Some individuals criticize Master Rennyo by asserting that he ingratiated himself with those in authority while the Venerable Master Shinran’s position was anti-authority. They further assert that Master Rennyo incorporated the thought of “the two truths of the absolute and the conventional” (shinzoku nitai), which is not found in the Venerable Master Shinran’s thinking, into the Jodo-Shinshu teaching.

According to such persons, although the Venerable Master Shinran indicated that there is a distinction be-tween “absolute truth” (shintai, the way to Englightenment through birth in the Pure Land) and “conventional truth” (zokutai, the secular or moral path), they are actually the same. These scholars say that Master Rennyo erroneously divided the secular or moral path into two:

• “‘king’s law’ is primary” (obo ihon)
• “take the secular path” (seken tsuzu)

“‘King’s law’ is primary” urges making the laws of the land the basis for living your life. “Take the secular path” urges following the conventional ways of making a living, and is solely concerned about ingratiating yourself with those in authority, but both these positions are very much mistaken.

Both the Venerable Master Shinran and Master Rennyo emphasized the way of transcending the world of life and death, in other words, leaving the world of delusion and moving towards the world of enlightenment (the Pure Land). They were not concerned about political move-ments and attitudes such as being anti-authority or flattering those in power. Their concerns were not so petty.

What “Making the ‘King’s Law’ Primary” Refers To. In Letter 12, Fascle III, of the “Honorable Letters,” dated 27th day of the 1st month during the 8th year Bummei (1476 AD), is the following passage:

First of all, make the laws of the state fundamental and follow generally-accepted customs, giving priority to the principles of humanity and justice. Maintain the settled mind of our tradition deep within yourself and conduct yourself so the transmission of the dharma you have received will not be evident to those of other Buddhist denominations.