admin_higashi_usa, Author at Higashi Honganji USA

August 21, 2025August 1, 2026

Higashi Honganji in France

By Rev. Ken Yamada

In a French village near the Swiss border, a small group met to discuss Buddhism and Shinran Shonin. This month, Rev. Ryoko Osa from Berkeley Higashi Honganji in California, and I travelled there to help and support them.

The gathering represented a budding French-speaking sangha, led by Greg Thomas, who has “tokudo” ordination from Higashi Honganji. He actively writes and talks about Jōdo Shinshū and Buddhism on the Internet, Youtube, and on a live Twitch.tv forum.

Consequently, people all around France are becoming interested in Jōdo Shinshū. A few have travelled great distances to participate in retreats with Greg and Higashi Honganji ministers from Shinshu Center of America, which helps since English serves as a common language for everyone. Continue reading “Higashi Honganji in France”

July 23, 2025August 1, 2026

Changing Image of Shinran Shonin

By Rev. Ken Yamada

Visitors to Higashi Honganji’s mother temple in Kyoto must be surprised to find on its main altar—not the Buddha—but rather, a statue of Shinran Shonin. Even I was surprised when I first saw it.

The largest hall at the denomination’s headquarters is dedicated to Jōdo Shinshū’s founder, which makes sense. Nonetheless, over the centuries the image of Shinran (1173-1263) played an outsized role in the transmission and understanding of Shinshū teachings. In turn, the way people viewed him changed over time. Continue reading “Changing Image of Shinran Shonin”

May 29, 2025August 1, 2026

Myōkōnin Dōshū

Rev. Nakura (right) and Rev. Gary Link (left) visiting Dōshū’s temple Gyotoku-ji in Akao.

By Rev. Miki Nakura

Although a commoner from Japan’s countryside, Dōshū’s remarkable faith caught the attention of Rennyo Shōnin, Jodo Shinshu’s “second founder.”

Most men wish always to have something new and novel; but a person of faith feels everything is fresh and new, even if constantly repeated. Regardless of how many times, each is heard anew with open ears,” Rennyo said. “Although Dōshū listened to the teachings constantly, he listened as if hearing them for the first time and he was grateful.

Dōshū (道宗)—a myōkōnin (simple person of deep faith in Jōdo Shinshū)—was born with the name Yashichi in Gokayama’s Akao village, deep in mountainous Toyama Prefecture, near the Japan Sea. He passed away in 1516. Today, Gokayama is designated as a World Heritage Site, known for its “gassho (prayer hands) style” thatched roof homes. The region is covered in snow during winter. Continue reading “Myōkōnin Dōshū”

April 10, 2025August 1, 2026

Kiyozawa: From Philosophy to Awakening

By Rev. Ken Yamada

Spiritual awakening takes various routes, depending on the person. Swift and direct, or twisting and turning. Two of Jodo Shinshu’s most important teachers in modern times took such opposite routes.

Daisetz Teitarō Suzuki (1870-1966), absorbed in Zen practice, experienced a profound realization early in life. By contrast, Kiyozawa Manshi (1863-1903) struggled for years, delving deep into philosophy before awakening to spiritual truth. Continue reading “Kiyozawa: From Philosophy to Awakening”

February 11, 2025August 1, 2026

Remembering Hachiya Yoshikiyo-sensei

Rev. Hachiya Yoshikiyo (1880- 1964) liked to say, “We must understand the greatness of Rennyo Shonin.” That’s interesting because some people considered Hachiya Sensei to be the second coming of Rennyo. Continue reading “Remembering Hachiya Yoshikiyo-sensei”