May 21 marks the birthday of Shinran, founder of the Japanese Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism. This sect is represented in Hawai'i by temples associated with the Honpa Hongwanji Mission or the Higashi Hongwanji. The celebration of this event was instituted by the Abbot Myonyo of the Honpa Hongwanji denomination during the Meiji era.

Shinran was a descendant of a branch of the aristocratic Fujiwara clan. While his background could have led him to a career in the imperial court, political fortunes brought him to the Tendai monastery on Mount Hiei at age 9. There he underwent a spiritual transformation that provided the basis for his reinterpretation of Buddhist teaching and practice.

Through his reinterpretation, Shinran, following the lead of teacher Honen, opened the path to enlightenment and nirvana to all people regardless of their social, educational or moral qualifications. Shinran's teaching of "salvation by faith alone" held spiritual and social implications and antedated Martin Luther, the great Protestant religious reformer, by 200 years.

In Japanese tradition, it has been more common to commemorate the death of a great teacher or leader. Celebrating birthdays is a more modern development, perhaps taking the lead from the Abbot Myonyo in the wake of Japan's opening to the West.

The death of a great leader is important in highlighting the heritage he/she has left behind which strengthens tradition. Birth represents an auspicious moment fraught with potentiality. A death is fixed, static, but a birth points to change, development, growth, creativity.

As the child grows and responds to the world, we focus on the possibilities that Shinran's teaching offers to modern people. A major question faces the followers of Shinran: What spiritual contribution does Shin Buddhism offer to modern people? What is its meaning for modern people? Is it a fixed system or is it open to the future as new conditions in culture and society arise?

Shin Buddhism has its deep roots in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition that emphasizes interdependence and the oneness of all life. From this perspective, Shinran's teaching of the non-discriminating equality of all beings is the basis for social and world peace and justice when given concrete expression in human relations. The figure of the bodhisattva suggests the central issue for all religions is: Not what benefits I get from my religion, but how my religious faith, motivated by boundless compassion or love, benefits others.

Shinran's understanding of Buddhism challenges popular conceptions in turning religion from being simply a personal, private concern to one of mutuality and sharing that is both local and global. His vision of a world united in compassion and love supports and joins all other religious faithful who also urge peace and justice. Hence the Honpa Hongwanji motto is a word of Shinran: "Let there be peace in the world."

The Rev. Al Bloom, a Buddhist, is a professor emeritus of the religion department at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.