About the Author
Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile / Koreaphile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the Internets a better place. Thanks for reading!
Monthly Archives: January 2011
Seventeen Article Constitution of Prince Shotoku
Prince Shotoku, the famous prince, Buddhist, and politician, worked to modernize and bring 7th century Japan. I mentioned previously about the Twelve Cap and Rank system based on mainland Chinese models, but I wanted to explore the Seventeen-article constitution, or … Continue reading
Deflating Lust
This one’s for the “fellas”. So, let’s face it: we like girls. We spend a lot of time thinking about them, and desiring them. Sometimes that makes us less than gentlemen though in our weaker moments, or it interferes with … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Religion, Theravada
6 Comments
“American” Buddhism equals “Prostetant” Buddhism?
Recently I started reading a book recommended by friends on the Jodo Shu Buddhist Group email list called Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan by Professors Ian Reader and George Tanabe Jr. I’ve read both their … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Religion
8 Comments
Early relations between Korea and Japan
Relations between Japan and Korea have always been complicated over the centuries, just as they are now but usually the emphasis has been on the modern period or medieval samurai period. This post is a chance to explore far earlier … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Korea
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Kannon Bodhisattva in Tokyo
This is a photo I took in Japan recently at a temple called Daienji in the Meguro Ward of Tokyo, thanks to reader “Johnl” for the tour: This is a statue of the Bodhisattva Kannon, who is one of the … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Japan, Religion, Travel
4 Comments
Hachiko Statue at Shibuya
On my recent trip to Japan, I spent a day with blog reader “John” and my little girl who wanted to come along. We opted to meet at the famous Hachiko statue in Shibuya, but I am embarrassed to admit … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Travel
2 Comments
Buddhist Karma in simple terms
Lately, I’ve been reading a book from 17th century China by a famous Buddhist named Oǔ-YÌ (蕅益, 1599- 1655) who provided a commentary on the Amitabha Sutra, one of my personal favorite sutras.2 Towards the beginning he writes the following: … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Jodo Shu, Religion
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The Ideal Samurai: myth or real?
On the flight back to the US, I picked up a copy of the famous Samurai “book” called the Hagakuré (葉隠れ). Translated as “Hidden Leaves”, the book comprised of collected sayings by retired samurai and retainer Yamamoto Tsunetomo in his … Continue reading
Posted in Confucius, Japanese, Language, Religion
4 Comments
Quotes from the Virmalakirti Sutra
The Virmalakirti Sutra is among the oldest of the Mahayana Buddhist texts, but it’s one I’ve never really read. That is, until tonight, when I saw a passage of it quoted in Ou-I’s commentaries on the Amitabha Sutra, provided by … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Religion
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Happy Second Blogirthday!
I’ve beaten my personal blogging record, and the JLR has officially survived a second year! After the blog passed its first birthday, I wasn’t sure I could still sustain it a second year, well beyond the lifespan of previous blogs, … Continue reading
Posted in General
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