By Rev. Kenjun Kawawata
Memorial Day is an important occasion to remember the deceased, but also a time to think about one’s life. Continue reading “Memorial Day: A Time for Dharma”
DT Suzuki on Jodo Shinshu
Daisetsu Teitarō Suzuki gained renown as an authority of Zen Buddhism, but in his later years turned increasingly towards Jodo Shinshu.
Over the 96 years of his life, Suzuki (1870-1966) prodigiously produced more than 100 volumes on Buddhism in English and Japanese, and is credited with popularizing Zen in American culture, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. He exerted a strong influence over a generation of Buddhist scholars, Christian theologians, Zen disciples, psychoanalysts, artists, writers and others. Born and educated in Japan, he spoke and wrote fluently in English. His book, “Zen Buddhism and Japanese Culture” is a classic. As Suzuki grew older, he turned his focus on Shin Buddhism and Shinran Shonin’s teachings. Continue reading “DT Suzuki on Jodo Shinshu”
Remembering Mother’s Day
By Rev. Kenjun Kawawata
This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day, a time to think about mom, but also about the life we live. Continue reading “Remembering Mother’s Day”
Pure Land of Beauty
By Rev. Ken Yamada
The Pure Land conjures a faraway land of great beauty; for art critic Sōetsu Yanagi, finding splendor in the ordinary shows that place is “here and now.”
Continue reading “Pure Land of Beauty”
This Week: Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s birthday)
By Rev. Kenjun Kawawata
This week, we celebrate the Buddha’s birth, which in Japanese is called “Hanamatsuri” (festival of flowers). It’s a time to think about the importance and preciousness of individual life. It also reminds me of a story called “The King and His Four Wives.” Continue reading “This Week: Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s birthday)”
The Eastern Buddhist: A Century of Shinshu Studies
By Rev. Ken Yamada
A century ago, Jodo Shinshu began transforming its image from beliefs in superstition and the supernatural towards teachings addressing modern day problems, bolstered by efforts of a new academic journal called The Eastern Buddhist. Today, the journal remains an active voice in English, clarifying Shinshu teachings, along with various other Buddhist traditions. Continue reading “The Eastern Buddhist: A Century of Shinshu Studies”