Showing posts with label AMIDA-JI TEMPLE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AMIDA-JI TEMPLE. Show all posts

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Some ideas about the temple altar - how is done in Japan and other places and how we'll do it at Amidaji

last update June 23rd - please scroll down in the article and read! 


As some may already know, the naijin (inner area) is the altar area of a Jodo Shinshu temple in Japan where usually only priests are allowed to enter. This situation is copied by many Shinshu temples outside Japan, too. There, in the naijin, the Buddha statue, whose face is sometimes partially covered by a kind of rich material, is enshrined in a big decorated box. Also there are some minor altars of Shinran, Rennyo, the seven Patriarchs and Shotoku Taishi. Another important element is that the naijin is placed on a little raised platform, which means that priests actually stay higher than lay people. Because of all these, and also because the altars are in the back of the naijin, lay people who attend the service and Dharma talks from the gejin (outer area/sitting area) can hardly see the statue and the images on the minor altars.

However, at Amidaji temple we’ll never follow these Japanese customs. Now the Hondo (main hall/Dharma Hall) is small, but even when it will be bigger, there will be no naijin or special area for priests.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

The Three Refuges in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism


download in pdf from 1) my google drive, 2) my page on Academia.edu


The Three Refuges[1] are:

I TAKE REFUGE IN THE BUDDHA
Buddham saranam gacchami[2] (Namo kye Bu[3])
I TAKE REFUGE IN THE DHARMA
Dhammam saranam gacchami (Namo kye Ho)
I TAKE REFUGE IN THE SANGHA
Sangham saranam gacchami (Namo kye So)

     1) The meaning of taking refuge in the Buddha 
       This means to take refuge in Amida Buddha who is the central Buddha in Jodo Shinshu. Only through Him can we attain Buddhahood in the Pure Land as He is the only Buddha among all Buddhas who made the Vow of saving everybody, no matter their spiritual capacities.  

By taking refuge in Amida, we automatically honor and take refuge in Shakyamuni Buddha as the Teacher who showed us the path of Amida Dharma (His main reason for coming into this world) and in all Buddhas in the ten directions, as all encourage us, teach us and guide us to entrust to Amida Buddha.

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Spring work at Amidaji and the plan for this year (2018)

planting tibetan goji on the eastern fence

As usually in spring, I started the work at Amidaji temple with planting activity. Thus, from the few donations received from readers and Dharma friends I planted 20 tibetan goji on the eastern fence of the temple land, and 26 sea berry on the Western fence.
I also added three Paulownia Tomentosa (Empress Tree/Kiri Tree). The Paulownia Tomentosa are fast growing trees which are also present in China and Japan. The total amount spent was around 150 euro (700 lei).

Monday, September 25, 2017

Simple Nembutsu service at Amidaji temple



                                                     (please click on the highlighted words in the text 
                                                                       as they lead you to very important teachings!) 

(update: scroll down to the last video to see Nembutsu service with drum!)
This is a simple religious service based entirely on Nembutsu recitation. The rhytm of recitation is held by hitting a wooden mokugyo in a normal or faster speed. This service is useful to anybody, especially to newcomers who don't know to recite the various hymns included in other services. Thus, they can join immediately in the temple chanting without any difficult introductions. As you see in the video, the recitation can sometimes be accompanied by bowing three times. The priest bows three times from standing, while the rest of the sangha from sitting. Also, when the priest enters the Hondo (Dharma Hall) and approaches the altar he bows three times from standing while saying Nembutsu. The sangha also accompanies him from sitting. Here Nembutsu is recited as:
NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU.....

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Second visit of Shaku Shinkai from Brasil at Amidaji temple


Josho and Shinkai in the Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amidaji
Shaku Shinkai (Thais Campos) from Brasil visited Amidaji for the second time and stayed for a three days retreat.

First time she came in August 2016. Since then she works at the translation of my books and articles into Portughese. The Portughese section of this website is maintained through her dedicated work.

As you already know, visitors are welcomed at Amidaji if they do not mind the simple conditions and sincerely wish to learn the orthodox Jodo Shinshu teaching promoted at our temple.

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Works for strenghtening the Hondo (Dharma Hall) and library of Amidaji (part II the Library)


Added some wooden pillars to the walls to strenghten them. 
Then the pillars were fixed with strong nails on the concrete platform.


This is good news! Everything I did for improving and strenghtening the Hondo (Dharma Hall) I have just done for the library of Amidaji:

- added some wood pillars to the walls to strenghten them. Then the pillars were fixed with strong nails on the concrete platform.
- added a layer of polystyrene (10 cm thick) on the walls
- added a layer of polystyrene (3cm) under the roof
- added a strong construction net and a mixture over the polystyrene to better fix it on the walls
- added a good painting over everything at the end of the work  
- added some rain draining system

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Works for strenghtening the Hondo (Dharma Hall) and library of Amidaji (part I the Hondo)

carrying wooden pillars for the Hondo 


I changed the plans as I presented them in April, and started the summer works by first strenghtening and improving the Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amidaji. So, the same things that I wanted to do for the library, I have done for the Hondo first. This is because there were some problems at the Hondo which needed my urgent attention, and generaly speaking, both buildings had the same difficulties. Thus, the funds raised for the library, plus some extra funds from other sources were used on the Hondo instead.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

The right attitude of mind when working for Amidaji

            
Working to strenghten the walls and roof of  the  
Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amidaji. 
You can see me in the right corner of the photo.
Once, when I was doing my daily work for Amidaji,  in the unbearable heat, I suddenly remembered a passage from Thus I Have Heard from Rennyo Shonin, in which there is a recorded saying of Zenshu, a close disciple of Rennyo Shonin:

"Zenshū said, 'When I make offerings to the Shōnin, I do this as if they were my own. How shameful!' When asked why, he said, 'They are the things given by the Buddha, but I offer them to the Shōnin as if they were my own gift. My role is only to pass the Buddha's gift over to the Shōnin. How shameful I am to make these offerings as if they were my own.'"

Sunday, May 14, 2017

A visitor from Northern Ireland to Amidaji


Today, Mr Iain Lee from Northern Ireland visited Amidaji temple. We made a service (Nembutsu with Amidakyo), and discussed the essentials of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teaching. We'll keep in touch and see each other soon.

As I clearly stated many times, Amidaji is an international temple, opened to anybody who wishes to learn the authentic (orthodox) Jodo Shinshu Dharma and receive shinjin  – simple faith in Amida Buddha. 

Last year we received visitors from Brasil and Japan. This year more people announced their visit. Amidaji is glad to receive anybody who comes with a sincere intention to listen to the Dharma.

Namo Amida Butsu

Friday, April 21, 2017

Fund raising for strenghtening the library of Amidaji


the damage done to the library
by the storm, last year on November. It was repaired
in December
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW UPGRADES AT THE TEMPLE 

As I said recently in my plan for this year, one of the most important thing to do is to strenghten the walls of Amidaji library and add a good roof like the one on the Hondo (Dharma Hall). This is extremely important, especially since the library was affected by a powerful storm last year in November, which almost destroyed it. I succesfully did some repair to it, in December, but I must continue to strenghten the wooden walls and fix them more strongly on the cement platform.

Friday, March 17, 2017

New trees planted at Amidaji, construction plan for 2017 and a memorial for the donor of the temple's land


planting a sycamore tree and a
maples tree in front of the Hondo
(Dharma Hall)
These days I planted the following trees, fruits and flowers in Amidaji courtyard:

2 sour-cherry trees, 3 hazel trees, 1 almond tree, 1 peach tree, 2 birch trees, 1 maple tree, 1 ash tree, 1 sycamore tree, as well as five blackberries, five raspberries, three blackcurrant, three redcurrant, seeds of blue morning glory on the west side of the land in the hope that they will quickly cover that fence. I hope all of them will go well. The whole courtyard of the temple will look better when the trees will make leaves.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

ANNOUNCEMENT - help needed for winter season


Dear Dharma friends of Amidaji temple,

The winter is very hard here, especially that the wood for heating are almost finished at Amidaji and the expanses for living and heating are very high in this period. Any little donation would be welcomed and very much appreciated, especially now. It will help me go through the winter, continue my writing, translations and general Dharma work.

If you can afford to, please consider a donation to this link:

or check the DONATION box in the left column (PayPal and Bank account are offered).

Gratefully yours in Namo Amida Butsu,

Josho

PS: Attention - donations (or sponsorship) do not solve the "matter of the greatest importance" of death and rebirth. Only through simple faith in Amida we can be born in the Pure Land and attain Buddhahood. Thus, donation is NOT a religious obligation, but a free-will gesture of help.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Library of Amidaji affected by a powerful storm

The roof of the library is on the fence
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW UPGRADES AT THE TEMPLE 

- scroll down in the article to read the last update! -

Dear friends,

I was preparing to post some new photos with what I have done in the last days at Amidaji, like planting some new trees, improvements to the stoves,  when disaster stroke.

A very powerful storm blew for 24 hours in the South of Romania (many houses were affected in my village and electricity was interrupted all day) and destroyed the library. Normally, the house should have resisted, but there was a mistake made by the company who produced the wooden frames for the southern wall, and the instalation team who helped me built the house promised that they will come and repair it.  Unfortunatelly, they did not come although I called them repeatedly, and this powerful wind enlarged the crack in the wall until it blew the roof entirely.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Amidaji construction news 2016 - Two new stoves arrived at Amidaji!


the stove on gas was placed in the Hondo (left to the altar)

Dear Dharma friends,

Thanks to your kind help, I successfully bought two stoves for Amidaji, and placed them as follows:

1) one stove on gas was placed in the Hondo (Dharma Hall). It will be used only when I held services and Dharma talks. Also, when when I have visitors who stay for a few days, I sleep in the Hondo and they sleep in the library.
2) one stove on wood was placed in the library. It will be used more often as I also sleep and write here when I come to the temple. Also if I have visitors who stay for a few days, they receive accomodation in the library. In a week or so, a specialist will come to make an isolated hole in a wall of the library and install the funnels to the stove.  

Friday, September 2, 2016

Help needed to buy two stoves for Amidaji temple

Dear friends in the Dharma,

the kind of stove I wish to install in the
Hondo (Dharma Hall) and library of Amidaji 
As you can see in the last posts from this website, Amidaji is opened for visitors and it did have its first visitors from abroad: one from Brasil! (click here) and four from Japan (click here). Other visitors also announced their intention to visit in the near future. I hope that you too, the reader of these lines, will come for a visit, soon!
However, as clearly stated here, because there is no heating system, Amidaji cannot provide accommodation and religious services during the cold season. So, unfortunately, under the present circumstances, visitors can only come since late spring to early autumn.

My intention is to change this and make Amidaji available during the whole year to those who wish to spend a few days in retreat in order to hear Amida Dharma. So, I would like to invite you to please help me to buy and install two stoves - one in the library of Amidaji (where visitors receive accomodation) and the other in the Hondo (Dharma Hall).

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Visit of IABC delegation from Japan to Amidaji temple


Visitors and members in the Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amidaji
On August 28th a delegation of IABC from Japan visited Amidaji temple.
We had a wonderful time together. We recited Amidakyo (Smaller Amida Sutra) and Nembutsu, we had Dharma discussions and we enjoyed a delicious vegetarian food.
I also explained the orthodox attitude of Amidaji in all matters related with Dharma activities and I presented the plan for the next phase in the development of the temple.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

A reader from Brasil at Amidaji temple

Shinkai and Josho in the Hondo
(Dharma Hall)
of Amidaji
As you can read here, at this link, I have declared Amidaji open for visitors. As most of my readers live outside of Romania, and because Amidaji is an international temple (including Romanians of course, but not limited to them), many expressed their wish to visit and stay for a few days in order to listen to the orthodox Jodo Shinshu teaching  presented here.

So, the first visitor arrived and she came all the way from Brasil! Usually, when I have a visitor, I dedicate myself exclusively to him or her. The visitor does not leave the temple for a few days, and is focused entirely on Dharma activities like teaching, recitation, but also work in the garden and courtyard of the temple. This is some kind of a small retreat, but also retreats of more than 3 days can be arranged for either one person or a group.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Amidaji construction news 2016 (part III)

- last update August 8th - 
 Dear Dharma friends,

Here it is a short summary of what I did this summer, and what I plan to do in the next months at Amidaji temple. For more detailed information (including the funds I spent from your donations) and photos you can click on the links provided in the text:

1) What I did until now
the renovated Hondo (Dharma Hall)
(a)
- I renovated, arranged and did some repair on the inside of the Hondo (Dharma Hall). I also added some liquid thermal insulation and painted the walls.
- I paid half of the taxes that must be paid for this year and which are related with the land of Amidaji and the two wooden houses (Hondo and Library)
- I added a new altar with a new beautiful Amida scroll (a gift of Zuikoji temple Osaka)

Monday, July 4, 2016

Amidaji Construction News 2016 (part II) - THE LIBRARY

scroll down for the latest updates!

building the concrete platform for the library
1) The plan for the library
One of the most important steps in the Amidaji project is the library. The original plan was to build a bigger Hondo (Dharma Hall) near the actual one, which will be then transformed into the library. But as the funds needed for the new bigger Hondo are beyond my financial possibilities, I decided to build a little wooden house this summer and use it as a library. When that bigger Hondo will be built and the present one will be transformed into the library, this little house will be used only for the accomodation of visitors.

The truck with the building materials 
for the new wooden house arrived on June 13th. 
I also had a service and Dharma talk on  the12th 
and did various little works in the courtyard of the temple.
The thing is I have a great ammount of copies of my books (especially those printed in Romanian by the CBBEF), as well as various old and new Jodo Shinshu English translations that need to be stored in a proper building. Now many of them are kept in precarious conditions near the place dedicated to the temple, and in the homes of some of my trusted friends and readers. So, while many copies will still remain at these friends who help distribute them in their respective towns, I urgently need a suitable place to store the books I have at my disposal, and where the visitors can easily come in contact with them.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Amidaji Construction News 2016 (part I)


Dear Dharma friends,

working on the inside walls of the little Hondo (Dharma Hall)
Here I am again at the place where I build Amidaji temple. And here is the main plan for this year (2016):

- to pay some taxes for the land of Amidaji and for the little Hondo ( - partially done, read bellow!)
- to add thermal insulation to the inside walls of the little Hondo (Dharma Hall) - done, read bellow!
- to build two toilets and a showers area (plus a little septic tank because the village where I build Amidaji has no sewerage)
- to build a gate for the Amidaji compound (you probably remember the fence I built last year!)
- to build one or more accommodation places for visitors
- to build a well (nowadays our source of water is outside of Amidaji land)
- to make a large concrete platform for a new bigger Hondo (around 50 square meters or more) which will be placed near the actual Hondo (Dharma Hall) - when the bigger Hondo will be built, the actual one will be transformed into the library. This bigger Hondo is scheduled to be built in the next year, but if I raise enough funds I do not exclude the possibility to start working on it this year, too!

Dharma talks on my youtube channel