Tag Archives: 17th Vow
Buddhas countless as the sands of the Ganges
Our tradition states that the “all buddhas” (shobutsu) spoken of in the 17th Vow are our fellow devotees (? of shinjin). [1] This teaching is memorably encapsulated, for me, in an exchange that took place at our temple between a newcomer and the head priest. The former expressed his perception of those around him as ‘future Buddhas’, but the [...]
Talk things out
“When people walking the same path gather together, they talk things out with each other. And people who express what is on their minds become aware of their feelings and, moreover, they are healed by the others …” – Rennyo Shonin
The Transmission of Shinjin
Even when the world is filled with a great fire, Pass through it and seek to hear the dharma (KGSS, II.10) If I say the phrase “face-to-face oral teaching of a teacher/master” (面授口訣の師* “menju kuketsu no shi”) I’m guessing you will likely think first of Zen or maybe Shingon Buddhism. However this is also a [...]
KGSS II.1-11 ‘Presentation of the Great Practice’
So let’s kick off our perusal of the ‘Practice’ chapter of Shinran’s Kyōgyōshinshō. First up it is worth noting that the ‘Practice’ and ‘Faith’ chapters are very closely related. As we will see practice is given to us through faith. “In Buddhism there is an orderly system in place that proceeds from ‘teaching’ through ‘practice’ [...]
Notes on ‘Naturalness’ (K1)
Before starting to look at Naturalness in detail I’d like to share a few personal impressions of the book. Naturalness has always been an important book to me, to the extent that I have almost come to see it as a sutra, but at the same time it is not one I pick up regularly. [...]
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