Comments on: Buddhism and Discrimination: a Pure Land perspective http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/ 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/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4215 Doug Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:12:49 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4215 Yeah, I would do the same thing. Might as well go to the source. :) Yeah, I would do the same thing. Might as well go to the source. :)

]]> By: Stephen http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4202 Stephen Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:07:51 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4202 Personally, if I could go back in time I wouldn't ask anybody, I would ask Sakyamuni Buddha himself. :) That option gone I take his word from the past and focus on Amida in the future. Stephen Personally, if I could go back in time I wouldn’t ask anybody, I would ask Sakyamuni Buddha himself. :)
That option gone I take his word from the past and focus on Amida in the future.
Stephen

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4201 Doug Tue, 15 Jun 2010 05:40:42 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4201 For that matter, I really wish I could go back in time somehow and just ask people. ;) For that matter, I really wish I could go back in time somehow and just ask people. ;)

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4200 Doug Tue, 15 Jun 2010 05:40:18 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4200 Indeed, you may well be right. Since the Pure Land Buddhist texts were written 2,000 years ago, and pretty sophisticated, we can only guess at what they wanted to convey. :-/ Indeed, you may well be right. Since the Pure Land Buddhist texts were written 2,000 years ago, and pretty sophisticated, we can only guess at what they wanted to convey. :-/

]]> By: Kendall http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4191 Kendall Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:09:21 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4191 Having everyone "all be of one appearance" sounds a bit boring to me. I enjoy diversity. Perhaps though it's addressing the idea of "no self," and that everyone has actualized this idea. That's the problem with speaking in metaphors, too many possible interpretations, especially considering the language translations added into it. I think you've done quite well keeping up with your blog. Wish I could say the same about mine. Having everyone “all be of one appearance” sounds a bit boring to me. I enjoy diversity. Perhaps though it’s addressing the idea of “no self,” and that everyone has actualized this idea. That’s the problem with speaking in metaphors, too many possible interpretations, especially considering the language translations added into it.

I think you’ve done quite well keeping up with your blog. Wish I could say the same about mine.

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4171 Doug Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:20:49 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4171 Ha, ha, ha you must be referring to this one: <em>(35) If, when I attain Buddhahood, women in the immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha-lands of the ten quarters who, having heard my Name, rejoice in faith, awaken aspiration for Enlightenment and wish to renounce womanhood, should after death be reborn again as women, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.</em> Nothing clever on my part; it was not mentioned in the video and I forgot. Maybe they were side-stepping? :-0 Ha, ha, ha you must be referring to this one:

(35) If, when I attain Buddhahood, women in the immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha-lands of the ten quarters who, having heard my Name, rejoice in faith, awaken aspiration for Enlightenment and wish to renounce womanhood, should after death be reborn again as women, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.

Nothing clever on my part; it was not mentioned in the video and I forgot. Maybe they were side-stepping? :-0

]]> By: Stephen http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4170 Stephen Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:40:05 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4170 Decided to side-step the other big equalizer No35? Stephen Decided to side-step the other big equalizer No35?
Stephen

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4168 Doug Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:33:33 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4168 Hi Johnl, I actually did find a sutra in the Pali Canon about the caste system, but I don't have it now. Other sutras I've seen show how the Buddha assigned caste by wisdom and conduct, not birth. So, a "brahmin" in the eyes of the Buddha was one who was upright, wise and carried himself/herself well. As for me and the blog, no worries. I just have to scale back for a while due to technical certification test I am working on, due later this month, and other obligations this month. Also need to work on processing through some material for the blog. :) Hi Johnl,

I actually did find a sutra in the Pali Canon about the caste system, but I don’t have it now. Other sutras I’ve seen show how the Buddha assigned caste by wisdom and conduct, not birth. So, a “brahmin” in the eyes of the Buddha was one who was upright, wise and carried himself/herself well.

As for me and the blog, no worries. I just have to scale back for a while due to technical certification test I am working on, due later this month, and other obligations this month. Also need to work on processing through some material for the blog. :)

]]> By: johnl http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/06/04/buddhism-and-discrimination-a-pure-land-perspective/#comment-4164 johnl Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:48:06 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7073#comment-4164 You certainly have had a string of very impressive postings, so we can't complain if you want to take it easy for a while. Just don't take it *too* easy! :) I am no expert, but I have not seen much in Buddhist scriptures about racial discrimination. To me, the question about any of the humans and devas being a different color seems to refer to perfection of enlightenment. If any of them have not reached a perfect state, then one's own task as a bodhisattva is not yet finished. But that is just my intuitive perspective--this is not something I know much about! You certainly have had a string of very impressive postings, so we can’t complain if you want to take it easy for a while. Just don’t take it *too* easy! :)

I am no expert, but I have not seen much in Buddhist scriptures about racial discrimination. To me, the question about any of the humans and devas being a different color seems to refer to perfection of enlightenment. If any of them have not reached a perfect state, then one’s own task as a bodhisattva is not yet finished. But that is just my intuitive perspective–this is not something I know much about!

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