Ohara Questions and Answers

It is also called the Ohara Discussion. It refers to a meeting of scholars from various sects held at Ohara Shorin-in in Kyoto by Honen (Genku) (the founder of the Jodo sect) around 1186 (Bun'ei 2), at the request of Kenshin (who later became the head priest of Tendai), in which he expounded and discussed his own unique doctrine of the Pure Land. About a dozen people gathered, including Chogen of Todaiji, Myohen of the Sanron sect, Jokei of the Hosso sect, and Chikai and Shoshin of the Tendai sect, to discuss the doctrine of the Pure Land. When Honen preached the teachings of the Pure Land sect of Doshaku and Zendo from China and emphasized that only the practice of chanting the original vow of Amida Buddha could lead to enlightenment, it is said that Kenshin, Chogen and the rest of the audience were deeply impressed. This can be seen in works such as "The Biography of Honen Shonin," "The Western Guide to the West," "The Illustrated Biography of the Honsho Soshi," and "The Illustrated Biography of Honen Shonin."

[Mitsuyuki Ishida]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大原談義ともいう。1186年（文治2）ころ、浄土宗の開祖法然(ほうねん)（源空(げんくう)）が、のちに天台の座主(ざす)となる顕真(けんしん)の懇請によって、京都の大原勝林院(しょうりんいん)における各宗の学匠(がくしょう)の集会で、その独自の浄土の宗義を説き、談論したことをいう。東大寺の重源(ちょうげん)、三論宗の明遍(みょうへん)、法相(ほっそう)宗の貞慶(じょうけい)、天台宗の智海(ちかい)や証真(しょうしん)ら十数人が集まり、浄土の宗義について論じ問うた。法然が、中国の道綽(どうしゃく)、善導(ぜんどう)による浄土の一門の教えを説き、阿弥陀仏(あみだぶつ)の本願念仏の実践のみが悟りに至りうることを力説すると、顕真、重源はじめ聴衆一同は感銘を深くしたと伝える。そのようすは『法然上人(しょうにん)伝記』『西方指南抄(さいほうしなんしょう)』『本朝祖師伝記絵詞(えことば)』『法然上人絵伝』などにみられる。

［石田充之］

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