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: Shingon
My (mis)adventures in Ajikan Meditation
Recently, I was invited by reader and fellow blogger “Johnl” to attend a class on the Shingon meditation technique called ajikan (阿字観). This is a meditation technique in Shingon Buddhism that seems pretty similar to other, more familiar, forms of … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Japan, Shingon, Travel
2 Comments
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
Make Your Own Buddhist Liturgy Book
This is another post to celebrate the Ohigan holiday. When I flew to Japan recently, I bought a small notebook at the airport gift shop: It was an impulse purchase; I don’t know why I bought it, but it looked … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Religion, Shingon, Theravada
8 Comments
Why Did I Get Married Again?
Furthermore, a man and a woman hasten to be united, like iron particles attracted by a magnet….Although man and wife may love each other, they do not know the nature of their love….Their union is comparable to someone meeting another … Continue reading
Bigger is Better: Adventures in Fukagawa
The following day after seeing Sojiji Temple and Yokohama Chukagai, I was happy to meet another blog reader: “Marcus”, star of various blogs over the years, and another long-time reader. Him and I both have a history of changing blogs, … Continue reading
First Post of 2012: What a day
2012 came to Japan today (many readers are still celebrating New Year’s even now due to time-zone difference), but it was a crazy day. We spent the morning at home, eating osechi-ryōri (おせち料理), a staple of Japanese New Year: If … Continue reading
Who’s Who in Buddhism, part 7: Amitabha Buddha
One of the most prominent figures in Mahayana Buddhism, especially East Asian Buddhism is Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. This Buddha is often called by names like Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来) in Japan or Amita Bul (아미타불) in Korean. … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Hosso, Jodo Shinshu, Jodo Shu, Religion, Shingon, Tendai
13 Comments
My Old Friend, the Heart Sutra
As a final post for “Ohigan” week, I wanted to talk about something that has been of interest to me as of late: the Heart Sutra. In January, after getting inspired to cultivate more self-discipline, I decided to make a … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Hosso, Religion, Shingon
2 Comments
Buddhism: Getting what you wished for
Lately, I have been continuing my read of Prof. Reader’s and Prof. Tanabe’s book on practical Japanese religion. I mentioned this book before when talking about “American-Protestant Buddhism“, and in Chapter 2, the book takes up the subject of “orthodox” … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu, Religion, Shingon, Theravada, Zen
7 Comments
Raising Children Buddhist, part 2
This is a recent photo I took during a Buddhist Sunday service we had at the local Jodo Shinshu temple in Seattle. At one point in the service, we recite the Juseige which is an excerpt of the Immeasurable Life … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Family, Hosso, Jodo Shinshu, Religion, Shingon
4 Comments
