Practice in Jodo Shin-shu

[Richard Modiano]

A lot of people ask, "What is the practice of Jodo Shinshu?" A simple answer is that pracitice is listening. The entire experience of Shin Buddhism depends upon a single practice - the practice of listening deeply to the Dharma. Listening deeply means to listen with head and with heart.

We listen with our heads first, so that we can understand the basic content of the Dharma as expounded by Shinran Shonin. Typically, this content is unfamiliar to us - even if we have had a lot of background in general Buddhism. So as we listen, it is important to suspend our own tendencies to judge what we are hearing by what we already know - or think we know - about Dharma truth and
reality.

As we come to understand the True Teaching intellectually, we also listen with our hearts. We take the time to reflect - to ask within if this Dharma rings true - if it speaks to us and our personal experience - if it is somehow calling to us.

No teacher - not even Shinran himself - ever convinces someone else to become a Shin Buddhist. That happens because a person is listening deeply, and somehow responds to the call of Amida Buddha directly. For some people that happens right away - and for others it takes time.

One of the most important teaching tools of Shinran, and others who follow his lead, is the use of repetition. Because there is no other practice except for listening deeply to the Dharma, most of us benefit greatly from hearing the basics of Shin Dharma over and over again. There is a process - a mysterious process - where a person who listens deeply over a period of time experiences a
removal of some of the delusions and obscurations that characterize our mental conditioning. This removal is entirely the work of Amida Buddha - and many of us here can attest to the power - and the gentleness - of Amida so working in our lives.

[Robert McCarthy]

Dear Richard, It is good to know of our experience in meeting amida. A process i recognize from first knowing of amida in books, in the intellect and through there the heart grows. Joining the same path. Namo amida bu

[Katrien Sercu]

Thank you Richard, for the clear and simple explanation of Jodo Shishu. It is so good to read what you wright about the importance of 'suspending our own tendencies to judge what we are hearing by what we already know or think to know'' and also the use of repetition. It gives me again the consciousness how quickly all reflections and reactions are there in my body, heart and mind without even realizing. But before I decide to choose for the practise of Jodo-Shinsu (or any decision who asks to be consequent), there must be a process of the heart, the will, the mind, grace and Life: it is needful that I first meet something by coincidence, accidentily in life (not in a book) that touches me! When it touches me, because I felt the influence in body, speech and mind, then I want to read about it and then the practise of Jodo Shin-shu could begin. Maybe this is more a 'woman-way', but without that I never could choose for something. It's more as if my heart ask to my head to be quite, to listen without thoughts and judgements...and then tis pratise become possible. Namo Amida Bu.