One-Sheet Document

The One-Sheet Document (Ichimai-Kishomon in Japanese) is a document written by the founder of the Japanese Pure Land Buddhism school, Honen Shonin two days before his death. The document is meant to summarize Honen's teachings for future generations, and serves as his final testament. The document was written on January 23rd, during the second year of Kenryaku (1212) and contains less than 300 words.

The document affirms Honen's belief that ultimately sentient beings are deluded and ignorant, but that through the entrusting of Amida Buddha, and through the recitation of the nembutsu, one can be reborn in the Pure Land. Of note is the statement Even if those who believe in the nembutsu study the teaching which Shakyamuni taught his whole life, they should not put on any airs and should sincerely practice the nembutsu, just as an illiterate fool, a nun or one who is ignorant of Buddhism.

This emphasized Honen's belief in an egalitarian form of Buddhism which contrasted with medieval Japanese Buddhism that emphasized many years of monastic study, and difficult esoteric practices not accessible to the majority of the population.

The full text of the One-Sheet document can be found on the Jodo Shu English website.