Comments on: Everything is as it should be http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/14/everything-is-as-it-should-be/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: dave f. http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/14/everything-is-as-it-should-be/#comment-310 dave f. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:59:09 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=185#comment-310 Thanks for the info, Kyoushin. I've ordered the book! Thanks for the info, Kyoushin. I’ve ordered the book!

]]> By: Kyoushin http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/14/everything-is-as-it-should-be/#comment-311 Kyoushin Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:48:49 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=185#comment-311 Hi Dave - there are quite a lot of Saichi's poems in the back of the Routledge version of DT Suzuki's 'Mysticism: Christian and Buddhist'. Hi Dave – there are quite a lot of Saichi’s poems in the back of the Routledge version of DT Suzuki’s ‘Mysticism: Christian and Buddhist’.

]]> By: dave f. http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/14/everything-is-as-it-should-be/#comment-312 dave f. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:12:01 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=185#comment-312 Hey, Gerald. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things in the Jodo Shinshu blogging world. Just wondering - are Saichi's works available in English? If so where? I'd love to read more from him. Hey, Gerald. I’m trying to get back in the swing of things in the Jodo Shinshu blogging world. Just wondering – are Saichi’s works available in English? If so where? I’d love to read more from him.

]]> By: Kyoushin http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/14/everything-is-as-it-should-be/#comment-313 Kyoushin Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:35:14 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=185#comment-313 Thanks Gerald. Interesting post. It is also important to remember that in the poem you quoted the 'you' is Saichi addressing himself. It is a subjective and reflective poem, not a lesson held up for others. We have to be very careful when we talk about 'suchness' and 'sonomama' or if we are not careful it can amount to telling a person who is suffering that they should be content with things as they are. The way to convey suchness to others is maybe to accept them just as unconditionally as we find ourselves accepted by Amida / suchness? ... easier said then done though! Also my teacher points out that Saichi came to see an important distinction between the self-reflective 'just as I am' (konomama) and "'just as you are," as if Amida Buddha were directly talking to him." In Shin Buddhism the latter is more important with its focus on "the naturalness ... of Other Power itself". (See: http://www.threewheels.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=9) Thanks Gerald. Interesting post.

It is also important to remember that in the poem you quoted the ‘you’ is Saichi addressing himself. It is a subjective and reflective poem, not a lesson held up for others. We have to be very careful when we talk about ‘suchness’ and ‘sonomama’ or if we are not careful it can amount to telling a person who is suffering that they should be content with things as they are. The way to convey suchness to others is maybe to accept them just as unconditionally as we find ourselves accepted by Amida / suchness? … easier said then done though!

Also my teacher points out that Saichi came to see an important distinction between the self-reflective ‘just as I am’ (konomama) and “‘just as you are,” as if Amida Buddha were directly talking to him.” In Shin Buddhism the latter is more important with its focus on “the naturalness … of Other Power itself”.
(See: http://www.threewheels.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=9)

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