Recommended Reading

Thanks to the efforts of so many, we have a wealth of reading available in English (and other languages).

If you are new to learning about Jodo Shinshu, or are a student of Buddhist or Religious studies, you may be slightly overwhelmed and not know where to start.

In this post we will look at ‘where to buy’ as well as ‘what to buy’ if you are just getting started in your studies. Here we will also add some links to files being shared by approved Honwanji-Ha websites such as the BCA archives and regional temple websites.

Where can I buy books?

* at the time of publishing this in Nov. 2020, the BCA bookshop was closed for staff and public safety (covid safety). as soon as the shop is open you will be able to buy books from the BCA bookshop as well as Hongwanji International Center, Japan *

You can view the current Honganji publications here: https://international.hongwanji.or.jp/html/c3p1.html

Ordering books from the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-Ha Hongwanji International Center (Hongwanji International Center) is fairly straightforward.

You will see a word or pdf order form at the top of the page. fill out the books you wish to purchase form them and email or fax the form to them with your contact details.

In Japan the fax machine is still a thing. If you want to fax your order form to Hongwanji International Center and do not have a fax machine, you can use this service for free: https://www.fax.plus/free-fax/ (the author has used this before to order books!) Their fax number is +81-75-371-4070.

A member of the Hongwanji International Center staff will contact you with a quote including shipping and an international transfer fee.

You may also want to check if you have a local temple or Shin Buddhist center near you that stocks the books of interest.

The current official Hongwanji publications in English as as follows:
*update November 2020*

  • Title :Letters of Shinran
  • ¥1,045
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :4-938490-0
  • pages :102
  • Title :Notes on ‘Essentials of Faith Alone’
  • ¥1,045
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :4-938490-02-1
  • pages :127
  • Title :Notes on Once-calling and Many-calling
  • ¥1,045
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :4-938490-03-X
  • pages :104
  • Title :Notes on the Inscriptions on Sacred Scrolls
  • ¥1,540
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :
  • pages :144
  • Title :Passages on the Pure Land Way
  • ¥1,540
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :4-938490-04-6
  • pages :142
  • Title :The True Teaching, Practice and Realization of the Pure Land Way (Volume II)
  • ¥2,090
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :
  • pages :351
  • Title :The True Teaching, Practice and Realization of the Pure Land Way (Volume III)
  • ¥2,090
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :
  • pages :472
  • Title :The True Teaching, Practice and Realization of the Pure Land Way (Volume IV)
  • ¥2,090
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :
  • pages :638
  • Title :Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought
  • ¥2,530
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • ISBN :
  • pages :372
  • Title :Hymns of the Pure Land
  • ¥1,540
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • ISBN :
  • pages :101
  • Title :Hymns of the Pure Land Masters
  • ¥1,540
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :
  • pages :98
  • Title :Hymns of the Dharma-Ages
  • ¥1,540
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :
  • pages :93
  • Title :A Record in Lament of Divergences
  • ¥880
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :4-89416-9207
  • pages :61
  • Title :The Collected Works of Shinran
  • ¥5,500
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :
  • pages :
  • Title :Letters of Rennyo
  • ¥1,100
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :4-938490-20-X
  • pages :164
  • Title :Jodo Shinshu, A Guide
  • ¥1,100
  • Author :Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
  • Language :English
  • ISBN : 4-89416-984-3
  • pages :174
  • Title :Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Service Book
  • ¥660
  • Author :Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :978-4-9384-9032-4
  • pages :173
  • Title :The Three Pure Land Sutra (Volume I)
  • ¥1,100
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :4-89416-969-X
  • pages :105
  • Title :The Three Pure Land Sutra (Volume II)
  • ¥1,650
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :978-4-89416-023-1
  • pages :151
  • Title :The Pure Land Writings Volume I The Indian Masters
  • ¥1,320
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :978-4-89416-026-2
  • pages :113
  • Title :The Pure Land Writings Volume II Tanluan
  • ¥1,980
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :978-4-89416-087-3
  • pages :235

To order any of the above publications please visit the following officail website: https://international.hongwanji.or.jp/html/c3p1.html


What do you recommend to read if I am new to Jodo Shinshu?

That depends entirely on your approach to learning. Many people will find diving in to scripture both challenging and confusing. Especially if you are unfamiliar with Mahayana Buddhist philosophy and the understanding and approach to the scriptures and commentaries of the Pure Land Masters by our founder Shinran Shonin.

For this reason I would highly recommend, before delving into the Collected Works of Shinran (CWS) and Pure Land Sutras and Pure Land Writings, to consider reading the following:

1. Jodo Shinshu – A guide
read the abridged version on the BCA (Buddhist Churches of America) website here: https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/jodo-shinshu-a-guide/

  • Title :Jodo Shinshu, A Guide
  • ¥1,100
  • Author :Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
  • Language :English
  • ISBN : 4-89416-984-3
  • pages :174

2. Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought

  • Title :Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought
  • ¥2,530
  • Author :Shin Buddhism Translation Series
  • ISBN :
  • pages :372


The above two publications are very useful in pointing you towards further reading.

This linked page on the BCA website – here – will provide you with a very good introduction to Jodo Shinshu.

If you are looking to start joining in with the many online services (note this was written during the covid19 epidemic in November 2020), you may want to have a copy of the Shin Buddhist Service Book.

There are a couple options here. Firstly you can buy the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Service Book as published by Hongwanji from the Hongwanji International Center book shop:

  • Title :Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Service Book
  • ¥660
  • Author :Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
  • Language :English
  • ISBN :978-4-9384-9032-4
  • pages :173

    Alternatively you can download the Shin Buddhist Service Book as compiled by the BCA here: Download PDF here


    This page was updated in November 2020

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

Gassho.

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