Unit 11: Birth in the Pure Land with a Dark Mind

In Koreyama-Wajou’s Talk on the Anjin Ketsujosho, there is a saying of ‘birth in the Pure Land even with a dark mind’. Birth in the Pure Land even with a dark mind! He does not make any claim about ‘it won’t do without brightening our minds’ or ‘it won’t do without realization’. Birth in the Pure Land even with a dark mind! It can be confusing to preach such a sermon as this. What I have said is not wrong, but it is dangerous if you discuss it carelessly.

There are people who are trying to manipulate what I have just said, and question, ‘How can birth in the Pure Land take place even with a doubting mind?’ They are bewildered about the ‘dark mind’ and the ‘doubting mind’. It simply will not do to confuse these two aspects. Although you possess a ‘dark mind’, what you believe in remains your belief. Birth in the Pure Land even with a dark mind! There cannot be any doubt whatsoever. When you talk about ‘birth in the Pure Land even with a doubting mind’, this is mi-anjin, or false faith.

Note:

Koreyama-Wajou is 是山和上 in kanji.  His real name is Ekaku Koreyama.

(My appreciation to Mr Vincent and Mr Sinkin Fujihara for providing this piece of information.)