Jodo Shinshu Buddhism for everyone
Buddhist scholar Daiei Kaneko represents a modern understanding of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, although he’s not widely known in the West. An e-book, “A Thinking Person’s Guide to Shin Buddhism,” captures his thinking and helps explain Shinshu in contemporary terms. Continue reading “Daiei Kaneko’s Guide to Shin Buddhism”
Our temples are beginning to hold their Higan services beginning this Sunday. At the beginning of Autumn, many Buddhist temples hold a special service called “Higan.” The name “Higan” means crossing over to the “other shore.” Continue reading “Fall Equinox Service”
By Rev. Frederick Brenion
Ohigan comes twice a year in Spring and Fall. It means “encountering the other shore.” Yet we cannot come to grips with this “other shore” until we stand on this shore’s edge. When we do, we find Ohigan is not just twice a year. It is every moment of our lives. Continue reading “Fleeting World, Burning House”
Berkeley Obon 2018
By Rev. Ken Yamada
A crowd of people wearing Japanese clothing recently formed a circle on a Berkeley, California, street and began dancing, following the Buddhist observance “Obon.” Even more unusual, this was a gathering of two different Jodo Shinshu Buddhist groups—Nishi Honganji and Higashi Honganji.
For more than 30 years, the two Berkeley temples have held a joint Bon dance, each alternating as host. This tradition is ironic considering their histories rooted in conflict that resulted in their split—twice. Continue reading “Berkeley’s Unique Obon”
Hisako Mori is a second generation Japanese, or Nikkei, who was born in Brazil. Her parents emigrated from Japan to Brazil after World War II.
As a teenager, she felt a typical adolescent rebelliousness towards her mother. Then she met a Jodo Shinshu minister and began looking within herself, rather than outside herself.
Continue reading “Buddhism of Obrigada (thank you)”