Essay 17

Turned into a perfectly dead man—

An absolute fool of the lowest capacity—

I am born into the Land of Utmost Bliss.

Birth in the Land of Utmost Bliss occurs by becoming a “totally illiterate (ichimon-fuchi)” person and being born there.

Honen Shōnin

It’s difficult to become a person who is “born in the Land of Utmost Bliss but remains ignorant” and “totally illiterate,” isn’t it?  You don’t want to be a “totally illiterate” person when it is obvious that you are one. That’s out of the question!

The Buddha-Dharma that you know, understand, remember and comprehend – none of these constitute shinjin. Shinjin is the true and real command (of the Tathagata), which penetrates the innermost being.

“Totally illiterate” refers to trusting and following the words of the Buddha; it also means having abandoned self-power.

Honen Shōnin was the foremost great scholar of the country of Japan; however, in front of the command (of the Tathagata) he became “totally illiterate.” “Totally illiterate” is the state in which your thoughts and calculations are completely exhausted.

Some say that “it’s best to know nothing as disciples.” However, “totally illiterate” and “layabout” are not the same.