I know how you feel. I often struggle with the Buffet Buddhism issue too. I think it really boils down to a lack of a solid Buddhist community (i.e. the Sangha that we’re supposed to take refuge in). In my case, where I live there’s no lack of communities, but either they’re inaccessible due to work schedule, or not very good, so it doesn’t help. Online communities just don’t work either, no matter what people say.

With that said, study of the Dharma is never time wasted, and at the very least, striving to improve one’s conduct are two things one can definitely do by themselves. Self-reflection too. I guess we place too much emphasis on “practices” in Japanese Buddhism in particular. Zen and Pure Land Buddhism are both guilty of this, because of their tendency toward exclusivity, but if you look at the larger Buddhist religion, it should be a balance of sila (conduct), samadhi (practice) and panna (wisdom). If we lean on one too much, the whole thing suffers.

So, I guess don’t worry so much about your practice, but instead, see it as one only one part of being a Buddhist. When time permits, I meditate and/or recite the nembutsu, but even in busy days, at least I can try to refrain from harmful speech, reflect on my past actions, etc, etc.

I definitely appreciate your input. I actually know surprisingly little about Dogen, except from Brad Warner’s second book (which was pretty good at times). I figured his sense of hyperbole due to his young enthusiasm, but I recall similar statements in the Shobogenzo too, his later, bigger work.

I do think Dogen was a product of his time, because his words and sentiments often echo what Honen said, or Nichiren said, even though they all have different viewpoints otherwise. It’s like reading all the stuff came out of the European Romaticism Era: even though they focus on different subjects or ideas, they all seem to have underlying threads of common thought.

So, I kind of take his words with a grain of salt, as I have gradually learned to do with founders in the Pure Land tradition. They’re still men, and men make mistakes.

Regarding the etymology of the title, I can’t confirm that myself. I looked up the first kanji 弁 here, and it mentioned nothing about “wholehearted”. The other two are as you stated. The first one may have had a different meaning in the past, I am not sure.

As for Buffet Buddhism, sister, I couldn’t agree with you more! I struggle with it myself admittedly (as many blog readers may have noted in the past), but gradually as I get older, I find myself settling down and making the most of what I got, which I hope is good enough.

I’ll check out that Uchiyama book as well. I remember Kyoshin over at Echoes of the Name blog enjoying it much.