The phrase, “turning of the mind/heart” (eshin) refers to an unenlightened person becoming enlightened. It refers to a fundamental change in the mind and heart through some “condition” or “circumstance” (en).

Most religions have such an experience as their foundation. Shakyamuni Buddha became Enlightened at the age of 35. Jesus is said to have heard a voice from heaven proclaiming him the Son of God when he was about 30 years of age (the conversion of his disciple Paul on the way to Damascus is also well known). Mohammed announced that he received a revelation from Allah at about the age of 40.

Closer to our Jodo-Shinshu teaching, Master Honen, who founded the Jodo denomination of Buddha-dharma, wrote the following in his “A Collection of Selections” (Senjaku-shu):

Here, I, Honen, opened an ancient text (“Commentary on the Kangyo”) and as a result, stopped performing other religious practices and immediately relied on the Nembutsu.

This is said to have been during his 43rd year. As expressed in his own words, “I ... stopped performing other religious practices and immediately relied on the Nembutsu.” That was when he discarded the way of “self-centered effort” (jiriki) and accepted the way of “Buddha-centered power” (tariki).

In our Jodo-Shinshu tradition, in the Chapter on Transformed Buddha-Bodies and Land of his “Teaching, Practice, Faith and Attainment” (Kyogyoshinsho), the Venerable Master Shinran wrote: “I, Gutoku Shaku Shinran, disciple of Shakyamuni, abandoned the sundry practices and took refuge in the Primal Vow during the 1st year of Kennin.”

The 1st year of Kennin is 1201 AD, when the Venerable Master was 29 years of age. That was when he “abandoned the way of difficult practices and accepted the (way of Amida Buddha’s) Primal Vow.” In traditional Jodo-Shinshu terminology, this is referred to as turning away from the practice of “self-centered effort” and toward “Buddha-centered power.”

The religious commentators and scholars who emphasize the differences between the Venerable Master Shinran and Master Rennyo say, “Rennyo, who made a profession of religion, did not experience anything like a ‘turning of the mind.’” They add that, “While it is true that Rennyo resolved to revive the Hongwanji, he was not a pure religious personality.”