Hard Questions on the Easy Path

An Introduction to the Series

An upcoming series of posts, entitled “Hard Questions on the Easy Path,” tackles common questions that both beginners and veterans ask of the study of Jōdo Shinshū. In particular, it is targeted towards a set of twenty topics that constitute what has traditionally been conceived of as differently settled faith or i-anjin (異安心) from the perspective of Jōdo Shinshū Hongwanji-ha. These are sometimes understood as “heterodox” or “wrong” views. However, they are views that may be perfectly legitimate in other forms of Pure Land Buddhism, but deviate from the understanding established in the tradition of Shinran and Rennyo. Therefore, the literal translation of “differently settled faith” is more appropriate—it is different from the one we have come to understand. But we must also understand why these views are “different” from our tradition’s views. In other words, why does our tradition reject them in favour of what came to be orthodox understandings? To this end, I shall take the time to explain the Shinshū response to these forms of differently settled faith in the form of answers to common questions. These can then serve as go-to posts to which I can point people who ask these questions, and I plan to, after all twenty have been completed, turn this series into a short book. Therefore, I would appreciate any feedback or comments that could help improve these posts.