Buddhism is a reflection of the life experience of Siddhartha Gautama. Sakyamuni Buddha lived over 2500 years ago, and gave up the material life to attain the truth of enlightenment. This process towards enlightenment of personal dedication, effort, and discipline is usually considered to be the one and only way of Buddhism.

After attaining enlightenment, Sakyamuni Buddha had a decision to keep and enjoy the Wisdom of the enlightened state for himself, or to share the enlightenment with others. Moved by Compassion, he chose to share the teachings. He first sought out his former fellow seekers, and shared this Wisdom with them. This event is looked upon as the initial turning of the Wheel of the Dharma.

The Compassion of the Buddha moved towards beings still mired in ignorance to bring about the Wisdom of Enlightenment. From the perspective of the former fellow seekers, Enlightenment came to them and compassionately embraced them. This is a description of Buddha Power, or Other Power. This is the root of Pure Land Buddhism and the Jodo Shinshu Teachings.

Everything in the world is the result of a concurrence

of causes and conditions, and everything disappears as

these causes and conditions change and pass away.

– Basic Tenet of Buddhism

JODO SHINSHU BUDDHISM

Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, is a towering religious figure of thirteenth century Japan. He reformed the aristocratic and philosophic type of Buddhism practiced before his time into a practical Buddhism that provided spiritual comfort to men and women in all walks of life. Today, he is respected by the world as one of the greatest thinkers that Japan has ever produced.

Jodo Shinshu Buddhism is a path that brings man to see himself as he truly is, and leads him to Enlightenment. Jodo Shinshu Buddhism recognizes the limitations and attachments of everyday people in everyday life.  We are not monastics … we are householders. As householders, we cannot cut our ties to this world … in fact, we cultivate our ties and constantly create new ones. The Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Teachings reveal a way that assures Enlightenment despite our ties. Our primary focus is to learn and to share the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Teachings.