In 1175, when he was 43, Honen realized the truth of Senju-nenbutsu by Kanmuryojukyosho (Kangyosho, Commentary on the Meditation Sutra), written by Zendo Daishi, so he left Mt. Hiei for Higashiyama Yoshimizu and began to spread the teaching of the nenbutsu.
承安(日本)5年（1175年）43歳の時、善導大師の観無量寿経疏（観経疏）によって専修念仏に進み、比叡山を下りて東山吉水に住み、念仏の教えを弘めた。