Comments on: Shin and Zen: two sides of Japanese Buddhism http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/#comment-3534 Doug Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:17:06 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3462#comment-3534 Hello and welcome to the JLR. I've heard of this folk story before in various incarnations from other sources, so it's well-known. Hello and welcome to the JLR. I’ve heard of this folk story before in various incarnations from other sources, so it’s well-known.

]]> By: stillhere4u http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/#comment-3530 stillhere4u Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:44:40 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3462#comment-3530 I think Zen can be contrasted with the modern culture of presumption. You might enjoy the short Zen tale I just posted at http://deligentia.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/empty-your-cup/ I think Zen can be contrasted with the modern culture of presumption. You might enjoy the short Zen tale I just posted at http://deligentia.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/empty-your-cup/

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/#comment-2631 Doug Sat, 02 May 2009 22:13:38 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3462#comment-2631 <strong>Senshin</strong>: Thank you. :) Of course, one man's garbage is another man's treasure, as we say in English. I suppose it's all empty anyways. ;) <strong>Slingword</strong>: Due to the details of your question, I thought it best to make a separate post on the subject. I hope it addresses some of your questions. As for your blog post, yes, I've enjoyed reading some of the comments. I might have shared some of them at one point, but that was a while ago. Senshin: Thank you. :) Of course, one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, as we say in English. I suppose it’s all empty anyways. ;)

Slingword: Due to the details of your question, I thought it best to make a separate post on the subject. I hope it addresses some of your questions. As for your blog post, yes, I’ve enjoyed reading some of the comments. I might have shared some of them at one point, but that was a while ago.

]]> By: slingword http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/#comment-2630 slingword Sat, 02 May 2009 10:53:48 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3462#comment-2630 Follow up question: I get that some forms of Buddhism are at least not based on some, well, nonsense, like the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. But I'm back in the same old place here. Above you talk about how many different forms of Buddhism there are. But you have chosen one, or some combination of them. Why your choice? If it's all just philosophy, and there is no truth to any of it, making the choice purely personal (just believe what has been handed down to you, or what feels good, or what is convenient, etc) then why even bother with just Buddhism? Why not just pick this passage of the Bible, that writing of this "expert", and what your friends tell you that you want to hear? Truth is what is real. And there is only one of those. There aren't an infinite number of possibilities, there is only one. That makes truth unique. Not just another of an endless number of possibilities of things to believe to be true when they aren't, or things that make you feel good (or worse, sometime perverted like "my personal truth", which is a distortion of the definition of truth). What do you have that is truth? You have some writing of opinions of how to live your life. Which is great! There are a lot of poets who do the same thing, except they don't call themselves religions. A little help? Thanks again, Slingword. PS. There are lots of comments on my article: http://slingword.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/an-open-question-to-the-religious/ which are interesting.... Follow up question:
I get that some forms of Buddhism are at least not based on some, well, nonsense, like the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
But I’m back in the same old place here.

Above you talk about how many different forms of Buddhism there are. But you have chosen one, or some combination of them. Why your choice?

If it’s all just philosophy, and there is no truth to any of it, making the choice purely personal (just believe what has been handed down to you, or what feels good, or what is convenient, etc) then why even bother with just Buddhism? Why not just pick this passage of the Bible, that writing of this “expert”, and what your friends tell you that you want to hear?

Truth is what is real. And there is only one of those. There aren’t an infinite number of possibilities, there is only one. That makes truth unique. Not just another of an endless number of possibilities of things to believe to be true when they aren’t, or things that make you feel good (or worse, sometime perverted like “my personal truth”, which is a distortion of the definition of truth).

What do you have that is truth?
You have some writing of opinions of how to live your life. Which is great! There are a lot of poets who do the same thing, except they don’t call themselves religions.
A little help?

Thanks again,
Slingword.

PS. There are lots of comments on my article:
http://slingword.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/an-open-question-to-the-religious/
which are interesting….

]]> By: Senshin http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/#comment-2626 Senshin Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:00:50 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3462#comment-2626 And sometimes others think your "garbage" is gold :) And sometimes others think your “garbage” is gold :)

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/#comment-2625 Doug Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:51:38 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3462#comment-2625 <strong>Kendall</strong>: Yeah, someone else already pointed out the Google Reader issue. Ah well. :) I usually do keep things in draft for some time (like this post), but occasionally I shoot from the hip. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it's garbage. <strong>Slingword</strong>: Welcome to the JLR. I've replied your question on your blog. Best of luck. Kendall: Yeah, someone else already pointed out the Google Reader issue. Ah well. :) I usually do keep things in draft for some time (like this post), but occasionally I shoot from the hip. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it’s garbage.

Slingword: Welcome to the JLR. I’ve replied your question on your blog. Best of luck.

]]> By: slingword http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/#comment-2622 slingword Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:31:37 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3462#comment-2622 I have a serious question that may be related to this thread: http://slingword.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/an-open-question-to-the-religious/ And I would love to hear replies.... I have a serious question that may be related to this thread:

http://slingword.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/an-open-question-to-the-religious/

And I would love to hear replies….

]]> By: Kendall http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/04/29/shin-and-zen-two-sides-of-japanese-buddhism/#comment-2620 Kendall Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:23:17 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3462#comment-2620 Just remember, just because you delete it, doesn't mean it no longer exists. It's still sitting in my Google Reader. You may not have thought it was a great post, but it wasn't a bad one either. I'm very far from the average on that topic, on the low end, not high end :-). In the future, you might want to keep a post as a draft if you're doubting whether or not to put it out. Just remember, just because you delete it, doesn’t mean it no longer exists. It’s still sitting in my Google Reader. You may not have thought it was a great post, but it wasn’t a bad one either. I’m very far from the average on that topic, on the low end, not high end :-) .

In the future, you might want to keep a post as a draft if you’re doubting whether or not to put it out.

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