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The Founding Spirit of Ryukoku University

The Founding Spirit of Ryukoku University is the spirit of the true teaching of Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu).

The spirit of the true teaching of Pure Land Buddhism is none other than the vow of Amida Buddha aspiring to awake all living beings from ignorance to enlightenment.

Ignorance means the state of self-centered beings who create suffering without awakening to truth. Enlightenment is the state of beings who are truly at ease, having eliminated the self-centered mind and awakening to reality as it is.

Illuminated by the light of Amida Buddha’s aspiration, humans become aware of the self-centered mind and are freed from the inflexible view that absolutizes their own thoughts, opinions, and value judgments, and finally gains a broad and flexible vision of wisdom.

Ryukoku University, embracing the teachings of Shinran Shonin who lived in the vow of Amida Buddha to follow the path of truth, aspires to educate students to become people who “seek truth, live in truth, and reveal truth.” The following five principles of mind express how this is to be achieved. These principles are the heart of the founding spirit of Ryukoku University and the foundation of how we are to live our lives.

The mind of “equality” that respects all living beings.
The mind of “independence” that seeks truth and lives in truth.
The mind of “contemplation” that always turns to self-reflection.
The mind of “gratitude” that is thankful for one’s life, sustained by and interconnected with all other lives.
The mind of “peace” that aspires for dialogue and coexistence with all people.