Jodo Shinshu Buddhism for everyone
Buddhist leaders tackled water and sanitation in an online forum Saturday, the sixth of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), under the theme, “Buddhist Perspectives: Ensure Access to Water and Sanitation.” Continue reading “SDG #6: Clean Water and Sanitation”
By Rev. Ken Yamada
Today, government mandates clash with personal rights; an unprecedented rise in wealth clashes with unrelenting poverty; political upheaval, military expansionism, and redefined social mores and identity abound. In these changing times, we must ask, “Is Jodo Shinshu Buddhism relevant?”
These challenges confront us now, but they also confronted a small group of innovative Buddhist thinkers a century ago, spurring them to redefine, modernize and find meaning in Jodo Shinshu, which for the previous two centuries had stagnated and grown moribund. For their contributions, they were persecuted, some even excommunicated by their own denomination. Their writings continue to be studied, debated, and valued in understanding Shinshu today. Continue reading “Seishinshugi: Shinshu’s Clash with the Modern World”
By Father James Fredericks
(Editor’s note: In Buddhism, anger is one of Three Poisons of human nature; in Christianity, it’s one of Seven Deadly Sins. But anger can spur us to fight injustice, according to Father James Fredericks, which means, refusing to be angry also can be a sin. He asks, “What would Buddhists say?”) Continue reading “Buddhist/Catholic Dialogue: Confronting Anger”
By Rev. Ken Yamada
Turmoil and violence afflicting our world today are confusing and enraging. What to do? Shinran Shonin, founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, offers some relevant, timely and wise guidance. Continue reading “Shinran and Violence”