Customer Reviews

Traversing the Pure Land Path: A Lifetime of Encounters with Honen Shonin

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This is a wonderful book which presents the teachings of Honen, his disciples and successors with great clarity and feeling. The publication is of high quality and the use of beautiful colour plates adds to the aesthetic appeal of this important work. This is arguably the best single introduction, in English, to the Jodo school of Mahayana Buddhism and is heartily recommended to anyone who, not only wishes to understand the teachings of this school, but wants to gain a deeper insight into the religious experiences of Honen and his contemporary followers. This work includes a number of moving accounts of the profound spiritual awakening experienced by many Jodo seekers who came under the influence of Honen's powerful, charismatic yet humble personality. One is impressed by how this lively work manages to be both doctrinally illuminating and emotionally engaging. Watts and Tomatsu are to be congratulated on their fine efforts in producing such a handsome and compelling volume.

I am a Pure Land Buddhist and would recommend this book to anyone. It really won me over to the teachings of Honen. I have been a Shin Buddhist and now think that Honen's teachings are better than Shinran's. I am comfotable with saying this is a MUST read for a Pure Land Buddhist.