My computer is going to be out of action for a couple of weeks so things will be quiet around here until sometime next month. Jishin may still post though so do check in from time to time. Also, if you’ve just stumbled on this site please check out the links at the top of the page where you will find lots of useful information.

See you in May! Gassho, K

Edited via my mobile 23/04/08:

p.s. Check out this blog of someone studying at the Institute of Buddhist Studies if you are interested in BCA / Honganji stuff, & also Toshikazu Arai’s latest post.

Hi everyone I hope that you are keeping well. It’s a lovely sunny morning here today and on my way to work two ducks flew quacking over my head and higher up in the sky I saw a heron moving steadily along powered by its massive wings. Namanda …. namanda …

First up please check out an interesting and inspiring post by Rev. Gatenby over at E-Sangha about Shinran’s life of joy (you need to be a member to read E-sangha posts but joining is free).

The more formal aspects of my Shinshu path have been rather disrupted recently with my last scheduled visit to the temple (which is several hours away from my home) canceled due to illness, and other factors interfering with my daily routine and gongyo. At such times a lot of the outer superstructure of my ‘Shin lifestyle’ dissolves away easily; especially as I am a convert and haven’t soaked in the forms of the tradition since birth. This is a little disconcerting and sometimes makes little doubts appear as to what extent my path is something conjoured up from my own will and desire. However I’ve also noticed how, where it really matters, the teachings have sunk into my being much deeper than any outward forms. A constant light seems to shine upon and illuminate my thoughts and actions unbidden in a way it never used to. New perspectives arrive unsought, and, the nembutsu leaps up so freely. Structure and effort are very important in the path but in the times that those things fall down its wonderful to realise that the Power Beyond Self doesn’t abandon us and can be heard and apprehended in a myriad different ways.

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Strangely, after thinking yesterday about how faintly the forms of Buddhism are inscribed in my consciousness, I went outside this morning and saw a plant with its leaves curled up, glittering with frost and thought ‘It looks just like a vajra!’ It seemed kind of appropriate as for me the heart of my path has always been the diamond-cutter prajnaparamita teaching of “going, going, going ever beyond”, or as Dogen Zenji put it ‘realising beyond realisation’. There is no TRUTH that we can find, keep or lose. The way lies right before us here and now. Like a friendship we can rely on it, but its nature is dynamic … a relationship and a dialogue.

I’m still recovering from the flu at the moment; getting my energy back slowly. It was the worst I’ve had in a decade and really made me appreciate peoples’ anxieties over the chances of a near-future pandemic and also the annual toll it takes on the elderly and infirm. Anyway I’m on the mend now but still haven’t had much strength to spare on writing and musing here. Mainly I’ve just been vicariously enjoying the vigour of spring; watching the plants emerging from the ground afresh, leaves budding and unfurling on the trees, and the lively nest-building and courtship of starlings, chaffinches, robins and long-tailed tits. And, starting back at work after my sick leave, I was joyful to be greeted by the sight of one of our local sparrowhawks gliding low over the high street.

Having had to cancel my trip to the temple last weekend I had a chat with Sensei over the phone and found out he is giving a talk at the Founder’s Day of the London Buddhist Society on Saturday 12th April (event starts at 1pm). Apparently several speakers from different Buddhist traditions are all giving their individual perspectives on the concept of ‘Buddha-nature’ which sounds very interesting.

For various reason my blogging is likely to continue to be very occasional this month so I should mention that Eitaikyo is coming up, from 16th - 19th April, which is the memorial festival for those who helped lead us to the Dharma. This might initially seem a little irrelevant to those of us who are converts but it is worth reflecting that even if our ancestors were not Buddhists their lives are an intrinsic part of who we are and have contributed to leading us to the Dharma way. It is also an opportunity to think about the legacy that we will leave to our children and/or future generations.

Aside from Level 8 Buddhist’s ongoing introductions to various aspects of Buddhism the Shinshu blogosphere has been pretty quiet. A few things I noticed though are as follows … For those interested in Hongwanji history Rev. Harry Gyokyo Bridge has posted on his LiveJournal about some documents he dug up in his temple’s archives. Dave F. is back from India and offers an appreciation of how the Tannisho is helping him get through a transitional phase in his post-conversion experience. Ray posted the following quotation which, in a comment here, he related to my recent post on Amida’s Compassion.

I hope all of you are keeping well and will aim to get back into more regular correspondence by the start of next month. Gassho with namuamidabutsu …