Of course, these divergences false teachings propagated by false teachers are not a new problem. False teachings were a confounding problem during Shinran’s lifetime indeed Shinran’s own son was such a false teacher, and Shinran had to disown him on that account. False teachings were a confounding problem after Shinran’s death, prompting his student Yuien to write the Tannisho, dipping his brush in his own tears (as he said) to make the distinction. False teachings were a confounding problem when Rennyo began his great work of restoration, calling Shin Buddhists to return to Shinran’s teaching in his own preaching and writing.

And false teachings divergences from Shinran’s teachings are still a confounding problem today.

Why are true teachers, whether Shinran, Yuien, Rennyo or Kobai, so concerned about TRUE teaching and distinguishing them from false teaching? Because false teachings confound the great purpose and the great compassion of Shakyamuni Buddha and Amida Buddha both. Why? Because there is no practice in Shin Buddhism other than listening deeply to the true teaching and reflecting on its meaning in our lives.

Unlike other types of Buddhism there’s just nothing else we need to DO. Indeed, one of Shinran’s most basic ideas is that there nothing else we CAN do to deal with our suffering in a full and final way, because of the age of Dharma Decline in which we live.

All we can do is open ourselves up to listen honestly, openly, willingly. Amida Buddha must do everything else. He make take on the burden of our transformation to Buddhahood entirely. We simply can’t get there to the far shore of full awakening from where we are right now in any other way.

That’s why a GOOD teacher - a TRUE teacher - invites us to listen with true intention deeply with both sides of our brain:

• By listening with or rational left-brain we learn the content of the TRUE teaching which is the CRITICAL place to begin according to Shinran and his true students such as Rennyo the Restorer and Professor Kobai, too. Shin Buddhism isn’t mushy mysticism there is CONTENT that must be understood, and digested, and finally accepted as Buddha’s TRUTH.
• By listening with our emotional right-brain we experience our hearts opening to the primal felt sense of our own need and the calling of Amida Buddha to entrust ourselves to HIM entirely. When both are present together, our felt desire for the end of suffering, and the clear understanding of what Shinran taught as he taught it, we are able to respond to Amida’s Light and Life by entrusting ourselves completely to Him, His Vow and His work. And thus, as Professor Kobai stresses, we experience the same SHINJIN the gift of Amida Buddha that Shinran did.

Here’s the bottom line:

Few in the West will care about Shin Buddhism as an obscure Japanese sect of Buddhism. Few will care about Japanese culture either. Speaking plainly I have no intrinsic interest in either.

But what I am interested in and care deeply about is what Buddha focused on, always and ever: the fundamental questions of suffering, and how to end suffering at last.

There are literally MILLIONS of people who are seeking answers to these, life’s hardest questions, just like me.