Kanamatsu's Naturalness, written in 1949, is more than an introduction to the essence of Shin Buddhism. It is a profound and enlightened meditation on the relationship between man and Amida Buddha, who is pure mercy and whose Name is a vehicle of Nirvanic Reality. Combining the erudition of a philosopher with the sensitivity of a poet, Kanamatsu leads the reader into the heart of the subject where man may unite with the Buddha-Nature even in the ordinary activities of everyday life. The deep compassion and beautiful simplicity of this classic work-- which like a haiku speaks volumes with few words-- will appeal to all people who seek a spiritual antidote to the artificiality and ugliness that causes much of the suffering in our world.

"For a religion to be meaningful, its practice must be accessible to any and everyone. That is, it must be personally relevant to the individual's daily life. This truth appears to have been ingrained in the life and thought of the author of the book Naturalness. The author was born and raised in a temple belonging to the Shin Buddhist Tradition of Shinran. That is, as a youth, he was always surrounded by the Nembutsu. Ever since his early childhood, the author must have fully appreciated Shinran's Teachings, which made clear the reality of the Nembutsu--that is, the reality of the Nembutsu as "the heart" that penetrates deeply into, and reverberates there as the essential foundation of an individual's existence and life, doing so as a "basal pure feeling."

To the author, the living Nembutsu tradition of Shin Buddhism was borne witness to by the Buddha himself; Ananda, his personal attendant; the patriarchs of the Nembutsu lineage in India, China, and Japan, up to Shinran's Teacher, Honen; and paradoxically, to the sinful, ignorant farmer named Shoma. For the author, Shoma is a powerful example of the reality of the Nembutsu being universally and unconditionally accessible to any and everyone in a manner that is profoundly relevant to one's everyday life.

The author's wife has contributed a postscript to the Japanese language version of Naturalness, in which she notes that the author had devoted his life to the study of Plato, repeatedly saying that it is important for all beings to remind themselves of their state of "not knowing"; i.e., of their fundamental ignorance. I believe this to be crucial, for in the author's life, it is my belief that the Socratic life of "Know thyself" coincides with the spirit of the Nembutsu that is bestowed more so on those who happen to bear the burden of being sinful and ignorant.

This book, Naturalness, without a doubt, deserves a careful and attentive reading by those who are not only concerned about their own inward state, but also by those who are concerned with the state of the world; i.e., the outward state, and the rise of the materialistic egoism of science and technology, the possibility of ecological and nuclear extinction, and--at the present moment--of terrorism. I personally feel honored to be asked to write this brief commentary, and I do so, hoping that at the very least, that my comments in no way will detract from the beautifully presented perennial message of the profound spirituality and religiosity of the Nembutsu."

—Mokusen Miyuki, California State University at Northridge

Publisher’s Foreword On Naturalness

Shin, or Pure Land, is the flower of Japanese Buddhism. Although it is less well known in the West than Zen, Vipassana or Tibetan Buddhism, its message of holy freedom, or naturalness, which arises when man conforms with sincere attachment to the Eternal saving will of the Buddha, has been an illuminating way of spiritual awakening for multitudes of Japanese people since the sixth century when Buddhism came to Japan.

Kanamatsu's Naturalness, written in 1949, is more than an introduction to the essence of Shin Buddhism. It is a profound and enlightened meditation on the relationship between man and Amida Buddha, who is pure mercy and whose Name is a vehicle of Nirvanic Reality. Combining the erudition of a philosopher with the sensitivity of a poet, Kanamatsu leads the reader into the heart of the subject where man may unite with the Buddha-Nature even in the ordinary activities of everyday life. The deep compassion and beautiful simplicity of this classic work-which like a haiku speaks volumes with few words-will appeal to all people who seek a spiritual antidote to the artificiality and ugliness that causes much of the suffering in our world.

Very few books have appeared in the West on the Shin tradition, yet D.T. Suzuki-recognized as the foremost exponent of Buddhism to Western culture-has characterized Shin Buddhism as Japan's major religious contribution to the West. Kanamatsu's Naturalness allows the reader to experience that "even here lies the other shore waiting to be reached-yes, here is the Eternal Present, not distant, not anywhere else."