Comments on: Tales of a Buddhist Pilgrim: me http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/ 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/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/#comment-4029 Doug Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:02:47 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7365#comment-4029 Hi John, thanks for the info. That actually makes a lot of sense. :-) Hi John, thanks for the info. That actually makes a lot of sense. :-)

]]> By: johnl http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/#comment-4027 johnl Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:42:08 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7365#comment-4027 I am a bit late here, but I just looked at one of the 'liner' sheets that they put between the pages to prevent smearing of the fresh ink. Often they are plain sheets of paper, but this one (from Sensoji, I think) had some explanation about the shuin, claiming that the custom arose from the 'receipt' that a donor would get when donating sutra copies to a temple. They suggest in addition to collecting the stamps, we should also copy a sutra from time to time to donate. I am a bit late here, but I just looked at one of the ‘liner’ sheets that they put between the pages to prevent smearing of the fresh ink. Often they are plain sheets of paper, but this one (from Sensoji, I think) had some explanation about the shuin, claiming that the custom arose from the ‘receipt’ that a donor would get when donating sutra copies to a temple. They suggest in addition to collecting the stamps, we should also copy a sutra from time to time to donate.

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/#comment-4009 Doug Sun, 18 Apr 2010 07:46:32 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7365#comment-4009 Hi guys, sorry for the late reply: Rory/Johnl: yeah, I think this little tradition, while nt crucial to Buddhism certainly deserves more attention. :-) Kelly: great to hear from you again. :-) glad I left FB, but I do miss a lot of folks. Johnathan: and I had no idea medieval pilgrimages had brass badges either! Clearly we should chat again soon. :-) Hi guys, sorry for the late reply:

Rory/Johnl: yeah, I think this little tradition, while nt crucial to Buddhism certainly deserves more attention. :-)

Kelly: great to hear from you again. :-) glad I left FB, but I do
miss a lot of folks.

Johnathan: and I had no idea medieval pilgrimages had brass badges either! Clearly we should chat again soon. :-)

]]> By: Jonathan http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/#comment-3991 Jonathan Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:44:44 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7365#comment-3991 Wow, what a beautiful pilgrimage book. I actually didn't know anything about this practice, so I appreciate seeing these images. Funny that I just happened to be reading about pilgrimage in the medieval Western (esp. pilgrim badges); seems like the red stamps/seals serve the same function as the brass/metal badges did... Wow, what a beautiful pilgrimage book. I actually didn’t know anything about this practice, so I appreciate seeing these images. Funny that I just happened to be reading about pilgrimage in the medieval Western (esp. pilgrim badges); seems like the red stamps/seals serve the same function as the brass/metal badges did…

]]> By: Kelly http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/#comment-3989 Kelly Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:07:37 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7365#comment-3989 Hey Doug! I had to look up your blog again b/c I've missed seeing your goofy face over on Facebook. Thought I'd say hi, apropos to nothing on this blog. :) Hey Doug! I had to look up your blog again b/c I’ve missed seeing your goofy face over on Facebook. Thought I’d say hi, apropos to nothing on this blog. :)

]]> By: Rory http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/#comment-3988 Rory Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:49:00 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7365#comment-3988 Heh, it's my good myopia John-san. Since Hosso and Kegon sects also took up esoteric practice I'm guessing that's why it is on the stamp. Looks like a bha Heh, it’s my good myopia John-san. Since Hosso and Kegon sects also took up esoteric practice I’m guessing that’s why it is on the stamp. Looks like a bha

]]> By: johnl http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/#comment-3987 johnl Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:24:24 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7365#comment-3987 Rory-san, you have good eyes to spot the Siddham letter! I wouldn't have known. Doug, you have good fortune to have so many temple stamps. I didn't know about this custom until recently, so my shuincho still has only a handful of stamps, but they are certainly wonderful. You can try to decipher the stylized letters of the stamps, try to decipher the cursive handwriting, but no matter what, a certain power and dynamism is noticeable in these images. Rory-san, you have good eyes to spot the Siddham letter! I wouldn’t have known. Doug, you have good fortune to have so many temple stamps. I didn’t know about this custom until recently, so my shuincho still has only a handful of stamps, but they are certainly wonderful. You can try to decipher the stylized letters of the stamps, try to decipher the cursive handwriting, but no matter what, a certain power and dynamism is noticeable in these images.

]]> By: rory http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/04/12/tales-of-a-buddhist-pilgrim-me/#comment-3986 rory Mon, 12 Apr 2010 07:51:28 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7365#comment-3986 talk about synchronicity I was just reading about these pilgrim books, so its wonderful to see one. One day want to make the Kannon pilgrimage The Todaiji stamp has siddham script, probably the esoteric mantra. Really interesting. Posting this counts definitely 'wholesome factors' I am just reading chapter 5 about alaya consciouness in Living Yogacarya & now I feel just like you did! I got interested in Buddhism at 16 as well in NYC but it was all zen in those days, its taken me this long to reach and appreciate these kind of deep concepts, that are so practical. And going to the temple & having devotion to Amida, Yakushi Nyorai not either/or but both.... So thanks Doug for perfuming the seeds (wonderful evocative phrase) I am making a big gassho over a continent and ocean in gratitude talk about synchronicity I was just reading about these pilgrim books, so its wonderful to see one. One day want to make the Kannon pilgrimage
The Todaiji stamp has siddham script, probably the esoteric mantra. Really interesting.
Posting this counts definitely ‘wholesome factors’ I am just reading chapter 5 about alaya consciouness in Living Yogacarya & now I feel just like you did!
I got interested in Buddhism at 16 as well in NYC but it was all zen in those days, its taken me this long to reach and appreciate these kind of deep concepts, that are so practical. And going to the temple & having devotion to Amida, Yakushi Nyorai not either/or but both….
So thanks Doug for perfuming the seeds (wonderful evocative phrase) I am making a big gassho over a continent and ocean in gratitude

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