Jodo Shinshu Buddhism for everyone
By Rev. Marcos Sawada
A confession: I’m more a speaker than a listener. Are you a good listener? Many people are not.
Generally, I think people like to talk more than listen. That’s strange, given we have two ears but only one mouth. Mouths have two functions which keep them busy—speaking and eating. The job of ears is merely to hear. So why is listening so difficult? Continue reading “The Art of Listening”
By Bishop Kenjun Kawawata
Traditionally, many people on February 15 observe Nirvana Day, the day when Shakyamuni Buddha passed away.
When we hear about the Buddha, we often think he was not like us, but rather someone more like a super human being. We should not forget he really was the same as you and me. He was born as a human being and he died as a human being.
Although considered the “second founder” of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, Rennyo Shonin shaped foremost how Shinshu is practiced today. Moreover, living in a turbulent era of civil unrest, religious persecution, and social upheaval, he literally saved the Honganji temple from the flames of war and conflict. Continue reading “Rennyo to the Rescue”
By Rev. Ken Yamada
People sometimes receive a valuable inheritance from their Buddhist parents or grandparents, but don’t realize its value. So they donate it to the temple.
Buddhist home altars, commonly called “butsudan” in Japanese (or the preferred term “onaibutsu”), if purchased new today in Japan cost hundreds, and sometimes, thousands of dollars. But their real value is spiritual. Continue reading “Don’t Discard that Home Altar!”
By Gary Link
Must we crash on the rocks of life or exhaust all avenues to find true faith? I tried different Buddhist traditions but wondered if spiritual awakening was possible without experiencing great doubt and intense pain. Continue reading “Lay Voices: Hitting the Wall”
By Rev. Ken Yamada
Once a year our temples typically hold a general membership meeting around this time. Let’s consider what happens there and why they’re important. Continue reading “Temple Business: General Meeting”