Jodo Shinshu Correspondence Course

Anyone considering taking the Jodo Shinshu Correspondence Course should end their procrastination and apply to enroll.  I came up with two personal reasons to enroll in the course, i.e., to learn more about Jodo Shinshu since I "are" one and secondly to reinforce my learnings.  In the one-half year since I've begun the course I believe I've managed to accomplish my personal goals.  To say the course is intellectually stimulating is an understatement.  The course manages to go deep into the history of Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu. What's even more intriguing is I believe the student can go as deep as he or she chooses.  The cadre of advisors would probably appreciate and certainly welcome anyone wishing to do so. 

Richard Nishihara (Hawaii)

Through the Jodo Shinshu Correspondence Course, I am privileged to have access to many of the great minds active in Jodo Shinshu thought today. It is useful to have a grounding in basic concepts and to be able to test my perceptions by putting them in writing and receiving comments from the faculty.  I hope this is a first step in preparation for the ministry.

Cynthia Wong (BCA)

 "As a member of the pilot program, I have been privileged to be part of the evolution of the JSCC course from "an idea" to a comprehensive on line learning opportunity about Jodo Shinshu.  The learning material is comprehensive with excellent reading resources and a good selection of questions to choose from for essay responses.  The instructors are positive, timely and thorough.  I am so grateful to have this opportunity to learn more about Jodo Shinshu.  I highly recommend this course as a positive learning experience that will broaden and deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Dharma." 

Renae Barlow (Canada) 

 I enrolled in the Fall of 2008 and am now near the end of first year of the 2 year program.  The course content has been excellent and well presented.  It has helped me to put the dharma talks and special lectures at our temple into context and has provided better understanding of them which in turn has helped with the course.  Also, the reference materials and the reading room articles have been useful and informative as have been the instructor comments on the written assignments.  And they will continue to be so after the course.  The course encourages me to learn and practice more.   I would recommend this course for anyone wishing to learn more about Buddhism in general or about Jodo Shinshu. 

Elmer Morishita (Canada)

I just wanted to express my gratitude to the Jodo Shinshu Center for their correspondence course. Last year, I relocated to rural Nevada where I was unable to attend weekly services and Dharma study classes. Fortunately, I heard about the online course which was an excellent opportunity for me to remain connected with Nishi Hongwanji and further my Jodo Shinshu studies.

The course material gave me a deeper understanding of Shinran Shonin's teachings. I also learned more about the Three Pure Land Sutras, the history of Hongwanji and the many accomplishments of the early Monshus. I particularly appreciated the guidance from the various online instructors; it was like having access to my own faculty of Dharma scholars.

Greg Sutton (BCA)

In the age of the internet, this correspondence course offered through the Jodo Shinshu Center, is a great opportunity to continue the work “mass propagational work” of Rennyo Shonin, and bringing the Teachings to the general public.

Students and teachers alike from all across the world are able to communicate through this medium and offer their understanding of the concepts through responses to assignments, and chat rooms and various other activities.  The assignments challenge not only your understanding, but also challenges you to search within yourself for answers. 

Through this course I was able to make great contacts with some of the ministers and recently through karmic circumstances, had the opportunity to work with and meet one of ministers from over seas.  That was a great chance that I will cherish for a long time.

This course also encourages the students to have a better relationship with a minister though their local temple, especially in times when there are uncertainties with some of the materials that are presented.  Through this student-teacher relationship between the student and minister, a Buddhist Education Program within the temple could be nurtured.

Through this course, one is able to learn, whether it’s for the first time, or get a better understanding of General Buddhism, the Teachings of Jodo Shinshu and other topics, by being exposed to a “global classroom”.

Even after going through Tokudo, the experience and the materials presented in this course proved more than useful in the pursuit of further studying the Teachings even more.  Even if it was only the pilot program that I participated in, I’ve learned so much, and further built on the foundation of my understanding. 

Like a “pilot episode” on television, I am eager to “tune in” even as the real program starts up in the fall.  I am very tempted to take the full course.

 David Fujimoto (Hawaii) 

The Center for Buddhist Education launched a pilot program for a computer-based correspondence course this year.  I had the fortune to be one of these initial students. 

This course presented an introduction to the history and underlying principles of Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.  I found it to be a true learning experience:  It provided an opportunity to carefully consider some of the ideas and insights underlying our spiritual path.

The course material was divided into four sections.  The first section presented the story of Sakyamuni and analyzed the teaching of the historical Buddha.  The second section covered the life of Shinran Shonin and explained the doctrines of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.  In the third section, Jodo Shinshu was placed in the context of the Pure Land sutras and the teachings of the Pure Land masters.  The fourth and final section covered the history of Jodo Shinshu following Shinran.

It is true that the benefit you gain from a course such as this is very much dependent upon the effort you put into it.  The Center for Buddhist Education, however, has provided informative reading materials and thought-provoking essay questions to guide this process.  Especially valuable were the instructors' perceptive comments on the submitted essays.

Lloyd Tsukishima (Canada)

I found the program to be extremely valuable. I discovered new sources of information about Shin Buddhism, and new perspectives through the course notes and recommended readings. Shin Buddhism can be a difficult path to understand for those of us not born into it, and so we may need to study widely and for a prolonged period before coming to what feels like a sincere apprehension of the teachings of Shinran. Fortunately, opportunities such as this program are increasing. I would like to express my appreciation  to the course leaders and administrators for their thoughtful comments and prompt response to queries.

Rosemary Moore (Australia)