When people ask me about family, couples or women related issues, they find that:
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Some statements on family, couples and women
When people ask me about family, couples or women related issues, they find that:
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Amidaji holiday - Winter Ohigan (December 20 - 26)
Usually there are two Ohigan festivals ( literally meaning "to reach the other shore), on spring and autumn ecquinox, but I decided to add another two for followers of Amidaji, in winter and summer solstice, so that people have more opportunities for reflections and celebration.
This time of year is too much filled with worldly matters and celebrations dedicated to Christmas, so Nembutsu followers might benefit from having a Buddhist holiday of their own and give a Buddhist air to these days.
Winter Ohigan will last seven days, just like the other three, between December 20 to December 26. In this week you will have plenty of time to attend temple services and celebrate at home. During these days reflect on the changing nature of samsaric existence and wish even more to be born in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha. Decorate your house with images of the Pure Land, of Amida welcoming devotees, bring offerings of cakes, fruits and nonalchoholic drinks in the name of your family and your ancestors, encouraging them to entrust to Amida. Also be happy that because you have faith in Amida you will be able to guide them to faith even better once you reach the Pure Land yourself. Sooner or later, because one or two family members have faith, all one's friends and relatives (dead or alive) will reach the Pure Land and celebrate Ohigan together. The Ohigan in this world is just a shadow of the Ohigan that will follow in the Pure Land. This is why I establish "TOGETHER IN THE PURE LAND" as the slogan for all the four Ohigans celebrated by Amidaji friends and followers.
Question:
What if my friends or relatives invite me for Christmas party which falls during one of the days of Winter Ohigan?
My answer: If you have friends or relatives who celebrate Christmas and you wish to join them at meals do this with the thought that you are celebrating Winter Ohigan and be happy that one day, maybe in this life or another life, due to yours and Amida guidance they too will embrace the same faith and will be born in the same Pure Land.
Ohigan is also a period of joy which comes from the trust that Amida Buddha will never stop until He will bring all beings to His Pure Land. How extraordinary this is!
Question: Can I use a pine tree or branches of pine trees and other various winter specific decorations of this period?
My answer: Only if you want. If you use a pine tree decorate it with images of Amida Buddha, of Shinran, Honen, the Pure Land, Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, etc. Use any decoration you want but add Pure Land related images on it. Or simply abandon any specific winter decorations and invent something totally new. Just do whatever you want as long as you focus on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land.
May you all have a Happy and Meaningful Winter Ohigan!
Together in the Pure Land!
Namo Amida Bu
Thursday, December 5, 2019
An example of the false teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh
You cannot be a Christian and a Buddhist in the same time for the simple reason
that Christianity (and any monotheistic religion) promotes faith in a creator and
supreme god. This idea of a creator and supreme god is denied by Shakyamuni
Buddha. Please read the chapter “There is no supreme creator god in the Buddha Dharma” from my book The True Teaching on
Amida Buddha and His Pure Land which is filled with quotes from the Baka Brahma sutra. Also read the entire
first part of the same book.
Somebody who accepts the idea of a supreme creator god who is also judge of the
world, as Christians do (their god is both creator and judge), does not
understand the law of karma. The idea of somebody who created and rules
everything is contrary to the Buddhist teachings on being, karma and rebirth.
You cannot just practice Buddhism while following wrong views because if you do
that you put yourself outside of Buddhist practice. Right views must always
accompany right practice!
Monday, November 18, 2019
Shinjin is not dettachment
We know we are saved by Amida and we'll go to His Pure Land when we die - this is faith (shinjin); but we are afraid to die because of attachment to our bodies, and we also cannot have a perfect moral behavior because we have ignorance and blind passions.
If we had no blind passions, atachments and ignorance, then we'll be Buddhas and for Buddhas the salvation offered by Amida has no sense.
Amida Buddha's Primal Vow was made for unenlightened beings. While we are still in this samsaric world, itself the effect of our personal and collective karma, blind passions and ignorance, we cannot become perfect beings or Buddhas. Only after we are born after death in the enlightened environment of the Pure Land can we become Enlightened beings.
Please do not confuse faith (shinjin) with Enlightenment or any kind of sainthood.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Outline of the Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life (Larger Sutra)
Sunday, November 3, 2019
The metal frame for the walls and roof of Amidado (Amida Hall) of Amidaji temple
the metal frame of Amidado (finished) |
So, I spent around 1200 euros in total for these metal bars and the worker pay. In the photos, you can see the result.
The next steps are to build the roof and the walls. There will be double wooden walls filled with glass wool insulation and covered with another thermal insulation on the outside. I also need to add
the metal frame of Amidado (finished) |
Please help if you can. Any little amount is useful and very much needed.
Click here if you wish to donate via PayPal
the metal frame of Amidado (finished) |
the metal frame of Amidado (finished) |
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
A question on spirits
Answer: Why send them away? Just leave them alone. Let them stay and listen to
your Nembutsu, let them hear your thoughts and words of faith. One day, they
will become bored with a guy like you who minds his own business and constantly
says Nembutsu, or even better, they might be influenced by your devotion and
entrust to Amida themselves. In Jodo Shinshu we do not exorcize, nor fight with
spirits, rather we convert them by our example. The urge of Shinran,
"receive yourself faith and help others receive faith" applies to
them, too.
It is good to be friendly towards the spirit world. Realize that spirits,
ghosts and various types of nonhuman beings inhabit the same space with us.
Your land is their land, too. Some are in the same place for hundreds or
thousands of years, so they have the same right as you to be here. Who are you
to tell them to go away? Let them be and focus on living a life of gratitude
with as little damage as possible to other beings, and focus on Nembutsu.
All beings suffer, no matter they are humans or non-humans. Some spirits may
like you, feel neutral towards you or may be inclined to hate you due to karma
from the past. No problem! Let them hate you, while you just focus on Nembutsu.
How much can somebody hate another person if that one does not respond to the hate
and minds his own business?
Offer incense to Amida Buddha in the name of all beings, including the spirits
of the place you live, and make aspirations for them - may they be healthy in body and mind, always receive whatever is necessary and beneficial for them. May
all their obstacles be removed and may they create indestructible connections
with Amida Buddha, entrust to Him, say His Name (Namo Amida Bu) and wish to be
born in His Pure Land[1]. Also
pray to Amida to help them, although He already tries His best to help.
However, if you pray for them, they will feel your good intentions.
If you think this way, if you say Nembutsu and have devotion and faith, the
invisible beings who happen to live there or just pass through will know your
thoughts and might be inspired to entrust to Amida and say Nembutsu themselves,
and if not, they will finally leave you alone as they see that you are no
threat to them. In fact, they cannot harm you even if they try, because if you
have faith (shinjin) you automatically benefit from the protection of Amida and
all Buddhas.
So again, no matter what you see, hear, or feel around you, just focus on
Nembutsu and mind your own business.
[1] You can also use the specific ceremony to help the hungry ghosts and bardo beings fom my book Worshipping Amida Buddha – Liturgies and Ceremonies of Amidaji Temple.