It is true that Master Rennyo did not explicitly describe a “turning of the mind” such as Master Honen experienced at the age of 43 or that the Venerable Master Shinran experienced at the age of 29.

Still, there are mentions in his writings and in writings about him that can be taken for a similar type of experience. For example, in “Gleamings in ‘Heard and Recorded During Master Rennyo’s Lifetime’” (Shui Rennyo Shonin Ichidaiki Kikigaki), there is the passage:

A person whose shinjin was settled said he had forgotten the year, as well as the month and day that he began relying on Amida Buddha. He asked Master Rennyo whether it was all right that he could not recall the exact time he began relying on Amida Buddha. (Master Rennyo replied) that the shinjin of some was determined far in the past and therefore they may have forgotten when it was. But even if sentient beings forget (the time/date), Amida never does. Once you are within Amida’s Vow (he concluded), you will never be abandoned.

In other words, a person whose shinjin was settled asked Master Rennyo: “I have forgotten the year, month and day that I began relying upon Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow (received shinjin). Is it all right that I don’t recall the exact date?”

In reply, Master Rennyo said the shinjin of some was settled long ago, and therefore it is natural that they don’t recall the exact year, month and day it happened. But even if sentient beings (we) forget, the Buddha will never do so, nor will he ever abandon us.

If Master Rennyo did not have the experience of “turning of the mind,” he may well have replied to this question with, “Some may remember the year, month and day they began relying on Amida Buddha (received shinjin)...,” or “There couldn’t be any who remember such a time...” But Master Rennyo’s reply was, “The shinjin of some was settled long ago, and therefore natural that they don’t recall the exact year, month and day it happened,” i.e., that some may have forgotten. From this we can infer that at some point in his life, Master Rennyo, like Master Honen and the Venerable Master Shinran, must have had a “turning of the mind” experience that would lead him to reply as he did.

Further, in Letter One of Facile One of his “Honorable Letters” (Gobunsho), Master Rennyo quotes a poem attributed to Kumagai Nyudo (1141 - 1208 AD):

Long ago,
My joy was wrapped in my sleeves–
But, tonight,
(I am so overwhelmed)
It’s more than I can contain.