In the person of Nembutsu opens up the great path of unobstructed freedom. 

"Tannisho, A Shin Buddhist Classic," trans. by Taitetsu Unno


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Welcome from Dr. Alfred Bloom

The purpose and mission of this website is to share information concerning Shin Buddhist tradition and Pure Land Buddhism as it is presently practiced and interpreted by Shin communities in the West and Japan. I hope you will find value in the information, resources, and research material here and I look forward to hearing from you with questions or comments. 

In Buddhist tradition, light stands for wisdom. It is frequently presented in sutras as a stream of light coming from the Buddha and illuminating every aspect of the cosmos. In modern terms, it means to see things as they really are. Because Buddha sees things as they really are, he is able to assist all beings to enlightenment, despite their delusions and ignorance. -- "Strategies for Modern Living," by Alfred Bloom.

QUESTION:  Do you know anything about this Buddhist-Christian Cross?

TAKE A LOOK ...

v In the "Writings" section! The material is varied from a wide range of authors, providing the opportunity to read articles and excerpts not always easy to find.

v Also, don't miss "Studies in Buddhism." Rev. Dr. Bloom has placed a selection of his writings in one spot, to help guide readers in a progressive view of Buddhism from its earliest beginnings to Shinran ... and beyond.

Be sure to read "Personal Stories" of people who have come to Shin Buddhism. Sharing experiences is an excellent way to understand the evolving tradition.

 Announcing ....


Shinran's Gospel Of Pure Grace
by Rev. Dr. Alfred Bloom
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Available from the Association for Asian Studies (AAS).

In its ninth printing, this book is the best-selling volume in the AAS Monograph Series.

"...a significant contribution toward a deeper understanding of one of the most important figures in the history of Japanese Buddhism... Obviously, the author is at home with his subject." -- The Japanese Christian Quarterly

Monograph 20; ISBN 0-8165-0405-9; ninth printing 1999; 97 + xiv pages; Paper: $12.00 (AAS Members: $10.00)

Order DIRECTLY from the publisher: Ordering Information ...
(printable)
Order FORM (pdf)
 

 

GREAT NEWS! Tricycle magazine features a comprehensive review ("Essential and Pure," by Jeff Wilson) of Prof. Bloom's work, in its Summer 2008 issue, Vol. 17, No. 4. Excellent explanation of the stand-alone usefulness of "The Essential Shinran" to any study of Shinran and Jodo Shinshu, and how it serves as an invaluable companion and guide to unlocking the riches of Shin Buddhism's most important reference, "The Collected Works of Shinran."
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The Essential Shinran: A Buddhist Path of True Entrusting, Alfred Bloom, comp. and ed., Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom Press, 2006. With glossary, bibliography, and index of selections.

($22.95 at World Wisdom or $15.61 at Amazon).

"In The Essential Shinran, Dr. Alfred Bloom makes a masterful presentation of the life and thought of Shinran. The book is a virtual feast of prime statements carefully selected from traditional Shinshu textual sources and thematically arranged to illustrate key points. The main text begins with a modern overview of Shinran's life and legacy. This is followed by over 300 selected passages from the biographical literature and from Shinshu doctrinal works, with insightful notes by the author. Each of the items quoted is consecutively numbered for ease of reference, and the original source text for each is clearly indicated.

"As a compendium of Shinran's teaching, The Essential Shinran takes many of its quotations from the Collected Works of Shinran (CWS). CWS was a landmark publication that presented the complete writings of Shinran Shonin in one volume. In a sense, The Essential Shinran is an introduction to the CWS. It presents Shinran's thought in a way that makes it more easily accessible. It maps out the important points on the terrain of Shinran's thought, and brings together related statements by theme. explaining briefly the significance of these statements. All of these features are important for the first-time reader who needs a guide to show them the important points of Shinran's thought. Once this is done, there is nothing simpler to understand. But until then, what Shinran teaches can pose a formidable obstacle to the newcomer. Students will no doubt find The Essential Shinran a welcome addition, and it may well become a favorite work for university religion courses."

 

Alfred Bloom’s The Promise of Boundless Compassion: Shin Buddhism for Today, based on the Internet course, "Shin Buddhism in Modern Culture" ...

Available from: Honpa Hongwanji Bookstore, 1727 Pali Hwy., Honolulu, HI 96813;
ph. 808-522-9210 (information only);
Fax: 808-522-9209;
email:
hqbooks@lava.net

Cost
:
$25  Payment in U.S. funds only. Please add shipping and handling ($1.84, regular mail; $5.75, Priority Mail from anywhere on the mainland).

 

Living in Amida's Universal Vow: Essays in Shin Buddhism, edited by Dr. Bloom, World Wisdom Books ($19.95 at World Wisdom or $12.97 at Amazon).

This text brings together a variety of authors on Shin Buddhism from the Meiji period at the end of the 19th century to the present. They view Shin and its meaning from a variety of angles and offer many insights that will be helpful in understanding Shinran's teaching.

"Shin, the Buddhism of the heart, is the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan but it is still the least known in the west. This valuable collection of previously published articles, of interest to specialists and nonspecialists alike, will help to establish Shin in the English speaking world." -- Roger Corless, author: "The Vision of Buddhism: The Space Under the Tree." 

 

Dewdrops of Dharma: Forty- Eight Buddhist Viewpoints, by Rev. Koju Fujieda, Compiler; Dr. Alfred Bloom, Editor. (2006,117 pp.)

Rev. Koju Fujieda has put together out of his Temple experience a variety of short meditations for personal  contemplation. The volume will be helpful is focusing your reflections on Shin Buddhism and the various conditions of life.

Rev. Fujieda is the resident minister of the Ryokeiji Temple in Echizen city in Japan. He also has long experience in teaching English in the Fukui Medical University and presently at Jinai University.

The book can be ordered from the Honpa Hongwanji Bookstore (Fax: 808-522-9209; email: hqbooks@lava.net).

 

 

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