Ocean
An Introduction to
Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism
in America
A Dialogue
with Buddhists & Others
Kenneth K. Tanaka
Kenneth Kenich Tanaka, (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley) was appointed in 1991 as the Rev. Yoshitaka Tamai Professor at the Institute of Buddhist Studies (an affiliate of Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley). During this tenure, he has also served as minister at the Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church. His publications include The Dawn of Chinese Pure Land Buddhist Doctrine (State University of New York Press), The Faces of Buddhism in America (coeditor) (The University of California Press), Engaged Pure Land Buddhism (coeditor) (WisdomOcean Publications), and booklets for popular audience. He is an active participant in the Buddhist Council of Northern California and inter-faiths activities.
HOME now PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE PART FOUR
Preface
Abbreviations and Conventions
Introduction: Ocean Parable
PART ONE Foundation
Chapter 1 The Heart of Buddhism: Trunk of the Tree
Chapter 2 Buddhism Today: A Personal View
Chapter 3 Buddhist Development: Branches of the Tree
PART TWO Legacy
Chapter 4 Shinran Shonin: A Humble Challenger
Chapter 5 Historical Legacy: Ten Watershed Events From India to North America
Chapter 6 Jodo-Shinshu Path: Simple Yet Not Easy
PART THREE Spirituality
Chapter 7 Shinjin Awareness
Chapter 8 Ocean and the Drowning Self: A Personal View
Chapter 9 Amida Buddha: A Buddhist “God”?
Chapter 10 The Pure Land: Its Spiritual Meaning
PART FOUR Action
Chapter 11 Karma: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Chapter 12 Conduct: Daily Activities and Participation in the World
Appendix IVII Key Historical Dates
Appendix IIVI Life Chronology of Shinran Shonin
Appendix IIIV Kyosho: Preamble of Jodo-Shinshu
Appendix IVII The Ten Branches of the Jodo-Shinshu School
Appendix VIII Resources in North America: Jodo-Shinshu Nishi Honganji Branch Affiliated
Appendix VIII When Confronted by Non-Buddhist Fundamentalists
Glossary
Further Readings
Index A
Index B