thanks for that..Seishin wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2017 8:59 am With regards to the word 'Dai', there are many words in Japanese that sound the same, but are actually completely different words. Just like in English we have 'where' and 'wear'. DGA has given you the Kanji for Tendai '天台'. The first character (Ten 天) can mean 'heaven' or 'god'. The second character (dai 台) can mean 'terrace', 'platform', 'table' etc I believe '天台' is usually translated in to English as 'Heavens Terrace'.
The Kanji for 'Dai Shonin' is '大聖人'. You will notice the first character is different to the 'dai' in Tendai. '大' can mean 'big' or 'great'. I hope that helps.
With regards pureland practice in Tendai; I have found that, with Tendai's focus on Shikan meditation and the philosophy of Ichinen sanzen, the Pureland practices can be practiced without any requirement to believe in the Pureland.
now that i got you.... a few months back you mentioned a sort of debate conflict in TenDai of Hongaku..not understanding hongaku in the least i sort of went to the comatose aspect of reading something...
now i would love to know...can you direct me to a thread where this could be discussed.
i think you said some believe in hongaku and others don't..if they don't...what do they believe it is all about..when i say that i am saying from a person who sees it all as hongaku...or maybe this is exactly the problem..it's not a matter of seeing one or what ever the other is...arghhh i can't discuss something i don't know...what is the other view in TenDai ?