Part Two
Chapter 9: Shinran's Masterwork Begins and Ends with a Cry of Joy

Shinran's Masterwork Begins and Ends with a Cry of Joy

Buddhism teaches that from ages past, each of us has been born and reborn countless times in a myriad of life forms. Trapped in the cycle of birth and death, we have never known true happiness, which comes only from salvation through Amida's Vow. When salvation finally comes, we understand with joy how great a thing it is to be born human, since otherwise we should never have been able to achieve this lasting happiness. We see that truly, human life is infinitely “heavier than the heaviness of all things.”

Indeed, the ultimate purpose of life has reference not just to this lifetime but to the eternal span of all our lifetimes, past, present, and future. These myriad lives, encompassing untold aeons, have all been for the sake of fulfilling a single purpose: to be delivered into absolute happiness through Amida's Vow. This overarching purpose can be realized only during human life, which is what makes this lifetime infinitely precious. The joy that pervades Shinran's writings stems from his awareness that the purpose of all his lifetimes from ages past has been gloriously fulfilled.

Such joy is permanent. All other pleasures fade.

Indeed, Teaching, Practice, Faith, Enlightenment begins and ends with a cry of pure joy: “How joyful I am!” One critic has written that “a voice of ecstasy permeates all volumes” of the work. Here is the joyous voice of Shinran, “dancing on heaven and on earth.”

How joyful I am, Gutokushaku Shinran! Rare it is to encounter the scriptures from the westward land of India, and the commentaries of the masters in China and Japan, but now I have encountered them. Rare it is to hear them, but I have already been able to hear. Most of all, honoring and believing in the teaching, practice, and enlightenment of the true religion, I have known the depths of Amida's grace. This being so, I can only rejoice in all I have heard, and exclaim in wonder at all I have gained.

To paraphrase: Ah, how happy am I, Shinran! By Amida's power alone, I have now encountered what there was not the slightest chance of encountering. I have now heard what never could have been heard. However great the Vow of Amida that Sakyamuni preached, if there had been no one to convey it to me, the darkness of mind afflicting me would never have been dispelled. Buddhism is preached far and wide, but those who expound the true wonder of Amida's Vow are few and far between. Now I have been able to encounter the teachings of those rare priests in India, China, and Japan who expounded the wonder of Amida's Vow; I have been able to know the wonder of the Vow. To what can I compare this happiness? No amount of rejoicing would be too great. My heart is filled with Amida's deep benevolence. Somehow I must convey the wonder of Amida's Vow.

With these words Shinran recorded the state of mind that compelled him to write Teaching, Practice, Faith, Enlightenment, and then he proceeded to set down the six volumes of his masterwork.