ABOUT US

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Here at the Buddhist Temple of Marin we are followers of Jodo Shinshu Pure Land Buddhism. Our Sangha is made up of members from all over the state and visitors from all over the world who practice this sacred school of Buddhism.

Way of Life: Guided by the teach­ing of Shin­ran Shonin, we shall lis­ten to the com­pas­sion­ate call­ing of Amida Tatha­gata and recite the Nem­butsu.  While always reflect­ing on our­selves, amidst our feel­ings of regret and joy, we shall live express­ing our grat­i­tude with­out depend­ing on peti­tionary prayer and superstition.

Pur­pose: The Hong­wanji is a com­mu­nity of peo­ple joined together in rever­ing the teach­ing of Shin­ran Shonin and say­ing the Nem­butsu.  We seek to share with oth­ers the wis­dom and com­pas­sion of Amida Tatha­gata.  By doing so, we shall work toward the real­iza­tion of a soci­ety in which every­one is able to live a life of spir­i­tual fulfillment.

Ren­nyo Shonin’s Gob­un­sho Let­ters

Teach­ing: Attain­ing the “entrust­ing heart”—awakening to the com­pas­sion of Amida Tatha­gata (Bud­dha) through the work­ing of the Pri­mal Vow—we shall walk the path of life recit­ing Amida’s Name (Nem­butsu).  At the end of life, we will be born in the Pure Land and attain Bud­dha­hood, return­ing at once to this delu­sional world to guide peo­ple to awakening.

Teach­ing: Jodo Shin­shu (The True Essence of Pure Land Bud­dhist Teaching)

Founder: Shin­ran Shonin
Date of birth: May 21, 1173
Date of death: Jan­u­ary 16, 1263

Name of School: Jodo Shin­shu Hongwanji-ha

Head Tem­ple: Ryukoku-zan Hong­wanji (Nishi Hongwanji)

Object of Rev­er­ence: Amida Tatha­gata (Namo Amida Butsu)

Scrip­tures: The Three Pure Land Sutras deliv­ered by Shakya­muni Buddha

• Bus­setsu Mury­oju Kyo [The Sutra of the Bud­dha of Immea­sur­able Life]

• Bus­setsu Kam­mury­oju Kyo [The Sutra of Con­tem­pla­tion of the Bud­dha of Immea­sur­able Life]
• Bus­setsu Amida Kyo [The Sutra on Amida Buddha]

Shin­ran Shonin’s writ­ings
• Shoshin Nem­but­suge [Hymn of True Entrust­ing Heart and the Nem­butsu], excerpt from the “Chap­ter on Prac­tice” ofKyo­gyoshin­sho
• Jodo Wasan [Hymns of the Pure Land]
• Koso Wasan [Hymns of the Pure Land Mas­ters]
• Shozomatsu Wasan [Hymns of the Dharma-Ages]