Comments on: One with Kannon http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/20/one-with-kannon/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug 陀愚 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/20/one-with-kannon/#comment-5548 Doug 陀愚 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:45:21 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=2627#comment-5548 Hi Matt P and welcome to the JLR! Hi Matt P and welcome to the JLR!

]]> By: Matt P http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/20/one-with-kannon/#comment-5543 Matt P Tue, 08 Feb 2011 02:05:01 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=2627#comment-5543 If, when I think of Kuan yin, I become Kuan Yin, does this also mean that when Kuan Yin thinks of me he/she becomes me? Maybe our thoughts are not separate, and when I think of Kuan Yin, Kuan Yin likewise thinks of me? It's a bit like the saying of the nembutsu. When we say the nembutsu, it's actually Amida saying the nembutsu through us to Amida. Amida calls to Amida through us - Great Compassion calls to Great Compassion through us. The only difference here is, with Kuan Yin, it's at the level of thought and not so much at the level of voice. My thought is Kuan Yin. When I think of Kuan Yin, Kuan Yin thinks of me. But from Kuan Yin's perspective, there is no difference between Kuan Yin and me. So, from Kuan Yin's perspective, me thinking about Kuan Yin is exactly the same as Kuan Yin thinking about Kuan Yin. Kuan Yin sees Kuan Yin when he/she sees me; so when Kuan Yin thinks of me, he/she thinks of Kuan Yin. When I think of Kuan Yin, Great Compassion reflects on Great Compassion. That's just how it is. If, when I think of Kuan yin, I become Kuan Yin, does this also mean that when Kuan Yin thinks of me he/she becomes me?
Maybe our thoughts are not separate, and when I think of Kuan Yin, Kuan Yin likewise thinks of me?
It’s a bit like the saying of the nembutsu. When we say the nembutsu, it’s actually Amida saying the nembutsu through us to Amida. Amida calls to Amida through us – Great Compassion calls to Great Compassion through us. The only difference here is, with Kuan Yin, it’s at the level of thought and not so much at the level of voice. My thought is Kuan Yin. When I think of Kuan Yin, Kuan Yin thinks of me. But from Kuan Yin’s perspective, there is no difference between Kuan Yin and me. So, from Kuan Yin’s perspective, me thinking about Kuan Yin is exactly the same as Kuan Yin thinking about Kuan Yin. Kuan Yin sees Kuan Yin when he/she sees me; so when Kuan Yin thinks of me, he/she thinks of Kuan Yin. When I think of Kuan Yin, Great Compassion reflects on Great Compassion. That’s just how it is.

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/20/one-with-kannon/#comment-1475 Doug Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:12:01 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=2627#comment-1475 Tornado, Marcus: I totally agree. The main "texts" that concern Kannon are the 25th chapter of the lotus sutra (also called the "Kannon Sutra" in its own right) and the Heart Sutra. Both are kind of hard to read, so I've found Thich Nhat's commentaries to be very helpful for both sutras. I'd get the "sutra" and the commentary if possible. I think the Heart Sutra by Thich Nhat Hanh is both sutra and commentary since it's so short. :) I do plan to type up the Kannon Sutra sometime soon from the prayer book i got from Japan, but it's much, much longer than my last effort, the Heart Sutra. That took a whole day of just constant typing, so for the Kannon Sutra, I am not sure if that would take weeks or even months. We'll see. Tornado, Marcus: I totally agree. The main “texts” that concern Kannon are the 25th chapter of the lotus sutra (also called the “Kannon Sutra” in its own right) and the Heart Sutra. Both are kind of hard to read, so I’ve found Thich Nhat’s commentaries to be very helpful for both sutras. I’d get the “sutra” and the commentary if possible. I think the Heart Sutra by Thich Nhat Hanh is both sutra and commentary since it’s so short. :)

I do plan to type up the Kannon Sutra sometime soon from the prayer book i got from Japan, but it’s much, much longer than my last effort, the Heart Sutra. That took a whole day of just constant typing, so for the Kannon Sutra, I am not sure if that would take weeks or even months. We’ll see.

]]> By: Marcus http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/20/one-with-kannon/#comment-1474 Marcus Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:52:26 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=2627#comment-1474 Hi, Well, I'd start with chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra and then move on to the Heart Sutra. Or the other way around. Then it's just a matter of practice. Hope this helps, Namu Kwan Seum Bosal Marcus Hi,

Well, I’d start with chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra and then move on to the Heart Sutra. Or the other way around. Then it’s just a matter of practice.

Hope this helps,

Namu Kwan Seum Bosal

Marcus

]]> By: Tornadoes28 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/20/one-with-kannon/#comment-1473 Tornadoes28 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:05:06 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=2627#comment-1473 I want to learn more about Kannon. Do you have any books to recommend about the Bodhisattva of Compassion? I want to learn more about Kannon. Do you have any books to recommend about the Bodhisattva of Compassion?

]]> By: Marcus http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/20/one-with-kannon/#comment-1471 Marcus Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:54:53 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=2627#comment-1471 Ooops, I just re-read my comment and it looks pretty harsh! Sorry about that! It certainly wasn't meant to be at all rude! Ouch, bang goes the fourth precept (again!). My comment was maybe true, but certainly, reading it again, not loving! Next time, I'll practice what I preach before hitting the submit button! Hardly the words of compassion there! But, yes, I see the phrase as a nudge towards practice rather than a Buddhological statement to be analysed. But thank you so much Gerald for sharing it with us. My main fault in my previous post was that I simply didn't take the time to say how much I appreciate the work you do for us on your blog. Thank you. With palms together, Marcus Ooops,

I just re-read my comment and it looks pretty harsh! Sorry about that! It certainly wasn’t meant to be at all rude!

Ouch, bang goes the fourth precept (again!). My comment was maybe true, but certainly, reading it again, not loving!

Next time, I’ll practice what I preach before hitting the submit button! Hardly the words of compassion there!

But, yes, I see the phrase as a nudge towards practice rather than a Buddhological statement to be analysed.

But thank you so much Gerald for sharing it with us. My main fault in my previous post was that I simply didn’t take the time to say how much I appreciate the work you do for us on your blog. Thank you.

With palms together,

Marcus

]]> By: Marcus http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/20/one-with-kannon/#comment-1470 Marcus Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:15:33 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/?p=2627#comment-1470 Hi, Of course it could also mean that when you think on Kannon, you and Kannon walk together in oneness. I think it's something to practice, rather than analyse. Namu Kwan Seum Bosal, Marcus Hi,

Of course it could also mean that when you think on Kannon, you and Kannon walk together in oneness.

I think it’s something to practice, rather than analyse.

Namu Kwan Seum Bosal,

Marcus

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