Jodo Shinshu Buddhism for everyone
Rev. Miki Nakura exudes the peaceful bearing one expects of a Buddhist priest. He closes his eyes, ponders a question, and answers slowly with a slight Japanese accent. Every day, he meditates. Such calmness belies a personal history beset by tragedy, dashed dreams and a deep resentment against his mother. At one time, he thought, my mother is “my enemy.” Continue reading “My Mother was My Enemy”
Beginning this month, sitting meditation sessions begin via Zoom. Everyone is welcome to join and there is no charge. Continue reading “Starting December: Online meditation”
Welcome to our new video page. We just started, but going forward, we plan to have more videos about Buddhist teachings, practices, services, lectures, instruction and more.
Continue reading “New Video Page: Watch, Listen, Learn”
By Rev. Kenjun Kawawata
The famous Zen scholar Daisetz Suzuki spent a lifetime translating and writing about Buddhism emphasizing Dharma, or wisdom, not compassion. Why? Continue reading “Zen and Shin Buddhism: Wisdom and Compassion”
By Rev. Marcos Sawada
As a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist minister, would people criticize me if I practiced meditation? Even within our Higashi Honganji denomination, I think most teachers and followers may feel meditation is a “self-power” approach to enlightenment and therefore destined to fail. Continue reading “Appreciating Meditation”
A debate rages these days on whether Jodo Shinshu temples should offer meditation. Proponents say meditation appeals to many people and will attract new members.
In Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, we already are doing meditation, says Toshikazu Arai, professor emeritus of Soai University in Osaka. It’s called nembutsu (also: nenbutsu). Continue reading “Nembutsu as Meditation”