What to say, what to say?
Posted: April 17, 2008 | Author: Doug | Filed under: Buddhism, General, Jodo Shinshu, Religion, Zen | 2 Comments »I am now half-way through my week-long vacation from work, and am hard pressed to write it all in words. It’s been a great week just staying at home spending time with Wife and Baby. Among the things going on:
- Plowing through Japanese language lessons at JapanesePod101.com. I am now on Beginner Lesson 48 (out of 180 or so, and growing), but by December when I go to Japan I hope to finish them all.
- Also spending a lot of evenings watching my DVD series on temples in Japan, 百時巡礼 (Hundred Temple Pilgrimage) with author Hiroyuki Itsuki. I have to say that Nara has got to be one of the most fascinating places in Japan, Buddhist-wise. Kyōto is more famous, but Nara has a more timeless quality and the Buddhist schools dominant in that region are something out of an earlier era of Buddhism. You can still see temples devoted to the Medicine Buddha, who in later Japanese Buddhism was largely replaced by Amida Buddha. Even the iconography is similar, with the Medicine Buddha flanked by two Bodhisattvas: Nikkō (日光) symbolizing the sun, and Gakkō (月光) symbolizing the moon. Contrast this to Amida’s Buddha’s attendants, Kannon and Seishi who are symbolize the light of compassion and the moon as wisdom respectively.
- Lately, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to life in Ireland, with regard to religion. I wonder what it will be like being the only Shin Buddhist in the country (besides my wife). At the same time, I am quite excited to explore the rich Catholic tradition there, though I have never been Catholic myself. Of all the Christian sects, Catholicism has always held a special place in my heart, and its likely that if I had not become Buddhist, I would very likely have converted to Catholicism by now.
- Also had a great conversation with a fellow at my temple after a late-night class on the Shoshinge hymn that we chant. He’s lived in Japan for 30 years, and has a lot of Buddhist connections throughout Asia (including mountain ascetics and others). We talked for over an hour in the cold parking lot on nerdy Buddhist topics such as certain Mahayana sutras, his experiences with Japanese monks in Japan (largely negative, though with some bright spots too), and with various Buddhist sects, plus our own interpretations of what the Pure Land is.
I find it interesting after all his experiences with various sects and famous monks that he’s settled down with Jodo Shinshu. He told me he used to meditate daily Zen-style for years, but then one day he noticed how beautiful the day was and skipped his meditation routine to go outside. He said it was a wonderful day and never meditated since. That and other things he said got me thinking about things, but I will post thoughts in a separate post.
So that’s this week at a glance. I’ll post more soon.
Namuamidabu
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Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the 
Its always weird to see a religious tradition you’ve practiced from someone elses eyes. I was raised catholic, 12 years of catholic school, Mass every Sunday, the whole bit. And….. I never felt any affinity for it at all.
I’d be curious to here what it is you liked about it. Remind me of the good stuff. I value the education the Jesuits gave me, but thats about it.
I guess because I did not grow up in the religion, that I don’t have the “ex-Catholic” trauma many people have. I have noticed lots of Buddhist converts were either Catholic or Jewish, but since I am neither, I can’t judge their experiences. I grew up nominally Mormon, my parents had converted, but later lost interest, and I just lost interest in Mormonism as well. I have no ill will at all, but just don’t find it interesting.
In any case, while growing up, I had a good friend who was Mexican-American and Catholic. Him and I both had a love of religion and would talk about it a lot, in good healthy discussions. He later was ordained as a priest of the Dominican Order, and we still keep in touch. Through him I learned about Catholicism, and I love its tradition, and its venerable character. There is a plenty that I disagree with in Christianity, but if I had to choose a denomination, I’d probably be Catholic. I go for those ancient traditions, the Latin rites, and history. :p
I had some experience with Protestant Christianity in High School (I did go to a church for a year or two), but my impression was more negative than what I’ve experienced through Catholicism. In any case, Buddhism has been quite a step above either in my opinion.