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Jodo Shinshu, the "True Pure Land" is a Japanese School of Buddhism which
grew out of Pure Land school, and which emphasised faith in Amitabha Buddha
above all other things. Founded by Shinran in 1224, which was towards the
end of the Heian period in Japan.
Jodo Shinshu sees itself as having pared Buddhist practice down to the
bare essentials: recitation of the Nembutsu: "Namo Amida Butsu", in order to
cultivate faith in Amitabha's vow. The reason for doing this is that Shinran
realized that he was hopelessly caught up in greed, hatred and delusion, and
that because of this, nothing he did would lead to enlightenment.
The essence of Amitabha's vows are that he will ensure that anyone who
calls his name, or who has faith in him, is reborn in his Pure Land and from
there will easily be able to attain enlightenment.
Important texts include the Amitabha Sutra, The Smaller Pure Land Sutra,
and the Larger Pure Land Sutra.
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