Dharma Wheel

With the spread of COVID-19, now is the time to practice. If you have cancelled your meetings, chant Nembutsu, if you have cancelled your social event - chant Nembutsu, if you are home feeling frightened - chant Nembutsu. Use this opportunity to reflect on impermanence, interdependence and make your...

They are simultaneous, but Malcolm, don't start criticizing Zhiyi if you cannot read Chinese, haven't studied Maka Shikan or early intellectual currents in Chinese Buddhism it is foolish... gassho Rory Hi Rory, Fine, then don't defend Zhiyi unless you can read Chinese, etc. You know what they say, ...

This is removed from practice, but read Brook Ziporyn's H-net book review of Paul Swanson's translation of Zhiyi's great work Maka Shikan , Mohe Zhiguan Clear Serenity; Quiet Insight Below is an extract: This way of reading the section shows us all the more how right Zhanran was to think that this ...

This is removed from practice, but read Brook Ziporyn's H-net book review of Paul Swanson's translation of Zhiyi's great work Maka Shikan , Mohe Zhiguan Clear Serenity; Quiet Insight Below is an extract: This way of reading the section shows us all the more how right Zhanran was to think that this i...

I've been practicing Pure Land for approximately 20 years and the best method for me was to count nembutsu on beads: a classic Chinese mala or Japanese Ojuzu. One round is plenty and actually when I began it was rather like agony to finish. Seeing the beads reminds you to do it, and when you have c...

Maybe you need a bit of a break? Why not visit a Vietnamese or Chinese temple around you.They're basically Chan/Zen-Pure Land: meditation and chanting. Pretty straight-forward, plus the visuals are less intense and you're around more laid-back born Buddhists.
gassho
Rory

I am a devoted Tendai Pure Land practitioner this quote is from the Robert F. Rhodes's book on Genshin: Genshin's Ojoyoshu and the Construction of Pure Land Discourse in Heian Japan Genshin was the famous Pure Land Master in the Tendai sect. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genshin Even while remaining...

layme, not a Zen practitioner but it sounds to me like Jodo Shinshu would be a good fit for you; it's like the flip side of Zen - a radical letting go.In your circumstances the emphasis on radical reliance on other-power of Shin might be beneficial. The famous D. T. Suzuki wrote a book all about thi...

1.If you don't believe in reincarnation and don't believe that the Buddha is the axis of Buddhism you should be posting in Open Dharma this is really not the place. 2. If you want to understand Buddhist philosophy you have to do the work. I suggest you go to the library and read something like this:...

I'm glad you feel better. One thing that I do know that will help you is to find a teacher, whether Jodo Shu or Jodo Shinshu. I know from experience as 22 years ago a Jodo Shu monk was my teacher ( we were in different cities and I telephoned and we wrote letters) he helped me to understand and shar...

Perhaps my Zen background also plays some role in all of that, but I am most certain that what I am looking for is some sort of mystical union with Infinite Light and I don't really feel that there is much emphasis on that aspect in Jodo Shu and Shinshu. You might consider schools beyond Jodoshu an...

But it does seem that in East Asia, though the lines are not clearly drawn, there was some differentiation into "Schools"at some point in history. I admit to very little understanding of East Asian Buddhist history. In fact Chinese "schools" are probably more fluid than Tibetan ones. It's only in J...

But it does seem that in East Asia, though the lines are not clearly drawn, there was some differentiation into "Schools"at some point in history. I admit to very little understanding of East Asian Buddhist history. In fact Chinese "schools" are probably more fluid than Tibetan ones. It's only in J...

OK, will get a copy and chant and dedicate. Follow up question: If the kitty has Buddhanature, does that mean he can meditate? That's wonderful, practicing to benefit other beings is so compassionaate :twothumbsup: This if from Ch. 12 the Devadatta chapter from the Lotus Sutra and the famous story ...

I would love such a forum. Gandharan art, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean would all be wonderful.
gassho
Rory

They were schools, but as living traditions go they are essentially extinct. Their relevance continues today though, as they provide the buildings blocks for many, if not all, of the modern schools that exist as living traditions today. Actually the Japanese Hosso (Yogacarya) school, Hosso Shu , ex...

Thank you for sharing this. We have a couple of rescues who have really helped me understand the value/nature of sentience outside human form (as well as the existence leading to this point). It seems to me the very fantastic expanse of the LS has a very palpable foundation in every day life that e...

It surprises me that no one has mentioned the Lotus Sutra. In the famous ch. 25 Kannon-sama (Kuanyin, Avalokitesvara) promises that she will take the form of any kind of animal to preach the Dharma to them. So pray to Kannon-sama for your pet, chant ch. 25 of the Lotus Sutra with faith and devotion....

Just reposting this from higher up in the thread. In light of a posting in another forum... The Japanese Tendai ( Ch: Tiantai) school, the Lotus Sutra school, is a multi-practice school: meditation, sutra study, Pure Land, esoteric practices are all done I'm a Pure Lander with a big devotion to Kann...

For those who may not know Tendai is a multipractice school. It is based on the Lotus Sutra and encompasses meditation, sutra study, Pure Land and Esoteric Buddhism. In fact the famous Japanese schools of Rinzai Zen, Soto Zen, Jodo Shu, Jodo Shinshu (pure land schools) and Nichiren were all started ...