Book Reviewer:�
Alfred Bloom, author of Shinran's Gospel of Pure Grace

"An original and highly stimulating approach. Honen, the founder of the Pure Land sect, has been greatly underestimated and neglected in modern studies of Japanese Buddhism. Notable for making connections with Christian liberation theology and for establishing the social significance of the Pure Land movement, this book will make excellent reading in courses on world religion, Japanese religion, and religion in society."�

Book Reviewer:
Kenneth K. Tanaka, Musasino Women's University, Tokyo

"Machida has thrust Honen to his deserved place at the center stage of Pure Land Buddhist development. We are drawn closer to Honen as a person and spiritual genius who not only esta- blished Pure Land as an independent tradition but also impacted the over all Japanese Buddhist ethos of his time. the West's perception of Pure Land Buddhism has been forever trans formed by this superb work."

Book Reviewer:
Taitetu Unno

"Soho Machida's original, provocative study of Honen secures his place in Japanese intellectual history; and [Honen's] bold advocacy of Pure Land practice forms a watershed in Japanese Buddhism, dividing the old from new , hierarchical from egalitarian elitist from popular faith."