 Outline of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra (Kegonkyō) [+–] 115 – 120

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was a very well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism and the American wife of the well-known Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu. She lived in Japan for many years and came to know the leading temple centres of various Buddhist schools – especially in Kyōto and Kamakura – very well.

In this chapter, the author discusses the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. Of Mahāyāna sūtras, the Kegon, the Hokke (Saddharma-Puṇḍarīka) and the Nehan (Nirvāṇa) sūtras are the most outstanding, and among these the Kegon is important because it is considered to be the teaching given out by the Buddha Śākyamuni just after his enlightenment, and in consequence his enlightenment is made the centre or pivot of the sūtra’s substance.

6 The Hymn on the Life and Vows of Samantabhadra [+–] 121 – 132

Izumi Hōkei

Otani University

The importance of the Hymn on the Life and Vows of Samantabhadra has been well known in Japan since early days, not only from the doctrinal point of view but as a piece of Buddhist Sanskrit literature accessible to Japanese scholars. The author’s object in editing the Hymn is to produce a perfect Sanskrit text as far as the present source of information and the facility of obtaining the material and the scholarship of the present editor permit. 1 Jiun 慈雲 (1718–1804) and his followers were among the foremost students of the text.

Part III Hints of Laity in the Esoteric Tradition

7 Fudō the Immovable [+–] 133 – 148

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

This chapter discusses one of the most popular gods (or symbolical beings) of Buddhism in Japan known as “Vidyārājas”, Fudō the Immovable, i.e. Fudō Myōō 不動明王, meaning Bright King Fudō (known in Sanskrit as Acala).

8 Ceremonies for Disciples on Mount Kōya [+–] 149 – 166

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author discusses the ceremonies that happen at Kōya-san (Mt. Kōya), the headquarters of the Shingon Sect, there is a Shingon Ritsu (i.e. Vinaya) temple where certain ceremonies take place which are available both to priests and laymen.This temple is Entsūritsuji, popularly called Shinbessho, the head of which, Rev. Keiho Tamayama, is noted for his strict and austere life, his learning and his kindness. These ceremonies comprise the Bosatsukai, the Sanzenbutsumyō, and the Ango.

Part IV Revisiting Masters of the Nenbutsu

9 The Pure Land Doctrine in Shōkū’s “Plain Wood” Nenbutsu [+–] 167 – 180

Sugihira Shizutoshi

Otani University

This chapter explores the Shōkū’s “Plain Wood”, presenting an interpretation for it.

10 Myōe’s Critique of Hōnen [+–] 181 – 198

Bandō Shōjun

Otani University

This chapter analyses the texts writen by Hōnen Shōnin on Myōe Shōnin’s work. Soon after the death of Hōnen Shōnin 法然上人 (1133–1212) which occurred on January 25th, 1212, Myōe Shōnin 明恵上人 (1173–1232) successively published two books severely criticizing Hōnen’s great writing on the significance of the Nembutsu practice, the Senchaku hongan nenbutsu shū 選択本願念仏集 (abbreviated hereafter as Senjakushū 択集).

11 Ippen Shōnin and the Nenbutsu [+–] 199 – 220

Yanagi Sōetsu

Otani University

This chapter discusses the life of Ippen Shōnin (1239 1289), founder of the Ji Sect of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, lived during the latter half of the Kamakura period, at a time when Dōgen (1200–1253) and Nichiren (1222–1282) were active, and Shinran (1173–1262), in ripe old age, was still living as well.

12 Shinran and his Song on Amida Buddha [+–] 221 – 230

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

This chapter analyses the Songs of Shinran Shōnin written by him in praise of the Buddha Amitābha.

13 On Steadfast Holding to the Name [+–] 231 – 240

Kakunyo Shōnin

Otani University

This chapter analyses the translation of the short treatise known as the Shūjishō 執持抄 is a compilation by Kakunyo of Shinran’s sayings on Shin teaching. In the title, shūji has the literal meaning of “steadily holding to” or “holding on” while shō means “treatise.”

14 Rennyo the Restorer [+–] 241 – 258

Kaneko Daiei

Otani University

In this chapter, the author analyses the great work which Rennyo Shōnin (1415–1499) achieved during his lifetime was the restoration of Shinshū.2 Through it he brought the Shin teaching to the people, a mission he undertook not only to bring prosperity to the Honganji lineage, but also to spread the spirit of the Founder, Shinran Shōnin (1173–1262), throughout the land. It is for this reason that he is revered as the reincarnation of the Founder.

15 Asahara Saichi the Myōkōnin [+–] 259 – 276

Satō Taira

Otani University

This chapter analyses the texts written by Asahara Saichi, part of the Shin Buddhist tradition of the myōkōnin 妙好人, the “wondrous, good people.”

16 The Rite of Reception into Jōdo Shinshū [+–] 277 – 280

Dan Bornstein

Otani University

This chapter is an overview of the rite for the reception of new members into the Ōtani branch of Jōdo Shinshū (Jōdo Shinshū Ōtani-ha), followed by translations of the sections marked with an asterisk. This rite is known as the Kikyōshiki. Where applicable the translation follows the Service Book of the Higashi Honganji (Shinshū Ōtani ha) of the North America District. The word gāthā means “verses” in Sanskrit, and is used here to correspond to its Japanese transliteration ge, as in Shōshinge.

Synoptic List of Text Titles

Synoptic List of Text Titles [+–] 281 – 298

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Character List for Historical Persons

Character List for Historical Persons [+–] 299 – 306

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Original Publication Details

Original Publication Details [+–] 307 – 310

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Index

Index [+–] 311 – 335

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Reviews

The most important contribution in this volume is probably an English translation (from the Chinese version) of the Vimalakīrti-nirdeśa by Izumi Hokei (1884–1947) which is assembled from different issues of The Eastern Buddhist. It supplements various other translations of this important text which exist already. Other contributions provide translations of the Heart Sutra or short texts related to the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Fugen 普賢). In addition to these valuable translations there are a couple of interesting contributions by various authors focusing on diverse aspects of “lay spirituality” and sometimes giving insight into the diversified interest of Japanese Zen or Shin Buddhists. The volume includes a valuable synoptic list of texts which are directly referred to in the volume and an excellent index which helps to explore its rich content.
Religious Studies Review

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Books and Journals in Humanities, Social Science and Performing Arts

From Vimalakīrti to the Nenbutsu Masters

Michael Pye [+–]

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

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