Clik here to view.
Ohakamairi
Every year, when we visit Japan, we often pay respect to my wife’s deceased relatives and ancestors. This is a common practice in Japan called ohakamairi (お墓参り) where ohaka just means a grave, while...
View ArticleClik here to view.
There are Nichiren Buddhists, and then there are Nichiren Buddhists
This past Saturday, my family attended the yearly Japanese “Aki Matsuri” festival in Bellevue, Washington (my hometown!), which is always a fun event. It’s amazing how many friends we run into there.1...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Pure Land and Nichiren Debate in Buddhism
Coincidentally, a few days before this post, I was reading a debate in 1272 between the Buddhist monk, Nichiren, and a local Pure Land priest named Benjō.1 Nichiren is known for his strong criticism of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fall Ohigan 2014: Conduct Matters
Hi Everyone, As is a tradition here in this blog, I like to give a little Buddhism “sermon” at certain times of the year, including Ohigan since the first post in 2009. Ohigan (お彼岸) is a twice-yearly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Children Over Parents: some Buddhist parenting advice
Hello, Since this is the Fall Ohigan week here on the blog, I wanted to do another Buddhist post. This one is about my little boy, whom I call “Little Guy”. He is now 11 months old, and likes to crawl...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Astronomy and Why I Am A Buddhist
Recently on Twitter I found this post: I never imagined that flying to space would give me a different view of our entire galaxy. #BlueDot pic.twitter.com/OnLxUJF18w — Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex)...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What is the Buddha’s Pure Land? Another Perspective
Yesterday, I kind of had a small epiphany with regard to the Pure Land in Buddhism (浄土 jōdo in Japanese). The Pure Land is an interesting subject of discussion in Buddhism. It’s a big part of East...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Buddhism and Vegetarianism According to Venerable Sheng-Yen
Hi guys, I just wanted to share this video from the famous Chinese monk, Sheng-Yen (聖嚴, died in 2009) about Buddhism and vegetarianism: I liked this video because it was pretty balanced. He lays out...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Letters of Nichiren to Women Followers
Hello, Recently while on a trip to Portland, OR, I stopped at the famous Powell’s City of Books, which is a huge, local bookstore that is very popular too. It was a great bookstore and I found lots of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Getting With The Times
Lately, I’ve been reading both the letters of Nichiren to women followers and also reading letters by Honen to followers in Promise of Amida Buddha. It’s interesting to read their letters side-by-side...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ohatsumairi: Visiting the Buddha for the First Time
This Sunday, my baby-boy “Little Guy” took part in a Japanese-Buddhist ceremony called ohatsumairi (お初参り) or more formally, shosanshiki (初参式). The word ohatsumairi literally means “first visit” where...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Burning the Candle At Both Ends
Hi Everyone, In the past month or so, I’ve been participating in two Buddhist groups: one Jodo Shinshu (the temple in Seattle) and an online Zen sangha that’s pretty well-known. I talked about going to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Honoring the Buddha
From chapter 5 of the Maha-Parinibbana Sutta (DN16 of the Pali Canon): Then the Blessed One said to Ven. Ananda, “Ananda, the twin sal-trees are in full bloom, even though it’s not the flowering...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Quiet Life
Hi all, Lately, I’ve been re-reading the 13th century Japanese classic, Essays in Idleness or tsuredzuregusa (徒然草). There is a lot of silly or idle talk in the book, but there are also things I like in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tales of Failed Zen Student
Well, my brief experimentation with Soto Zen is officially over. I started attending an online Soto Zen community about 4-5 weeks ago and took part in the yearly Ango (安居) vows.1 As I said before, it...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Autumn in Korea
Hi Everyone, We have friends who recently Korea right now to celebrate the 1st birthday of their son, who was born 8 days after our son. :) The first birthday in Korea, or doljanchi (돌잔치) is a huge...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Learning the Shoshinge
So, my training (or re-training) as a minister’s assistant (the first step to ordination in Jodo Shinshu) is progressing nicely. I’ve started to relearn the liturgy and chanting I did before. It feels...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Investing in the Future
Hello, After giving up on Zen and before I got sick, I decided to go back and read Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Finding Our True Home. As time goes on, I appreciate this book more and more. Today, I wanted...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ignorance
Something I found on Twitter recently. Enjoy! "What good are torches, light or glasses, if people do not want to see.” Khunrath's Amphitheatrum, 1609 (A68.7/K52) pic.twitter.com/aAIwI579NO —...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Getting To The Bottom Of Ferguson, Cutting Through the Madness
Two young, black men who have tragically lost their lives recently. I was sad to hear about the verdict in the trial for police officer Darren Wilson. I felt bad for Mike Brown’s parents who lost their...
View Article
