PURE LAND NOTES

Jodo Shinshu Creed

MIHOTOKE NO CHIKAI O SHINJI
TOTOI MINA O TONAETSUTSU,
TSUYOKU AKARUKU
IKINUKIMASU

MIHOTOKE NO HIKARI O AOGI
TSUNENI WAGAMI O KAERIMITE,
KANSHA NO UCHI NI
HAGEMIMASU

MIHOTOKE NO OSHIE NI SHITAGAI
TADASHII MICHI O KIKIWAKETE,
MAKOTO NO MINORI O
HIROMEMASU

MIHOTOKE NO MEGUMI O YOROKOBI,
TAGAI NI UYAMAI TASUKEAI,
SHAKAI NO TAMENI
TSUKUSHIMASU

The Pure Land Buddhist Fellowship was founded in the early1970's by a small group friends who had for themselves similarly 'discovered' or 'been touched' by some form of Pure Land Buddhism. These people were not 'converted' to Buddhism by anyone apart from the Buddha himself, and through their own studies of the few text books available in English at that time.

The Jodo Shinshu teaching was first introduced into Europe during the mid-1950's when Harry Pieper, a German man known for his deep interest in Pure Land teachings became the first European to receive the confirmation rite (tokudo). [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Pieper]

Here In the UK the first to make contact with authentic Jodo Shinshu at its fountain head in Japan was Jack Austin (1917-1993).

Jack began an extensive series of correspondences with Hongwanji priest Reverend Zuiken Inagaki (1885-1981) in 1949. Some thirty years later and with the active involvement of Rev Zuio Hisao Inagaki, Zuiken Inagaki's son, Jack and other friends including Max Flisher and Jim Pym became the founding members of the Shin Buddhist Association of Great Britain. At that time Jack was the Development Officer for the World Congress of Faiths, and Hisao was Lecturer in Buddhism at the School of Oriental and African Studies at London University.

After Jack became ill the SBA (which was a registered charity) was dissolved. However, a small group including Max and Jim continued to meet regularly but informally at Hisao Inagaki's house. This grew later to become the PLBF.

Because members of the PLBF were geographically scattered a single sheet of news was posted to interested parties. Jack and Hisao had made links with a number of people in mainland Europe, and it seemed reasonable to send them the sheet of news. This newsletter has now grown to become Pure Land Notes, the journal of the Pure Land Buddhist Fellowship and with Gary Robinson as its editor and Jim Pym as assistant editor PLN is produced at Saha House and distributed world-wide from there.

Annual subscription to 4 quarterly issues of the hard copy Journal only £12 UK, £13.50 Europe/Mid East, £15 USA/Far East inc. p&p

Back issues available at just £12 for a set of four including post and packaging. £13.50 Europe/Mid East, £15 USA/Far East.

Order securly through PayPal. A message box is included on the ordering page. Use this space to request "Annual Subscription" or to specify which back issues you require.

If you would like to communcate directly with me in regard to paying for subscription by a cheque in the post, to order individual back issues or simply make any comment please email: gary@purelandnotes.com or phone me here at my home office on (023) 80 837 145.

Special Promotional Offer: Simply email or phone for a FREE COPY of the current issue of Pure Land Notes.
Just ask and I will have one off in the post to you a.s.a.p.!

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO PURE LAND NOTES
Annual subscription: £12 UK, £13.50 Europe/Mid East, £15 USA/Far East inc. p&p for 4 quarterly issues

BY POST
Please send your name and address and a cheque or postal order made payable to
The Pure Land Buddhist Fellowship to:
PLN. 6 Southcliff Road, Southampton SO14 6FH

ONLINE
Please use the simple form below to pay now with you debit or credit card using PayPal.
You can pay from anywhere - note that payment will be in GBP. You do not need to be a member of PayPal to pay with your credit card.

Send me the Journal to an address in the following region (choose option). Price shown includes postage & packing:

orders accepted worldwide

Payment transactions are not handled by purelandnotes but separately and securely through PayPal.
*Your address is not used for any purpose other than to send you Pure Land Notes and it is not passed on to any other party at any time. Your email address is equally respected.
PayPal, the industry standard, is the quickest and safest way to pay for goods and services online and you do not have to be a member of PayPal to use it.
Please CLICK HERE to view PayPal's own "What is PayPal and how does it work?" Help Centre page for information.

Jodo Shinshu Creed translation into English.

Entrusting the Vow of the Buddha and reciting the Sacred Name, I shall proceed through the journey of life with strength and joy.

Revering the Lightof the Buddha, reflecting upon my imperfect self, I shall strive to live a life of gratitude.

Following the Teachings of the Buddha, discerning the Right Path, I shall spread the True Dharma.

Rejoicing in the Compassion of the Buddha, respecting and aiding one another, I shall do my best to work towards the welfare of society.