What is Amida Buddha? (Part 1)
When you walk into the Hondo of the Midwest Buddhist Temple one of the first things you see is the Amida Buddha Statue. The large size of the statue is somewhat unusual for a Jodo Shinshu temple but our founding minister, Rev. Kono, wanted people to see this first when they walked in. I think you would agree it has an amazing presence.
Gratitude for the Efforts of Others
Rev. Kenji shares some of the common Western misunderstandings of Shin Buddhism, and the traditions behind the practice. He explains the everyday benefits of waking up to reality through true understanding. Waking up from "Please" to "Thank You."
Year of Transformation!
This new year, 2025, is the year of the snake. Snakes often symbolize transformation, rebirth, and healing as they shed its skin. In many cultures, they represent the shedding of old ways and the beginning of something new, just as a snake sheds its skin.
A New Year of Great Faith and Great Wisdom
The author mentions John Lennon twice. Once for the song Imagine and for the song Instant Karma. At first, we have to imagine an alternative world of peace and love because the world of the ego-self seems so real and concrete. But we have always had it backwards, the world of suffering is unreal while the world of bliss is real. This realization can come in an instant.
Generational Buddhist
You Know You Are a Generational Japanese American Buddhist When…
· Your obaachan’s house smells like osenko
· The first thing you do when you go to your obaachan’s house is to Gassho in front of the Obutsudan
· You’re not sure if that church goes by “church” or “temple”
· You thought it was called an Ojuzu, but now it’s called an Onenju
· Three Treasures started with “I put my faith in” …
Be the Refuge
Author Chenxing Han discusses the transformative experience of writing her debut book, Be the Refuge, and the surprising connections it has fostered. Tune in as she shares stories of finding solace and comfort within the Buddhist community, going from loneliness to spiritual friendships. During her insightful GSS, she examines and debunks the dichotomy within American Buddhism of being either a traditional Asian ritualistic practice or a contemporary White driven practice centered on meditation. Chenxing Han has emerged as a prominent voice and progressive thinker in understanding the current landscape of American Buddhism. You don’t want to miss the engaging and information talk!
The Way of Affirmation
It was like seeing a movie that you can’t stop thinking about weeks later. It creates a tension in the viewer. I couldn’t shake the contrast between how I was experiencing my life and how I experienced the naijin. It is interesting but this is all by design.
The Psychology of Buddhism
Can the embrace of Amida Buddha’s compassion bring solace to our minds? Rev. Dr. Carmela Javellana, armed with insights from Shinran Shonin’s work, “Kyogyoshinsho" and background in psychology, invites us to explore how the Nembutsu has the potential to be a powerful medicine, useful in ordinary day-to-day life as well as healing trauma.
Behold the Buddha
One of the unique features of Pure Land Buddhism is that it uses form to communicate profound spiritual meaning. For example, our naijin is visually overwhelming which is also by design. We are captivated by it and immersed within it whenever we behold its beauty. You might even think of it as a life sized diorama representing the awakened mind which in turn awakens the world around it.
Making a Difference
People are starting to feel like they lack agency, that is the ability to make substantial and long lasting change. The Buddhist teaching of impermanence also gives the impression to some that we lack the ability to create substantial, permanent change. If everything is interconnected then how can we make a difference as individuals?
How to Savor the Day
Bishop Marvin Harada Sensei explains the Zen Buddhist idea of Ichigo Ichie. This powerful lesson about treating every day like it is your first day, and maybe your last day, is for everyone in any Buddhist tradition and beyond. Learn from real life examples how you too can live every day with gratitude and reverence.
Longevity from the Sangha
If people who shy away from religion are anything like I used to be, they’re probably thinking they can handle life on their own. They don’t need anything, or that maybe their spirituality has nothing to do with community. This individualist attitude is pervasive in American culture.
But Blue Zones tell us that faith-based communities are important to our well-being.
The Making of American Buddhism
As of 2010, there were approximately 3-4 million Buddhists in the United States, and that figure is expected to grow significantly. Beyond the numbers, the influence of Buddhism can be felt throughout the culture, with many more people practicing meditation, for example, than claiming Buddhist identity. A century ago, this would have been unthinkable. So how did Buddhism come to claim such a significant place in the American cultural landscape?
Navayāna (New Vehicle)
Yūshi Ono suddenly resigned the CEO position and received the ordination by Shūrei Sasai in India, and became the monk Ryūkō. He says, “I was tired of constantly chasing revenue and profit in business by convincing customers. Money is just a number, but has the dangerous magical power to drive people greedy and crazy."
Neo-Buddhist Movement
Yūshi Ono, who was a graduate of Tokyo University and became an IT venture capitalist after working for IBM Japan, has recently become a Buddhist monk by renouncing his total asset of nearly 10 billion yen (over $65 million). His monastic name is Ryūkō 龍光 (meaning “light of dragon”). His story sounds quite similar to Siddhartha’s.
Jazz, Buddhism and Creative Flow
Discover how the pairing Buddhist thought with the concept of jazz music can lead to a more fulfilling life. Rev. Hata shares how his professional music career helped him develop a deeper Buddhist practice and commitment to the ministry.
Jon Sensei Hits The Airwaves
Jon Turner Sensei was recently interviewed by Vincent Moore, host of the Paths of Practice Podcast. From the Beatles to Shinran, this is an engaging and inspiring conversation you won't want to miss!
Gross National Happiness
Are Buddhists so happy because they are Buddhist? I don’t know, but as my Jewish mother would say about chicken soup curing a cold, “It couldn’t hurt”. Gross National Happiness is really a sense of well-being which is shared by most Bhutanese. They are not wealthy, they don’t live in luxury, but they are 91.2% happy with a sense of well-being.
So, tell me, what is Buddhism?
I feel like I am as articulate as the next guy and spent most my career communicating concepts (marketing and sales). But I have a very hard time delivering a simple response to “What is Buddhism”? Almost always, I find my answer a bit hollow and inadequate. Kind of frustrating, kind of embarrassing!
Chanting, Live Music and Human Connection
When I was a kid, I used to hate chanting. There were a few reasons for this; for one, the words we were chanting weren’t in English, diminishing my interest in the material by about 75%. But second, and more importantly in my mind, I was self conscious of how I sounded compared to the adults around me. Every week I felt embarrassed adding my little child’s squeak to the deep, resonant vocal pitches around me.