Bencho

Benchō (弁長 1162-1238), is considered the second patriarch of the main Chinzei branch of the Jodo Shu sect of Japanese Buddhism, after Hōnen. He is often called by another name: "Shokobo Bencho" (聖光房弁長) or just "Shoko". According to biographies, he first ordained as a priest of the Tendai sect at the age of fourteen, and entered Enryakuji temple in 1183. He first met Hōnen in 1197. Later, after Hōnen and many of his followers were exiled in 1207, Shoko was exiled on the island of Kyūshū and taught the practice of the nembutsu there.

Unlike other disciples of Hōnen, Shoko favored studying the more traditional Buddhist paths along with the and the Pure Land path. He also criticized the interpretations by other disciples of Hōnen, particularly Kōsai and Shōkū, who emphasized the nembutsu over other practices. However, unlike Chōsai, his teachings still emphasized repeated recitations of the nembutsu as the primary practice in Jodo Shu. In the spectrum of followers of Hōnen, Benchō balances faith in the nembutsu with acceptance of other practices leading to rebirth in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha.

After Hōnen passed away, Benchō attempted to counter divergences in Hōnen's teachings among other disciples by writing a treatise named "Handprint for the Transmission of the Nembutsu to Future Generations" (matsudai nenbutsu jushuin), which contained a full account of the teachings that Benchō heard directly from Hōnen. He also wrote the "The Way of Practice for Birth by the Nembutsu" (nembutsu ojo shugyomon) to counter teachings from other disciples of Hōnen.

Benchō died in 1238 and was succeeded by the third patriarch, Ryochu (1199-1287).

References

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* [http://www.jsri.jp/English/Jodoshu/disciples/eras/4eras.html The History of Honen's Disciples]
* [http://www.jodo.org/about_hs/ho_life.html The Jodo Shu official biography of Honen]
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