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!
Category Archives: Buddhism
Alertness, not Mindfulness
Recently, a fellow blogger named Cocomino, posted an interesting article about how people make better decisions in a foreign language. The explanation behind the research is that: Namely, people are less likely to fall into common cognitive traps when tested … Continue reading
Nembutsu Postcards
Not too long ago, I found these postcards hidden in my pilgrimage book. I think I received them when read “Johnl” and I visited a small Jodo Shu temple in the Meguro ward of Tokyo. Last year, Japan celebrated the … Continue reading
Korea’s Lotus Lantern Festival
Previously while blogging about the Buddha’s Birthday in Japan, I stated that the celebration in Korea had already passed. Turns out I was way off (oops). The Buddha’s birthday or seokga tansinil (석가탄신일) is May 28 this year in accordance … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Korea, Religion, Travel
4 Comments
Off to Japan once again!
Hi everyone, Just a quick announcement that my wife, daughter and I will be taking another trip to Japan in the second-half of August. Normally we go at the end of the year so we can enjoy New Year’s and … Continue reading
Be the Bigger Person
Another impromptu post. I saw a childish and annoying religious video on Youtube earlier, and I then remembered a famous passage from the Buddhist Flower Garland Sutra (華厳経 kegonkyō in Japanese, 화엄경 hwa-eom gyeong in Korean): On seeing a bodhisattva … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Religion
3 Comments
Being a Foreigner is a Pain, anywhere
Think of it as plastic memory, this force within you which trends you and your fellows toward tribal forms. This plastic memory seeks to return to its ancient shape, the tribal society. It is all around you—the feudatory, the diocese, … Continue reading
Understanding Buddhism as a Corporate Metaphor
I work in a large corporation now for the last 6 years as an systems engineer. I’ve moved offices many times and I’ve transferred around within the company (working in Dublin for example) sometimes. It occurred to me that this … Continue reading
Kobo Daishi: Buddhist Superhero
On the lighter side of things, during our trip to Japan this year, we went to the temple of Kawasaki Daishi for Hatsumode, the first temple visit of the new year. Kawasaki Daishi is a pretty famous temple of the … Continue reading
Vegetarianism in Korea: Past and Present
Recently I read this interesting article from the Yonhap News Agency about the growing popularity of vegetarianism in Korea, but based on traditional dietary habits, not modern ones. In the past, I’ve talked about traditional diets in Japan, which also … Continue reading
Heartburn
Lately, I’ve been having heartburn, stomach pain and vomiting. It started last year on Thanksgiving but wasn’t frequent, until February and March of this year. But the stomach pain and vomiting have become more and more frequent and my wife … Continue reading
