Echoes of the Name

I’ve been participating in a discussion about Rennyo Shonin at the Jodo Shinshu Today Yahoo Groups Forum.

Rennyo’s Overall Legacy:

• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jodoshinshutoday/message/816
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jodoshinshutoday/message/817
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jodoshinshutoday/message/818

Rennyo’s Attitude to Saying the Nembutsu:

• Bob’s (Toraginus) thoughts, my initial response, Rev. Al Bloom’s comments and my next post.

Rennyo’s Frequent Mentions of Past Good (Shukuzen):

• Bob’s thoughts and my first and second responses

I really appreciate Bob starting this discussion which has really got me thinking.

Please check out the ‘Critical Shinshu’ page I’ve added to this site to provide resources regarding other debates within our tradition.

I just discovered that there is an online version of Kenneth K. Tanaka’s popular book
Ocean - An Introduction to Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism in America (A Dialogue with Buddhists & Others)

Kenneth Kenich Tanaka, (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley) was appointed in 1991 as the Rev. Yoshitaka Tamai Professor at the Institute of Buddhist Studies (an affiliate of Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley). During this tenure, he has also served as minister at the Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church. His publications include The Dawn of Chinese Pure Land Buddhist Doctrine (State University of New York Press), The Faces of Buddhism in America (coeditor) (The University of California Press), Engaged Pure Land Buddhism (coeditor) (WisdomOcean Publications), and booklets for popular audience. He is an active participant in the Buddhist Council of Northern California and inter-faiths activities.

Namuamidabutsu … a wonderful day. On the way to work I saw a flock of cormorants fly over. As they are primarily sea-birds, and we are inland, I guessed there might be bad weather on its way. All morning though the sun shone white and fierce; turning the pavements into sparkling crystalline runways. At lunchtime I saw a Sparrowhawk soaring up into the clear blue. Then moments later dark clouds rolled in, followed later by rain.

A great day too, not just because of these natural wonders, but on account of emails from several Dharma friends. Correspondence from friends of any stripe is always a pleasure but that of fellow seekers and companions in the way is a true joy. There is very often a true and sincere dialogue of the spirit; a sharing of experience without pride or arrogance, and the consequent gifts of new insight. And even where my selfishness impedes there is a depth of tolerance, compassion and faith on the part of my friends that resolves hurts and not only heals but makes anew. As someone not naturally given to forming friendships in secular life, the wealth of profound relationships that arise from the sangha is awe-inspiring to me, and - I hope - an encouragement to meet all people afresh. A steep challenge for me.

Living in the [Sangha], people both speak to and listen to others and really communicate by chatting together in daily conversation, in personal interviews, consultations and meetings. This is very important. Both the act of speaking and listening to others can conflict with or negate one’s own self-centred world and as such require courage, the courage to be willing to change. Enlightened by those who we encounter or reencounter, we become aware of ourselves - the miserable reality of our self-centred world. Other people operate as mirrors that illuminate us. When the ramparts and walls of the stronghold of our selfish consciousness collapse following this self-awakening, we open ourselves to the light that can now come in and fill our existence. - Rev. Kemmyo Taira Sato