Today, Shinran Shonin is considered the light of the world. He was born
in 1173, in Kyoto, Japan, and passed away in 1262. During this period,
Shinran Shonin taught continuously about Amida Buddha, and Amida Buddha's
Hongan. His masterpiece is the book Kyogyo Shinsho, which is divided into
six volumes, respectively, Kyo, Gyo, Shin, Sho, Shinbutsudo, and Keshindo.
The following are the words of Shinran Shonin that appears in the beginning
of Kyogyo Shinsho: "The Great Promise, which is beyond our imagination,
is a grand ship that carries us through the ocean of suffering. The Light
without obstacles is the sun of wisdom which forever eliminates the dark
mind." "The Great Promise, which is beyond our imagination"
refers to Amida Buddha's Hongan. Amida Buddha's promise is compared to
a great ship, which carries us through the ocean of suffering that means,
our life.
Throughout his life, Shinran Shonin taught about Amida Buddha's Hongan.
He devoted his entire life to guide people to achieve the salvation of
Amida Buddha by asserting them that Amida Buddha's Hongan is a promise
that saves all beings into absolute happiness. Shinran Shonin tells about
his own experience of being saved through the following words of his book
Kyogyo Shinsho: "I have embarked on the Hongan's ship made by the
Great Compassion. I have floated on a vast Ocean of Light. The
winds of virtue blow peacefully transforming the waves of misfortune into
happiness."