Miss Sarah Andrea Amy writes: Historically it is worth mentioning that the "simple way" gained its popularity in many parts of the world during the early part of the second millennium of the Common Era. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a practice called Hesychasm became an important part of monastic living, involving repetitive chanting of the Jesus Prayer using prayer ropes. This was based on beliefs that the very name of Christ is the dwelling in which Jesus is present. Around the same time, during the 12th and 13th centuries Buddhism in East Asia moved from arduous disciplines to the simpler approach that promises the attainment of liberation through chanting. Honen (Japan, 1133-1212) founded the Jodo-shu, the Teaching of the Pure Land. Instead of the harsh practices taught by the Tiantai (Tendai/Cheondae) School, Honen advocated a new way of Buddhism based on the Nembutsu, or the chanting of the Namo Amituofo Fa/Namu Amida Butsu to attain liberation. Later, Nichiren Daishonin came up with another simple way of chanting the Daimoku: Namo Miaofa Lianhua Jing/Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. Both Honen's and Nichiren's sects of Buddhism grew quickly and still remain to be the largest branches of Buddhism in Japan. As you note, such simpler way is suitable for this latter day, the Kali Yuga -- or as the Nichiren Buddhists would refer to the Last Age of the Law. This rather worldwide phenomenon might also account to the simplification of Christianity, including the Protestant Reformation (Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura...) and much later, the Evangelical movement (which has condensed the essence of Christianity into something like the Four Spiritual Laws).