However, Zenran became inclined toward Senju kenzen (the doctrine that do good deeds besides prayers) which was considered to be heresy at that time and led to an incident when he tried to make himself as the living Buddha, and only the doctrine of Senju kenzen which he initiated secretly at midnight there was claimed to be correct.
しかし善鸞は、邪義とされた「専修賢善」（せんじゅけんぜん）に傾き、善鸞を生き仏とみなして、深夜現地でひそかに善鸞に伝授された法門教義の方が正統であると訴えたため、異義異端事件となった。