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Tag: shinjin

  • Living the Life of Ingratitude

    Living the Life of Ingratitude Lacking even small love and small compassion, I cannot hope to benefit sentient beings. Were it not for the ship of Amida’s Vow, How could I cross the ocean of painful existence? —Shinran Shōnin, Gutoku’s Hymns of Lament and Reflection, CWS I, page  In today’s Dharma Story Time, the wonderful…

  • Mahalo, Butterfly!

    “Why am I here?” is answered by pausing to reflect on the wonder of life right in front of you in this moment of your unrepeatable life. NamoAmidaButsu!

  • “A Great Torch in the Dark Night of Ignorance”

    Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Online Dharma Message on November 1, 2020: “A Great Torch in the Dark Night of Ignorance”. Grateful for the opportunity to give an Online Dharma Message today—because it means I woke up not dead! In reflection, everything in my life has led me to this moment, every person I encountered…

  • “There’s Too Much Time”

    When I consider deeply the Vow of Amida, which arose from five kalpas of profound thought, I realize that it was entirely for the sake of myself alone! Then how I am filled with gratitude for the Primal Vow, in which Amida resolved to save me, though I am burdened with such heavy karma. Shinran…

  • April Fool Every Day

    The shinjin of the wise is such that they are inwardly wise, outwardly foolish. The heart of Gutoku is such that I am inwardly foolish, outwardly wise. Gutoku ShinranGutoku’s Notes, Fascicle OneCollected Works of Shinran, Volume 1, page 587 Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu, referred to himself as “Gutoku” Shinran.  “Gutoku” means the “stubble-headed foolish…

  • It’s not about ME

    When a person realizes the mind of non-discrimination,   That attainment is the “state of regarding each being as one’s only child” This is none other than Buddha-Nature; We will awaken to it on reaching the land of peace.      Shinran Shōnin      Hymns of the Pure Land, Verse 97      The…

  • SHINJIN IS A VERB, NOT A NOUN: Arigatai, Mottainai, Namo Amida Butsu

    Today, I would like to talk about … the “F” word. No, not that “F” word! I would like to talk about “Faith” — which is one of the ways the expression “Shinjin” is translated into English. “Shinjin” is the key doctrinal tenant of Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, the core of Shinran’s thinking, and often described…

  • Nembutsu ga deru ka ne?

    All Buddhists seek Enlightenment—awakening to the Truth, seeing Life as-it-is, not as-we-want-it-to-be. Unnecessary suffering in life is caused by the gap between reality—Life as-it-is—and perception—the self-centered delusion that Life should be as-we-want-it-to-be. When Life doesn’t unfold the way we want it to, we get angry, blame others for our disappointment, or whine about it on…

  • Everything I Needed to Know about Buddhism, I Learned in Dharma School

    I just love the song, “Buddha Loves You”…it’s supposed to be a children’s song but it makes Buddhism so easy to understand for anyone! Fly, fly, little bird, Buddha loves you little bird, Tweet, Tweet, Tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet tweet! Run, run, little pup, Buddha loves you little pup, Bow-wow, wow-wow-wow-wow wow! Don’t cry pussy cat, Buddha loves…

  • ASPIRATION FOR THE NEW YEAR

    I will try to be grateful for this moment, aspiring to see the world as-it-is, not as-I-want-it-to-be, so that I may alleviate suffering for all beings. I will try to be wise so that I can see both sides of conflict wth clarity, and not insist that I alone am right. I will try to…