Protestant Buddhism?

by Rev. Don Castro - Seattle Betsuin

This month, on May 21, we will celebrate the birthday of Shinran Shonin who was born 1173 C.E.  Our guest speaker for our English service will be Rev. David Matsumoto who is the head of the Center For Contemporary Jodo Shinshu Studies which is a part of the IBS in Berkeley.  Rev. Matsumoto will also be here for the Spring Family Seminar.

Recently, I have been thinking about Jodo Shin Buddhism as a kind of “Protestant Buddhism.”  This is not to say that we teach anything different from the doctrines adhered to by all Buddhists.  I believe our differences from other Buddhists arise from our understanding of how we are able to relate to the fundamental teachings of Buddhism.  For instance, rather than seeing ourself as one who is able to generate compassion we are recipients of boundless compassion.  As Protestants we say, “Yes, I should be compassionate but…”  “Yes, I should strive for enlightenment but I realize enlightenment is beyond my capability.”  It is for people like myself that Amida Buddha extends his boundless wisdom and compassion which leads us to enlightenment.  Thus, enlightenment is no longer an issue.

 In Jodo Shinshu, the crucial issue is receiving Amida’s vow power and expressing our gratitude.  Our gratitude deepens as our understanding of the value of the gift increases.  If we have been given assurance of birth in the Pure Land (nirvana), how profoundly grateful must we feel.  An ever-deepening sense of gratitude seems to me the life process, the maturing process, of the sincere Shinshu follower.