The founder Shinran took the lineage of Tariki Nenbutsu to Shakamuni and Shichi Koso into consideration, and devoted himself to succeed "the teachings of Jodo Shu as the true religion" and to enhance it, through his life after he regarded Honen (the founder of Jodo Shu) as his master.
開祖親鸞は、釈尊・七高僧へと継承される他力念仏の系譜をふまえ、法然（浄土宗開祖）を師と仰いでからの生涯に渡り、「真の宗教である浄土宗の教え」を継承し、さらに高めて行く事に力を注いだ。