Buddha of Infinite Light [Hardcover]

Daisetz T. Suzuki (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 10, 1998

Shin is the uniquely Japanese flowering of the type of Buddhism known as "Pure Land." It originated in the thirteenth century with the charismatic and prophetic figure Shinran (1172-1263), whose interpretation of the traditional Pure Land teachings were extremely influential in his own lifetime and remains so today. In a period when Japanese Buddhism was dominated by an elitist monastic establishment. Shinran's Shin teaching became a way of liberation for all people, regardless of age, class, or gender. Although Shin is one of Japan's greatest religious contributions—and is still the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Japan—it remains little known in the West. In this book, based on several lectures he gave in the 1950s, D. T. Suzuki illuminates the deep meaning of Shin and its rich archetypal imagery, providing a scholarly and affectionate introduction to this sometimes misunderstood tradition of Buddhist practice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

     This volume is a revised edition of a work first published in 1970 based on D.T. Suzuki's lectures at the American Buddhist Academy in the 1950s. Although Pure Land Buddhism originated in India, it flowered during the 13 th century in Japan under the teachings of Shinran (1172-1263). Devotees of this spiritual practice were drawn primarily from the peasant class.
     
     According to D.T. Suzuki, Amida Buddha is infinite light and eternal life. A simple repetition of his name with singleness of heart is to step into the Pure Land – a transcendent realm. This devotional path emphasizes faith in "other power." Salvation is all Amida's work: there is nothing one can do. In fact, pride (self-power) has no place in the Pure Land where everything is dependent on grace. As Taitetsu Unno points out in the introduction, Shin Buddhism agrees with Christianity on this point.
     
     The simple adoration involved in the vow "I take refuge in Amida Buddha" colors the everyday activities of Pure Land believers. Suzuki characterizes their lives as animated by humility, kindness, and joy. The way of devotion results in "excellence of person." And this state, in turn, emits "the wonderful of spirituality."—Frederic A. Brussat, Values and Visions , April 1998

About the Author

Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki (1870–1966) was one of the primary modern interpreters of Zen for the West. He is the author of many books, among them Manual of Zen Buddhism, Essays in Zen Buddhism, and Zen in Japanese Culture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 95 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st Shambhala ed edition (February 10, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570623015
• ISBN-13: 978-1570623011
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,730,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Land is Here, December 28, 2000

By 

Robin Friedman (Washington, D.C. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Buddha of Infinite Light (Hardcover)

The great scholar D.T. Suzuki is best known for his work on Zen. In "The Buddha of Infinite Light" Suzuki explores the "Pure Land" or "Shin" Buddhist tradition. This is the most widely followed Buddhist tradition in Japan.

The book consists of lectures Suzuki gave in 1958 to the American Buddhist Acadamy, New York City. They were first published in 1970 and were revised and edited by Professor Taitetsu Unno of Smith College in 1997.

The book is short but dense. It is not a mere summary of the Pure Land Tradition, valuable as that is for those coming to it without background, but a development and an interpretation of it.

Pure Land differentiates between an other-power, or Oya-sama in the spiritual life, in which we respond to a source outside ourself, and a self-power. Most Buddhist teachings, particularly the Theravada tradition, rely on self-power. The practitioner has to work out his own salvation through meditation and right practice and following the eight-fold path.

As I understand it, Pure Land is an other directed form of Buddhism which views Amida Buddha as the source of love, compassion, and the source of salvation. I don't think it quite equates to the Western concept of God, difficult as that concept is to explain. By reflection on Amida Buddha and the chanting of his name, the Pure Land Buddhist hopes to attain the Pure Land with the ultimate goal of Nirvana.

Suzuki writes (page 24)"Pure Land is right here, and those who have eyes can see it around them. And Amida is not presiding over an ethereal paradise; his pure Land is this defiled earth itself." Thus, contrary to what may be the usual interpretation of the Pure Land, Suzuki does not equate the Pure Land to an other worldy heaven but places it within us and our lives to be achieved by faith, practice, and sincerity.This interpretation, I think, tends to establish points of similarity between Pure Land (Shin) and Zen.

This is a learned book with discussions of Buddhist texts and history. As with his works on Zen, Suzuki draws illuminating parallels with western religious thinkers, particularly Eckhart. There is also a chapter I found particularly eloquent on Pure Land Myokinin. This is a term that applies to devoted followers who have attained spiritual understanding but who are not ordinarily learned in a traditional academic sense. Pure Land provides a form of salvation open to everybody willing to trust in Amida rather than an exercise that appeals only to the learned.

This would probably not be the best introduction to Buddhism for a person approaching it for the first time. The book explains the Pure Land tradition shortly but in depth. It shows the appeal of the movement. It thus does not simply present an interpretation of a foreign religious tradition but can help readers of all persuasions understand something of the nature of spiritual life.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine addition to a Shin Buddhism library, April 10, 2007

By 

Gerald Ford "pho_kin" (The Jack n' the Box at the corner) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Buddha of Infinite Light: The Teachings of Shin Buddhism, the Japanese Way of Wisdom and Compassion (Paperback)

D.T.Suzuki is well known in the West for his discussions on Zen Buddhism, but many are not aware that he has a strong background in Shin Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu) as well. His mother was a follower of Shin Buddhism, and has had a big influence on his life. This book is a good explanation of Shin Buddhism from the outside perspective of someone who isn't deeply involved in the more orthodox Hongwanji Branch of Shin Buddhism, but is nevertheless very familiar with it.

While many Shin Buddhism books explain what Shin Buddhism is, most are not well-suited Westerners who look at Shin Buddhism and have their doubts about Other-Power, the efficacy of the nembutsu, and so on. Suzuki nicely addresses these issues, and other concerns Westerners would have.

The book is short, but helps fill in gaps other Shin books leave wanting. This should be part of anyone's library if they're exploring Shin Buddhism, or wanting to take their knowledge further.

Namo Amida Butsu

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Were's the Zen, Mama?, December 28, 2004

By 

Brian J. Demascio "The devil made me do it!" (Novato, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Buddha of Infinite Light: The Teachings of Shin Buddhism, the Japanese Way of Wisdom and Compassion (Paperback)

Just kidding!

This is an excellent primer in Shin Buddhism, written by a man who I actually thought was only a practitioner/teacher of Japanese Zen. It's really cool how Suzuki, as well as a few others, can convey the Shin tradition in a way that resonates with those of us who have practiced Zen.

While this IS a great introduction and interpretation of Jodo Shinshu, this really isn't the best introduction to Buddhism as a whole. If you want to know more about basic Mahayana Buddhism, then I recommend you buy a few books by Thich Naht Han. If you want to learn about the Theravada, then read Kornfield. But by all means, look into this Shin Buddhist practice, because the more I study it, the more I am pursuaded that it might very well be the best form of Buddhism for those of us who have to work for a living and then take care of our familes, as opposed to those who "hide out" in the tranquility of Zen Centers, Dharma Retreats, and Kai Kans (damn things!).

Have fun!