BEN KINGSLEY: The Japanese monk Honen founded what’s known as Jodo, or Pure Land Buddhism. Japan’s Pure Land Buddhism gets its name because its followers believe in the existence of many Buddha lands which are created by the vows, merits, and virtues of various Buddhas. Their special Buddha-land is called the western paradise, or Pure land. The splendors of this Pure Land, sometimes portrayed by artists and visualized by meditators, are unbelievably grand. In the Pure Land, there will be no more rebirths as man, beast, godling, or demon. Through the eons to come, one can work toward final nirvana in the Pure Land atmosphere.

BEN KINGSLEY: Zen Buddhism has become one of the most familiar forms of Buddhism in Western countries. The 12th-century monk Eisai has been called the founder of Zen Buddhism in Japan, but this is only partly true. While studying in China, he met some Ch’an teachers, and upon returning to Japan, he sought to introduce more of the Ch’an teachings about meditation into Tendai Buddhism, but he was ejected from the Tendai sect for his pains. He went to Kamakura, where the new military-class regents were controlling Japan, and there he found favor. So Zen became prominent as the religion of the samurai, and it seemed to suit them.