Aaron P. Proffitt

A chapter from Dr Proffitt’s thesis, showing Dohan’s (1179-1252) vision of the diversity of Pure Land practice, and how exoteric and esoteric conceptions of the nature of salvation are allowed to stand together in dialogic tension without necessarily being resolved. The basic intent of Dohan’s text is:

to reveal that even the purportedly “shallow,” or literalist, interpretation of the nembutsu is itself an expression of the “deepest” interpretation, and that the initial stage of aspiration for Buddhahood is equal to the final attainment of liberation.

Click here to view the PDF.

Follow this link to view the entire thesis (3.6MB), with thanks to Dr Proffitt and to Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan.