Comments on: Introduction to Shingon Buddhism http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/08/introduction-to-shingon-buddhism/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:44:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/08/introduction-to-shingon-buddhism/#comment-3429 Doug Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:14:43 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3084#comment-3429 Hello Xing Ping and welcome to the JLR! :) Hello Xing Ping and welcome to the JLR! :)

]]> By: amerbud http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/08/introduction-to-shingon-buddhism/#comment-3427 amerbud Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:54:47 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3084#comment-3427 <strong>Totally awesome page, dude. I have linked to it and featured it on my Wordpress blog: <a href="http://res6zeam.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">American Buddhism</a> Namu Amida Butsu Xing Ping</strong> Totally awesome page, dude. I have linked to it and featured it on my WordPress blog: American Buddhism

Namu Amida Butsu
Xing Ping

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/08/introduction-to-shingon-buddhism/#comment-3283 Doug Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:25:32 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3084#comment-3283 Hi IanJ and welcome to the JLR. I think there are two reasons for the lack of info on Shingon Buddhism: first, Shingon institutions haven't made an overseas effort until very recently, and usually only among the Japanese overseas communities. Now that those communities are intermingling with other groups, the teachings are reaching a wider population, and Shingon Buddhism is only starting to catch on. Second reason I think is its esoteric nature. Shingon really doesn't make sense until you've had experience under a teacher, and unfortunately, some do have experience, but get off-track and start cult-followings based on immature understandings. One has to carry the teachings to fruition, and needs to invest the time, effort and discipline to see that fruition come forth. Compared to exoteric teachings, this makes Shingon more obscure, but still a profound path. :) I've only had very, very limited experience, but I definitely would like to go back for more. Take care! Hi IanJ and welcome to the JLR. I think there are two reasons for the lack of info on Shingon Buddhism: first, Shingon institutions haven’t made an overseas effort until very recently, and usually only among the Japanese overseas communities. Now that those communities are intermingling with other groups, the teachings are reaching a wider population, and Shingon Buddhism is only starting to catch on.

Second reason I think is its esoteric nature. Shingon really doesn’t make sense until you’ve had experience under a teacher, and unfortunately, some do have experience, but get off-track and start cult-followings based on immature understandings. One has to carry the teachings to fruition, and needs to invest the time, effort and discipline to see that fruition come forth. Compared to exoteric teachings, this makes Shingon more obscure, but still a profound path. :) I’ve only had very, very limited experience, but I definitely would like to go back for more.

Take care!

]]> By: IanJ http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/08/introduction-to-shingon-buddhism/#comment-3279 IanJ Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:59:49 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3084#comment-3279 Thanks for sharing the article. There's not a great deal of information about shingon 'true word' buddhism in english. There's one book 'shingon' by Taiko Yamasaki which is probably the definitive work in english on the subject. I'm currently reading this book but it's quite heavy going in places so your article was a most welcome overview. Thanks for sharing the article. There’s not a great deal of information about shingon ‘true word’ buddhism in english. There’s one book ‘shingon’ by Taiko Yamasaki which is probably the definitive work in english on the subject. I’m currently reading this book but it’s quite heavy going in places so your article was a most welcome overview.

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/08/introduction-to-shingon-buddhism/#comment-1553 Doug Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:46:19 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3084#comment-1553 Hi Tornado, I used to visit another Shingon temple in Seattle, which was part of the same "group" of temples as the one near your work. They were very small, mostly elderly Japanese-Americans, plus a few younger ones. The services involved a lot of recitation of mantras (in a set order outlined in a handout), followed by a nice little Dharma talk. As I got to know the priest, he taught me a few real intro-level esoteric practices I could do at home. If you liked the nearby temple, and got to know the priest there (I think he's American, not Japanese), he'll probably teach esoteric stuff, and you just go at your own pace. Speaking of trying out new things, I decided I will go try a Tibetan temple near work sometime soon, just so I can see that I've seen what they're like. They have a meditation class on Wednesday, and I've never meditated with a group in my whole life, so why not? :) Hi Tornado,

I used to visit another Shingon temple in Seattle, which was part of the same “group” of temples as the one near your work. They were very small, mostly elderly Japanese-Americans, plus a few younger ones. The services involved a lot of recitation of mantras (in a set order outlined in a handout), followed by a nice little Dharma talk. As I got to know the priest, he taught me a few real intro-level esoteric practices I could do at home. If you liked the nearby temple, and got to know the priest there (I think he’s American, not Japanese), he’ll probably teach esoteric stuff, and you just go at your own pace.

Speaking of trying out new things, I decided I will go try a Tibetan temple near work sometime soon, just so I can see that I’ve seen what they’re like. They have a meditation class on Wednesday, and I’ve never meditated with a group in my whole life, so why not? :)

]]> By: Tornadoes28 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/08/introduction-to-shingon-buddhism/#comment-1551 Tornadoes28 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:46:51 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3084#comment-1551 This is an interesting article. I am not very familiar with Shingon. There is a Shingon temple near my work in Downtown Los Angeles in Little Tokyo. I believe it is the North American headquarters of Shingon. Sometime I stop by to look at the statues in front of the temple. This is an interesting article. I am not very familiar with Shingon. There is a Shingon temple near my work in Downtown Los Angeles in Little Tokyo. I believe it is the North American headquarters of Shingon. Sometime I stop by to look at the statues in front of the temple.

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