Comments on: As Appropriate: Buddhist Advice from Myoe http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/07/19/as-appropriate-buddhist-advice-from-myoe/ 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/2010/07/19/as-appropriate-buddhist-advice-from-myoe/#comment-4536 Doug Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:22:17 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=8330#comment-4536 Hi Kendall, I think it's more based on common-sense intuition, rather than getting bogged down in concrete rules. In any society, people would agree that fathers should take care of their family, and not squander funds for example. Monks and priests in general should maintain good moral conduct that others can emulate. Details may vary, but obviously some behavior crosses the line anywhere. Hi Kendall,

I think it’s more based on common-sense intuition, rather than getting bogged down in concrete rules. In any society, people would agree that fathers should take care of their family, and not squander funds for example. Monks and priests in general should maintain good moral conduct that others can emulate. Details may vary, but obviously some behavior crosses the line anywhere.

]]> By: Kendall http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/07/19/as-appropriate-buddhist-advice-from-myoe/#comment-4535 Kendall Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:58:46 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=8330#comment-4535 Doing what is "appropriate" is somewhat obvious, but identifying and knowing what is appropriate is harder. You list out what is appropriate for a monk while at the shrine, but what about for lay people and for fathers, emperors, etc.? As parents find out pretty quickly, their children aren't born with manuals. Figuring out what is appropriate for taking care of them can be very difficult and stressful. Some people come to figure out what's appropriate long the way, but as the news shows every night, there are many who don't. I guess laws are one form of defining "appropriate" behavior for people. Doing what is “appropriate” is somewhat obvious, but identifying and knowing what is appropriate is harder. You list out what is appropriate for a monk while at the shrine, but what about for lay people and for fathers, emperors, etc.? As parents find out pretty quickly, their children aren’t born with manuals. Figuring out what is appropriate for taking care of them can be very difficult and stressful. Some people come to figure out what’s appropriate long the way, but as the news shows every night, there are many who don’t. I guess laws are one form of defining “appropriate” behavior for people.

]]> By: johnl http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/07/19/as-appropriate-buddhist-advice-from-myoe/#comment-4344 johnl Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:01:37 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=8330#comment-4344 Thanks for that perspective, NellaLou! I have appreciated the meditative quality of sutra copying, but the idea of transcribing stuff for the deaf adds a stronger bodhisattva element--I never thought about that. Also, your blog is now bookmarked! (The video about time perception is a very cool, real-time transcription--nice!) Thanks for that perspective, NellaLou! I have appreciated the meditative quality of sutra copying, but the idea of transcribing stuff for the deaf adds a stronger bodhisattva element–I never thought about that. Also, your blog is now bookmarked! (The video about time perception is a very cool, real-time transcription–nice!)

]]> By: NellaLou http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/07/19/as-appropriate-buddhist-advice-from-myoe/#comment-4343 NellaLou Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:47:27 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=8330#comment-4343 This kind of daily schedule is quite useful even if one isn't a monk. Setting out a time and method for one's activities. One thing I particularly liked was 02:00 – 04:00 PM Study or copy scriptures. For so many centuries scriptures have been copied out. It's not only been due to lack of printing facilities I think. I've taken up a version of this myself-though not properly scheduled. I've been doing transcripts of video dharma talks and making those available on my blog and elsewhere. I use these myself to quote from but they are also of use to deaf people. There is a great deal of material that cannot be accessed due to it's audio format (videos and mp3s) Transcribing brings a surprisingly intense interaction with the material. A lot more difficult than just listening to talks or reading. Every word requires attention and the comprehension of the material goes much more in depth. I had no idea of that when I started. I'd guess translators go through the same sort of thing too. Do you find it so when you are working in Japanese too? Likely many of the items you've listed have more underlying motivations than are immediately apparent. And only be doing these apparently ritualistic things do those motivations and their benefits appear. This kind of daily schedule is quite useful even if one isn’t a monk. Setting out a time and method for one’s activities. One thing I particularly liked was

02:00 – 04:00 PM
Study or copy scriptures.

For so many centuries scriptures have been copied out. It’s not only been due to lack of printing facilities I think. I’ve taken up a version of this myself-though not properly scheduled. I’ve been doing transcripts of video dharma talks and making those available on my blog and elsewhere. I use these myself to quote from but they are also of use to deaf people. There is a great deal of material that cannot be accessed due to it’s audio format (videos and mp3s)

Transcribing brings a surprisingly intense interaction with the material. A lot more difficult than just listening to talks or reading. Every word requires attention and the comprehension of the material goes much more in depth. I had no idea of that when I started. I’d guess translators go through the same sort of thing too. Do you find it so when you are working in Japanese too?

Likely many of the items you’ve listed have more underlying motivations than are immediately apparent. And only be doing these apparently ritualistic things do those motivations and their benefits appear.

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