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Explores the potential significance of Japanese Pure Land Buddhist Thought in the contemporary world, and provides a new model of interreligious dialogue as Buddhist thinkers engage with Christian theologians concerned with the present-day significance of their own tradition.
2000CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title
Toward a Contemporary Understanding of Pure Land Buddhism offers proposals for creatively reinterpreting the Pure Land path. Japanese Pure Land thought brought about a major development in Buddhist tradition by evolving a path to enlightenment that is pursued while carrying on life in society. It is rooted in the Mahayana ideal of compassion and in the bodhisattva, or being of wisdom, who vows to ferry all living things to the other shore of awakening.
In this book, three Buddhist scholars utilize hermeneutic thought, process theology, and the mandala contemplation of Buddhism to address issues of modernity and religious values in the world today. In addition, the work proceeds to offer a new model of interreligious dialogue. Gordon D. Kaufman and John B. Cobb, Jr. reflect critically on the Buddhist proposals, drawing on their long experience as religious philosophers facing questions concerning the contemporary applicability of Christian thought.
Contributors include John B. Cobb, Jr., Dennis Hirota, Gordon D. Kaufman, Musashi Tachikawa, and John S. Yokota.
"Pure Land Buddhism is well-poised for dialogue in relation to postmodern issues. The interdisciplinary and cross-religious discussions represented in this book are a fine start." — Thomas P. Kasulis, Ohio State University
"This book goes beyond any Japanese works in its efforts to make Pure Land Buddhism meaningful for contemporary people, whether East or West." — Taitetsu Unno, Smith College
A Note on the Format
Introduction
Dennis Hirota
Part One
Contemporary Interpretations of Pure Land Buddhist Tradition
1. Images of Reality in the Shin Buddhist Path
A Hermeneutical Approach
Dennis Hirota
2. Understanding Amida Buddha and the Pure Land
A Process Approach
John S. Yokota
3. Mandala Contemplation and Pure Land Practice: A Comparative Study
A Buddhological Approach
Musashi Tachikawa
Part Two
Responses from Two Western Religious Thinkers
4. Pure Land Buddhism Today
Some Methodological Issues in Recent Revisionist Interpretations
Gordon D. Kaufman
5. A Christian Critique of Pure Land Buddhism
John B. Cobb, Jr.
Part Three
Reconsiderations of Buddhist Theological Reflection
6. Dialogic Engagement and Truth
Dennis Hirota
7. A Call to Compassion
John S. Yokota
8. The World and Amida Buddha
Musashi Tachikawa
Afterword
Dennis Hirota
Bibliography
List of Contributors
Index