Honen

Honen was a Japanese Buddhist monk in the 12th century who founded the Jodo Shu school, emphasizing salvation through devotion to Amida Buddha. He believed that reciting the nembutsu—a phrase expressing reliance on Amida—was sufficient for achieving rebirth in the Pure Land, a blissful afterlife. Honen's teachings made Buddhism more accessible to ordinary people by focusing on simple faith practices rather than complex rituals. His approach challenged traditional practices and helped spread Pure Land Buddhism across Japan, influencing many future Buddhist movements and shaping Japanese religious culture.