“If in a Shin Buddhist temple the nembutsu is seldom heard, that is the most serious disease that can afflict that temple. It is evidence that true faith has not pervaded the temple family, its traditional followers or Dharma friends. You must pronounce the nembutsu!” From The One Sheet Teaching by Daigyoin Reion Takehara.

“The garden at Three Wheels, where every rock has its own place and all the rocks are harmoniously interrelated, is for me a symbol of our Samgha.” Dharma friend who visited Three Wheels for the Otorikoshi Ceremony.

“What is meant by ‘listening to the Buddha-dharma’ is a growing determination that one's life's work is to confirm the given faith over and over again.” From The One Sheet Teaching by Daigyoin Reion Takehara.

“The utmost ignorance is doubt. Where then does doubt reside? It is to be found between my good teacher (Other-Power) and me (self-power). Because of this same ignorance I cannot enjoy true encounter with those around me, for I am unable to attain the state of ‘entrusting the self [to Amida Buddha] and helping others do so too'. This state of mind is called the World of Indolence.” Senior priest at the temple.

“Why do we doubt the wisdom of the Buddha? It is because we are shackled by the mind [that believes in the law] of unhappiness [coming from wrongdoings] and happiness [coming from good deeds]. This mind of unhappiness and happiness is the very source of ignorance.” Senior priest at the temple.

“The ignorance Shinran Shonin became aware of stands not only for the ignorance we are fully conscious of but also for that other fundamental ignorance called darkness inherent in our genes from time immemorial.” Senior priest at the temple.

“It says in the Avatamsaka Sutra, ‘If you talk about a good teacher then that in itself encompasses the source of all Buddhist practices’. It is through the working of Amida Buddha that you are able to see and respect those around you, objects of your like and dislike, as Buddhas and good teachers. This is the very essence of Shin Buddhism.” Head Priest at the Equinoctial Meeting.

“The Dharma names graciously bestowed upon my parents were chiin, ‘to know the cause’ and josho, ‘consistent effort’. I feel as if my parents were always calling to me with the admonition, ‘become aware through faith of the right cause [for birth in the Pure Land] and always endeavor to follow the way.” A resident of a taya house.

“The entire length of our great history is condensed into the instantaneous attainment of faith. It is extremely important for us to understand this point.” Head Priest.

“It is often said we should never judge by appearances. We ought never to allow ourselves to be influenced by a person's looks in such a way that we judge them self-centeredly. Rather we should strive honestly to make contact with the Buddha-nature of those that stand before us.” Resident of a taya house.

“Daigyoin-sama said, ‘The Buddha is neither a solid, not a fluid, nor a gas. His body in its shining gold manifestation is not his essence. Everything is included in the nembutsu through which you can learn to respect those around you, objects of your love and hate, as your own personal Buddhas.’ Ekai-sama said that it was at the precise moment she first heard these words from her master, Daigyoin-sama, that she attained faith.” Head Priest.

“Despite the fact that my own nature is ‘dark’, it is through practising Gagaku music in accordance with my master’s command that I am now in receipt of ‘brightness’.” The Director of the Chikushi Gakuso (Gagaku group of Shogyoji Temple).

“Although I always thought of my goal in life of entering a taya house as being a renunciation of the world, I was very surprised to learn that it is precisely at this point that we can start benefiting others along with ourselves.” Dharma friend at Kasugayama.