Hounen (founder of Pure Land Buddhism)

Honen (1133–1212) was a Japanese monk and the founder of Pure Land Buddhism, a significant school of thought within Mahayana Buddhism. He emphasized that faith in the Amitabha Buddha, rather than strict meditation or complex rituals, is the path to enlightenment and rebirth in the Pure Land, a realm of peace and bliss. Honen taught that through the simple practice of reciting the Nembutsu—"Namu Amida Butsu" (I take refuge in Amitabha Buddha)—anyone, regardless of their spiritual background, could attain salvation. His teachings made Buddhism more accessible to ordinary people, emphasizing devotion and faith over intense scholarly study.