Search found 80 matches

by Dodatsu
Wed May 18, 2016 1:29 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Reception of Japanese Buddhism in China
Replies: 17
Views: 4966

Re: Reception of Japanese Buddhism in China

On page 5 of the May 2016 issue of the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA)'s monthly magazine "Wheel of Dharma" is a write-up on Shin Buddhism in Taiwan by a member from the Berkeley Buddhist Temple, whose wife is a Shin follower from China. http://bit.ly/1OjAb4W Shin Buddhism has seem a sm...
by Dodatsu
Sun Feb 14, 2016 1:37 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Places to visit near Osaka and Kyoto?
Replies: 10
Views: 2812

Re: Places to visit near Osaka and Kyoto?

There's also Enryakuji temple on Mt Hiei, the Head Temple of Tendai Buddhism, which has served as the "protector" of Kyoto since the city's founding. Also lots of UNESCO Buddhist sites like Toji temple and Nish Hongwanji temple (I work for the latter). Enryakuji temple: http://www.hieizan....
by Dodatsu
Sat May 31, 2014 1:44 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: 6 schools of Nara Buddhism/7 great temples of Nara
Replies: 16
Views: 4419

Re: 6 schools of Nara Buddhism/7 great temples of Nara

One way is to take Japanese classes and then enrol at Ryukoku University's Department of Buddhist Studies. Although Ryukoku is a Jodo Shin mission university, alot of priests from the Kegon and Hosso sects studied at Ryukoku as the 4 main sub-departments at the Department of Buddhist Studies are Ten...
by Dodatsu
Sat May 31, 2014 1:22 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: 6 schools of Nara Buddhism/7 great temples of Nara
Replies: 16
Views: 4419

Re: 6 schools of Nara Buddhism/7 great temples of Nara

Just in case you are interested, there was a Shomyo chanting performance by priests from Yakushiji Temple at Ryukoku University on 30 May (Japan time); made possible as the current vice-abbot is a graduate of the university and also chairman of the University's alumni association. i uploaded the sel...
by Dodatsu
Thu May 29, 2014 11:28 am
Forum: Language
Topic: What Language to learn?
Replies: 20
Views: 10321

Re: What Language to learn?

On top of Chinese, learn a bit of Japanese (reading) as a lot of materials are written in Japanese, especially modern commentaries and scholarship.
by Dodatsu
Tue May 20, 2014 1:19 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Pure Land for the not very faith-inclined?
Replies: 44
Views: 12838

Re: Pure Land for the not very faith-inclined?

There are many branches to the Pure Land Tree. For those who are "not very faith-inclined" I would recommend some form of Chinese Pure Land. This incorporates Ch'an thought with Pure Land and sometimes Mind-Only. It is a good starting point for many new to Pure Land Buddhism. Often times ...
by Dodatsu
Sun May 18, 2014 1:20 pm
Forum: Language
Topic: Colloquial Chinese- starting from the beginning
Replies: 3
Views: 1933

Re: Colloquial Chinese- starting from the beginning

Hi Khedrup,
You may want to look into these online resources from the National Taiwan Normal University.
http://online.mtc.ntnu.edu.tw/index.php ... anguage=en
Gassho
by Dodatsu
Sun May 18, 2014 2:40 am
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Jodo Shu vs Jodo Shinshu vs Jishu vs Yuzu Nembetsu Shu?
Replies: 11
Views: 6703

Re: Jodo Shu vs Jodo Shinshu vs Jishu vs Yuzu Nembetsu Shu?

May I add, a lot of Jishu adherents converted to Shinshu during the time of Rennyo, the 8th Head Abbot of Honganji. A detailed discussion can be found in both James C. Dobblins' "Jodo Shinshu: Shin Buddhism in Mediveal Japan" and Ann and Minor Rogers' "Rennyo, the Second Founder of Sh...
by Dodatsu
Sat May 17, 2014 2:14 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Notes on 'Essentials of Faith Alone' - by Shinran
Replies: 3
Views: 1610

Re: Notes on 'Essentials of Faith Alone' - by Shinran

The sutra in question would be "The Sutra on the Four Continents of Mt Sumeru 須弥四域経", it's no longer in existence (cannot be found in any of the Tripitaka Collections) and was probably composed in China. But don't forget, during Shinran Shonin's time all the sutras were thought to have bee...
by Dodatsu
Fri May 16, 2014 1:39 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Obaku?
Replies: 35
Views: 7918

Re: Obaku?

Most if not all Shin Buddhists in Japan don't practice meditation, period. It would be fair to say most laypeople even in the Zen sects don't practice meditation on a regular basis either. Since this thread is to discuss on Obaku i will refrain from commenting further.
by Dodatsu
Sun Mar 30, 2014 8:57 am
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Shoshinge (正信念仏偈)
Replies: 5
Views: 3222

Re: Shoshinge (正信念仏偈)

Dodatsu Thanks so much! That really helps a lot! If you don't mind my asking, are the 3 I mentioned (Shoshinge + Jodo Wasan + Ekou) still common as daily practice? At Honzan and temples in Japan, and maybe in more traditional homes it's still the daily practice. At Honzan and Betsuins the Jodo, Kos...
by Dodatsu
Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:45 am
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Shoshinge (正信念仏偈)
Replies: 5
Views: 3222

Re: Shoshinge (正信念仏偈)

The following websites have it: http://www.e-sogi.com/arekore/kyo2.html http://hongakuji.moo.jp/siyousinge.htm The first link is from (of all places) a funeral parlour HP, whilst the second is from a Higashi Honganji website. There are some slight differences in the readings for Nishi and Higashi, s...
by Dodatsu
Sun Oct 20, 2013 3:48 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Provenance of Pure Land Practice
Replies: 233
Views: 43024

Re: Provenance of Pure Land Practice

Perhaps Indrajala is right, that people who wish for rebirth in the Pure Land, while neglecting the bodhisattva path in this life, are practicing the Devayana? This is definitely worth talking about, and we should remember that people practicing Pure Land Buddhism these days are not necessarily fol...
by Dodatsu
Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:56 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Provenance of Pure Land Practice
Replies: 233
Views: 43024

Re: Provenance of Pure Land Practice

I basically told him that Śākyamuni never taught Pure Land sūtras. He was rather upset by this remark and insisted otherwise. I told him this is the opinion of scholars. Then according to these same scholars, neither were the other Mahayana sutras, because the earlier Mahayana Sutras were all compo...
by Dodatsu
Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:42 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Provenance of Pure Land Practice
Replies: 233
Views: 43024

Re: Provenance of Pure Land Practice

Whether something is sacred is entirely subjective and up to the individual. That being said, you might as well pronounce the Sanskrit properly rather than archaic transliterated Chinese renditions. This is not the same as trying to escape the world by getting into the Pure Land, placing your bets ...
by Dodatsu
Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:40 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Provenance of Pure Land Practice
Replies: 233
Views: 43024

Re: Provenance of Pure Land Practice

Whether something is sacred is entirely subjective and up to the individual. That being said, you might as well pronounce the Sanskrit properly rather than archaic transliterated Chinese renditions. This is not the same as trying to escape the world by getting into the Pure Land, placing your bets ...
by Dodatsu
Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:31 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Provenance of Pure Land Practice
Replies: 233
Views: 43024

Re: Provenance of Pure Land Practice

I'm sure they all know what it means. I just think focusing exclusively on it is at odds with what the Buddha himself apparently taught as essential to liberation. Whatever people do is up to them. I'm not the Dharma police. However, I would encourage people into what I feel are far more productive...
by Dodatsu
Sat Oct 19, 2013 5:01 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Provenance of Pure Land Practice
Replies: 233
Views: 43024

Re: Provenance of Pure Land Practice

There were cases of people who hastened their birth in the PL by committing suicide, but as Buddhists we are not allowed to take the lives of others, what more ourselves? As for Nagarjuna, it can be found here: http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/igyohon.htm Ah yes. I remember this. Like most Indian Bu...
by Dodatsu
Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:57 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Provenance of Pure Land Practice
Replies: 233
Views: 43024

Re: Provenance of Pure Land Practice

The Pure Land is the idea of Nirvana being expressed through form (ie. Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is Form in the Heart Sutra). Without Form sentient beings cannot fathom or understand Nirvana, that's why the Pure Land is expressed as such in the Sutras. That's how Shinran Shonin views the Pure Lan...
by Dodatsu
Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:18 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Provenance of Pure Land Practice
Replies: 233
Views: 43024

Re: Provenance of Pure Land Practice

The idea in general Pure Land Buddhism is that is a more conductive place for practice towards Enlightenment; in Shin Buddhism, it is where we attain the same buddhahood as the Buddhas, and then return to samsara or other lands to help liberate other beings. In which case, why not hasten one's post...

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