The first monk ordination in Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism (Rev Kosho Arana from Columbia)

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the Romanian version of this article

NEW! Click here to read about Rev Kosho's experience at Amidaji during his ordination!

On the evening of September 21^st 2023, I ordained our brother Kosho Arana from Colombia as a Buddhist monk (priest).  This is a historical day for Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.

As you may know, Amidaji follows the wise and compassionate instructions of the late 23rd Monshu of Nishi Hongwanji temple, Shōnyo Shōnin (Kosho Ohtani)[1], who encouraged non-Japanese Nembutsu followers to organize themselves independently from Japan, and who agreed with the first non-Japanese ordinations done in Europe by Rev Harry Pieper (Shaku Shōgon Hōshi)[2] and Rev Jean Earacle (Shaku Jôan)[3]. In the same spirit initiated by Shōnyo Shōnin of sincere aspiration to spread the authentic Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teachings in a non-Japanese environment, Amidaji affirms the right to have its own ordination platform. Thus, a candidate for monkhood (priesthood) can receive his or her ordination from any of the monks or nuns affiliated with Amidaji after a serious examination and going through the ceremony of ordination that we can held at any of our temples or dojos.

Things I did and improved at Amidaji in 2022 and 2023 - your help is very much needed and appreciated

the new kitchen of Amidaji
in the former accomodation place

 My last post (December, 2021) in the category Amidaji temple - work

 plan and progress was related with the stove that I installed in the

 Amidado (Hall of Amida), so now I am going to tell you what I did since that time. The following information are already present on various social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc

 In 2022, I arranged a new kitchen in the former accommodation place and transformed the former little Hondo (Dharma Hall) into a library and accommodation place. There I installed a cooking stove on gas and many useful things. 

in Amidaji kitchen with a guest from Taiwan

In the new accommodation place I also added a good stove made of tiles which is very useful during winter. This stove is even better than that from Amidado Hall which can warm the place for the duration of a service, while the heat in the library and accommodation place lasts for many hours. 

Electricity was also added to both the new kitchen and library.

In 2023 I printed and framed ten images of various Buddhas and Enlightened Bodhisattvas, like Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, White Tara, Green Tara, Mahakala, etc, some of them wearing Amida on the crown of their head, as well as images of Shinran Shonin, Rennyo Shonin, the seven Patriarchs (Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, T’an Luan, Tao’ch’o, Shantao, Genshin, Honen), Shotoku Taishi, and I placed them inside the Amidado Hall.

The difference between personal power (jiriki) and the Power of Amida Buddha (Tariki) - video teaching

 

Here is a new video in the series of the 71 topics of examination for those who want to be ordained in Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. The main speaker is my student Kosho Arana from Colombia. His presentation is based on my book AMIDA DHARMA - the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple

Kosho Arana is scheduled to receive monk (priest) ordination soon, together with Daigan from Uruguay. He already finished all the examinations with me but we continue this public presentation so that people find how we do things at Amidaji, and what a candidate for ordination needs to know. 

May all beings create indestructible connections with Amida Buddha, entrust to Him, say His Name and wish to be born in His Pure Land.

Namo Amida Bu 

The Primal Vow of Amida Buddha is inconceivable

 "Tathagata's Primal Vow surpasses conceptual understanding; it is a design of the wisdom of Buddhas. It is not the design of foolish beings. No one can fathom the wisdom of Buddhas, which surpasses conceptual understanding."[1]
 
"Further, with regard to Other Power, since it is inconceivable Buddha-wisdom, the attainment of supreme Enlightenment by foolish beings possessed of blind passions comes about through the working shared only by Buddhas; it is not in any way the design of the practicer. Thus, no working is true working. 'Working' that is negated refers to the calculation of the person of self-power. Concerning Other Power, then, no working is true working."[2]

New video discussion on the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha

 

Here is a new video in the series of the 71 topics of examination for those who want to be ordained in Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. The main speaker is my student Kosho Arana from Colombia. His presentation is based on my books TheMeaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and my Commentary on the Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life.

Kosho Arana is scheduled to receive monk (priest) ordination soon, together with Daigan from Uruguay. He already finished all the examinations with me but we continue this public presentation so that people find how we do things at Amidaji, and what a candidate for ordination needs to know. 

At THIS LINK you can also find the original detailed explanation (video) of the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha as it appears in my books mentioned above. HERE is the same content on Amidaji website.

May all beings create indestructible connections with Amida Buddha, entrust to Him, say His Name and wish to be born in His Pure Land.

Namo Amida Bu 

The Pure Land is NOT here and now (video discussion)

 

 Articles related with this video teaching,

The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land

A collection of passages on the true meaning of birth in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha Vows explaining the characteristics, the capacities and activities of beings who attained Enlightenment in the Pure Land after being born there Virtues and activities of the Enlightened Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land – commentary on sections 28 and 30 of the Larger Sutra Against the idea that the Pure Land is "here and now" AMIDA DHARMA - Fascicle 11. The benefits of birth in the Pure Land after death

Those who deny the existence of Amida don’t have shinjin (faith) – some simple explanations

Youtube channel of Shaku Joshin Video presentation of the 71 topics of examination for those who want to become lay teachers or monks and nuns in Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

Video presentation of the 71 topics of examination for those who want to become lay teachers or monks and nuns in Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

As you may already know, we at Amidaji, take monk (priest) ordination or becoming a lay teacher very seriously. At this link you can watch a series of lectures and presentations on all the 71 topics of doctrinal examination for those who want to become monks (priests), nuns or lay teachers. The main speaker in this playlist is Kosho Arana from Colombia, a candidate for monkhood, the translator of all my books in Spanish and author of A Seed in Amida's Hands -Samsara and Nirvana in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. The playlist is updated regularly, so please subscribe to my youtube channel and click on the bell near the subscribe button to be announced anytime a new video is added. 

By listening to all the videos in the playlist related with the examinations you will acquire very good knowledge of the general Buddhist teaching and the specific Jodo Shinshu doctrines. As you can see in these videos, Amidaji has well prepared members and it’s a team work, with people capable to continue our Dharma mission to spread the true orthodox Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teaching. 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE PLAYLIST ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL 

Namo Amida Bu