River of Fire, River of Water

Rating:
Summary: A Great Introduction To Shin Buddhism
Review: (4.75 Stars)

I need and want to read more about Pure Land Buddhism as I can't yet put into words what Shin Buddhism is. I know when I read reviews I like to fully know what the book is about etc and to be honest I cannot fully explain it, but I really enjoyed this.

I was unfamiliar with Shin Buddhism and actually after reading this book I want to know more.

I at first thought that Amida Buddha was a Christ type figure and that this sect of Buddhist worship him in that same way that Christians worship Christ.

Taitetsu Unno is a great story teller. I love the way this book is written. He compares aspects of Shin Buddhism with like or comparable aspects of other religions to help you understand. This is done in a non-competitive way and non-judgmental way that is so refreshing and helpful that you really get a good understanding of the concepts, ideas and feel of Shin.

Taitetsu Unno shares with the reader his own experiences, thoughts and feelings and I felt welcome on each page. The personal stories, examples and tales really helped me to understand with my head and heart - and it left me wanting to know more and wanting to share and be part of the namu-amida-butsu.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful introduction to a beautiful Buddhist tradition
Review: I used to look down on Pure Land Buddhism. This book turned my views all the way around. Tai Unno is a former college professor of Buddhist Studies and a very warm, admirable man. In "River of Fire, River of Water" he presents the heart of the Shin Buddhist path, a 800-year-old tradition of purely lay-oriented Buddhism (as opposed to the monastic-oriented traditions of Theravada, Zen, and Tibetan Vajrayana). Unno shows how Shin Buddhism aims to awaken the ordinary person in their everyday life, discovering wisdom and compassion through the difficulties and mistakes of parenthood, jobs, taxes, family life, etc. His book is accessible, personable, and spiritually insightful, well-balanced between the head of intellectual rigor and the heart of true entrusting in the awesome power of the Dharma to enlighten even the most confused, worldy person.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful introduction to a beautiful Buddhist tradition
Review: I used to look down on Pure Land Buddhism. This book turned my views all the way around. Tai Unno is a former college professor of Buddhist Studies and a very warm, admirable man. In "River of Fire, River of Water" he presents the heart of the Shin Buddhist path, a 800-year-old tradition of purely lay-oriented Buddhism (as opposed to the monastic-oriented traditions of Theravada, Zen, and Tibetan Vajrayana). Unno shows how Shin Buddhism aims to awaken the ordinary person in their everyday life, discovering wisdom and compassion through the difficulties and mistakes of parenthood, jobs, taxes, family life, etc. His book is accessible, personable, and spiritually insightful, well-balanced between the head of intellectual rigor and the heart of true entrusting in the awesome power of the Dharma to enlighten even the most confused, worldy person.

Rating:
Summary: Dharma for the Rest of Us
Review: Reading this book is the next best thing to participating in a seminar conducted by Dr. Unno. His gifts as a story teller are prodigious and extend the long tradition of transmitting the Dharma through allegory, humor and personal disclosure. One does not have to take the story of Dharmakara to be that of a literal historical personage, or even to be a Pure Land follower, to benefit from Dr. Unno's explication of the White Path parable. All skillfully delivered teachings reach us exactly where we are. Dr. Unno is a master of this art.

If you are interested in everyday Dharma, read this book... and also "Everyday Suchness" by Rev. Gyomay Kubose. Both of these books go to the heart of what it means to be a human being.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent beginning
Review: Rev. Taitetsu Unno is part of an esteemed family of Shin Buddhist teachers, priests, and scholars. So it's not surprising that someone of his background should create one of the best introductory texts on the subject.

This book's title comes from a Pure Land parable which encapsulates the premise of faith in "other power", namely that of Amida Buddha, which can best be described as the 'ur-Buddha' from whom all Dharmic wisdom and compassion springs. Specifically, Rev. Unno is writing here about the Jodo Shinshu school, one of the great schools of Japanese Buddhism which sprang from the Kamakura period of that nation's history, in the 12th and 13th centuries. Jodo Shinshu is, in fact, one of the largest sects of Mahayana Buddhism, but in the West is little-known outside of the Japanese ethnic community. But despite this ethnic concentration, the Shin faith is more or less a "Buddhism for Joe Average", irrespective of ones' skin color or land of origin.

The book is very well-written, and also well-organized given the amount...and often, complexity...of the information it imparts. Rev. Unno deftly opens up the teachings of Jodo Shinshu to anyone who might wish to learn, or for that matter might simply be curious. He deals excellently with both the historical perspective of this school, as well as the more complex philosophical issues posed by the Nembutsu-faith as well as its place in the mainstream of Mahayana thought.

Shin Buddhism is truly a faith that anyone can follow, without the complexities of what is referred to as "the path of difficult practice". And likewise, "River of Fire, River of Water" provides an uncomplex point of entry into this rich and enriching path. For anyone starting down this path, I would have to say that this...along with Dr. Kenneth Tanaka's "Ocean"...makes for an excellent point from which to begin. I recommend it unconditionally.

Rating:
Summary: A Long Overdue Book
Review: This is a remarkable book for many reasons. Those of us who are in search for answers to our real life can relate to the difficulty in receiving these things directly. Often we think that if we had more knowledge and wisdom we would not have taken that misstep. Maybe we need a special place to get it. And so we search to find a way to make that happen. If not now maybe in the future. Maybe Buddhism has that answer. But what is that Buddhism that we are turning to? Up until now, we in the west have been given a view of Buddhism of something monastic, meditative, austere, monolythic even. Ty Unno's book shows us an astounding alternative. He spells out a non-meditative, non-monastic path whose roots go back to Sakyamuni Buddha and whose place of practice is one's own immediate life. He points to a remarkable fact:: that there is no where else to go to get your own answer. The book cover belies what is within. Its not something austere, but something hot and on fire. The Pure Land path that Ty Unno spells out is still quite unbelievable to me. If I had to distill the book's message or the author's intent it would be the following:: that we grasp ourselves through our own being and because of our own missteps ("not despite"), what we thought was the cause of suffering becomes the entry into the world of wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. It doesn't seem to be a logical thing. So buy the book and check it out.

Rating:
Summary: Indispensable!!!
Review: This work is an indispensable contribution to understanding Pure Land Buddhism. I HIGHLY recommend it to all who are interested in this compassionate development within the Buddhist Way, whether as a general reader or, as in my case, as a sojourner on this path.