three minds　三心 The “three minds” appear in the Contemplation Sutra explaining the highest grade of the highest rank. They are: 1) sincere mind, 2) deep mind, and 3) the mind of aspiring and directing virtue. Shan-tao interprets them to be applicable to all the nine grades of aspirants. According to Shinran, the “three minds” have both explicit and implicit meanings. The explicit meaning is that these are mental attitudes of the nembutsu practicers who seek to be born in the Pure Land on their self-power. In its implicit meaning, the “three minds” reveal the working of Other Power, and therefore they are identical with the “threefold mind” of the Larger Sutra and the “single mind” of the Smaller Sutra.