By The time was ripe last June to travel to the Philippines to share Jōdo Shinshū and Seiza meditation. Continue reading “Connecting the Philippines and Jōdo Shinshū”
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”
Discovering Jodo Shinshu in Colombia
By Rev. Miki Nakura
Last month, I conducted a kikyoshiki Buddhist name ceremony in Colombia, South America. This was my third visit since 2019, when I first met Adriana Díaz Páez and her brother Juan Pablo, who were interested in Shinran Shonin’s teachings.
Reaching Beyond Temples to Teach Buddhism
Among his many activities, he started a company, Interbeing, aimed at bringing Buddhist teachings to business people. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree and developed lessons to help priests better run their temples. He organizes spontaneous meet-ups with young people in various cities to discuss life issues. He started a temple café and created a Buddhist website called higan.net. He’s written several books, including the popular “A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind,” which was translated into 18 languages. Continue reading “Reaching Beyond Temples to Teach Buddhism”
Amida, Save Me!
By Rev. Ken Yamada
Jodo Shinshu uses words such as “salvation” and “save” which make me uneasy. They give Pure Land Buddhism the appearance of a Christian-like religion with Amida Buddha as savior.
Yet, Jodo Shinshu’s founder Shinran Shonin used these terms. In the Tannisho, he says:
As for me, I simply accept and entrust myself to what my revered teacher told me, “Just say the nembutsu and be saved by Amida”; nothing else is involved.
Meditation and Jodo Shinshu
By Rev. Miki Nakura
When Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment, he’s depicted as sitting in contemplation beneath the Bodhi tree. In that sense, we can say the Buddhist teachings sprung from meditation. The Buddha understood that body and mind are not separate but one, expressing non-dualism. Continue reading “Meditation and Jodo Shinshu”