Shin Buddhism : Bits of Rubble Turn into Gold

Rating:
Summary: An excellent follow-up to "River of Fire..."
Review: Rev. Unno's book "Shin Buddhism: Bits of Rubble Turn Into Gold" is essentially a follow-up work to his wonderful introductory text "River of Fire, River of Water". But while that work provided an overview of Shin Buddhism in of itself, this work provides a broader view of how Shin Buddhism affects the lives of those who practice it, as well as exploring the deeper issues of the Nembutsu-faith.

Weaving a complex yet easily-understood tapestry from personal experience, anecdotes, Pure Land teachings, and philosophical insight, Rev. Unno unfurls an examination of the depth and breadth of impact of Jodo Shinshu in peoples' lives. This school of Mahayana Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu, is essentially a Buddhism for the common man, emphasizing faith in the "other power" of Amida Buddha as its central tenet, as opposed to the complex battery of practices eschewed by other (and more familiar to the West) schools of Buddhism. A branch of the Pure Land school which was formed in the early 13th century in Japan, Jodo Shinshu emphasizes the "true entrusting" in Amida, the embodiment of wisdom and compassion from which all Buddhist thought emanates. And while this form of Buddhism is largely unknown in the West outside of the ethnic Japanese community, it is a powerful...and easily-accessible...path among the 84,000 Paths to Enlightenment as the diverse streams of religious and philosophical thought are known in Buddhism.

Rev. Unno here shows us how this faith affects those who accept it, and why. Just as "River of Fire..." explained the 'what' of Jodo Shinshu, "Bits of Rubble..." explains the 'how' in like manner...which is clear, concise, and readily-understandable. As a text for both beginners/explorers and those steeped in the faith, it succeeds at delivering meaningful messages and points on which to ponder. I would suggest reading "River of Fire, River of Water" before this, as there seems to be something of a continuity from that book's information and manner of imparting it into this one's. But do read this one after that to gain valuable insight into what Shin brings into peoples' lives. Like that prior book, I recommend this one without hesitation.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent follow-up to "River of Fire..."
Review: Rev. Unno's book "Shin Buddhism: Bits of Rubble Turn Into Gold" is essentially a follow-up work to his wonderful introductory text "River of Fire, River of Water". But while that work provided an overview of Shin Buddhism in of itself, this work provides a broader view of how Shin Buddhism affects the lives of those who practice it, as well as exploring the deeper issues of the Nembutsu-faith.

Weaving a complex yet easily-understood tapestry from personal experience, anecdotes, Pure Land teachings, and philosophical insight, Rev. Unno unfurls an examination of the depth and breadth of impact of Jodo Shinshu in peoples' lives. This school of Mahayana Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu, is essentially a Buddhism for the common man, emphasizing faith in the "other power" of Amida Buddha as its central tenet, as opposed to the complex battery of practices eschewed by other (and more familiar to the West) schools of Buddhism. A branch of the Pure Land school which was formed in the early 13th century in Japan, Jodo Shinshu emphasizes the "true entrusting" in Amida, the embodiment of wisdom and compassion from which all Buddhist thought emanates. And while this form of Buddhism is largely unknown in the West outside of the ethnic Japanese community, it is a powerful...and easily-accessible...path among the 84,000 Paths to Enlightenment as the diverse streams of religious and philosophical thought are known in Buddhism.

Rev. Unno here shows us how this faith affects those who accept it, and why. Just as "River of Fire..." explained the 'what' of Jodo Shinshu, "Bits of Rubble..." explains the 'how' in like manner...which is clear, concise, and readily-understandable. As a text for both beginners/explorers and those steeped in the faith, it succeeds at delivering meaningful messages and points on which to ponder. I would suggest reading "River of Fire, River of Water" before this, as there seems to be something of a continuity from that book's information and manner of imparting it into this one's. But do read this one after that to gain valuable insight into what Shin brings into peoples' lives. Like that prior book, I recommend this one without hesitation.

Rating:
Summary: River of Fire, River of Water was a bit better
Review: This book is actually a sort of sequel to River of Fire, River of Water (Unno's other book on Shin Buddhism), and this one focuses more on the practical application of the Nembutsu faith in one's daily life. I started out as a practitioner of the idiotic "true Buddhism" of Nichiren Shoshu/the excommunicated lay society of Nichiren Shoshu; the Soka Gakkai, and when I escaped this mind controlling cult I got back into Zen Buddhism, particularly Chinese Zen (Ch'an). I admit that I sort of looked down on Pure Land Buddhism, because it resembled (or so I thought) the practice of the Soka Gakkai (chanting a phrase over-and-over), but you know what? I got a bunch of books on the philosophy of Jodo Shinshu/Pure Land Buddhism, and it seems that I might have been wrong!

Many of us "learned" Buddhists abhor "simple" practices, thinking that the ever complicated Tantric Buddhism of Tibet, ot the dogmaless "sitting" of Zen must somehow be the "better" forms of Buddhism because they ask so much of the Practitioner! This book, along with the aformentioned "River of Fire, River of Water", along with texts like D.T. Suzuki's "Buddha of Infinite Light: The Teachings of Shin Buddhism, the Japanese Way of Wisdom and Compassion", Kanamatsu's excellent "Naturalness: A Classic of Shin Buddism", and Alfred Bloom's (editor) modern day application "Living in Amida's Universal Vow: Essays on Shin Buddhism" are excellent primers in the basis as well as "advanced" practices of Shin Buddhism. If you want some "scriptural" support, then I suggest you order "The Land of Bliss: The Paradise of the Buddha of Measurless Light: Sanskrit and Chinese Versions of the Sukhavativyuha Sutras", translated by Luis O. Gomez. These are a great place to start, and most of them are fairly inexpensive.

I haven't really started practicing the Nembutsu yet, but I really think I will. This seems to be a great form of Buddhism to practice in the midst of everyday life, for everyday types of people. Don't let the simplicity fool you!

Remember to get this book along with the authors OTHER book on Shin, entitled "River of Fire, River of Water". It costs $19.00 from Amazon, although they usually don't have many copies on hand!

Good luck, kiddies!