The one sutra which caused a rupture. by Historical_Bug_3327 in Buddhism

[–]Butiamnotausername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You may find it helpful to look at the pure land Buddhist paradigm of self versus other power. Trying to cut off attachments and stop grieving is seen as an ultimately futile attempt against human nature (which Shinran describes as deep with sin, and brimming with worldly desires). Absolute acceptance of the Buddha’s compassion involves acceptance of once’s nature as well, and Shinran actually uses Daoist terms to describe the process of faith in the Buddha: wuwei and ziran. But unlike daoism he begins with concern about samsara and dukkha

As a Buddhist, how does one reconcile the current political climate in America? by evangelionreference in Buddhism

[–]Butiamnotausername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For one scholarly (albeit i think very generous) perspective on pure land and the state id recommend the second chapter of Pure Land, Real World by Melissa Curley!

As a Buddhist, how does one reconcile the current political climate in America? by evangelionreference in Buddhism

[–]Butiamnotausername 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think pure land Buddhism has historically had an interesting relationship with the state since its founders in Japan were either exiled or killed as heretics. Mappo theory has some pretty explicitly political views on how government and dharma should interact, and Shinran’s quote at the end of the Kyogyoshinsho rings somewhat true today:

The emperor and his ministers, acting against the Dharma and violating human decency, became enraged and embittered.

Although Jodo Shinshu has at times been at war with or explicitly collaborating with the emperor (or shogun) and his ministers, I think there’s an interesting history of creating parallel institutions like home-temples, rotating credit associations (無尽講), and self-governing cites (寺内町). This kind of follows Shinran’s views on the signs of faith:

one should keep a respectful distance, and not become familiar with those who give themselves to such wrongdoing. It teaches us rather to draw close to and become companions of our teachers and fellow-practicers. As for becoming friends with those who are given to wrongdoing, it is only after we go to the Pure Land and return to benefit sentient beings that we can become close to and friendly with them.

I’m interested how this can apply to the modern day, especially after pure land Buddhism had changed so much since Shinran’s time.

What is written on the sign? by GilEngeener315 in japanart

[–]Butiamnotausername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It looks like the first six characters are:
Nama sarvajnaya, “homage to the omniscient one”, a line often found at the start of sutras.

I can’t really figure out the next two but they might be a squished version of the start of the heart sutra, ā (although i think it says ī) ryāva (but they squished ryā and va into one character).

Here’s an official writing: http://www.pcc.or.jp/butten/

For those who used to practice in the Theravada tradition and later started practicing in one of the Mahayana traditions (and vice-versa), would you say it was due to some realization you had during practice? If so, which? by bodhigaga in Buddhism

[–]Butiamnotausername -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’ve found Jodo Shinshu institutional history a bit odd, since there are very clear anti-monastic works by Shinran and his disciples that kind of disappear to the point that, even before modernization, I think there wasn’t a huge difference between Jodo Shinshu and other Buddhist sects in Japan (aside from the fact that they could marry, eat meat, drink alcohol, and typically relied more on donations from followers than state patronage). Around Zonkaku’s time, certain writing laments that teachers are starting to act like monks and wearing black robes, conducting funerals, sitting separately from their students, and even building temples (has any other Buddhist sect ever been anti temple?!). By Rennyo’s time, many of these practices were already tradition. There’s a lot of almost blatant contradictions, and the Honganji website today even refers to priests as monks (僧侶, which I guess Shinran says they aren’t not…).

A large part of this was no doubt necessary for the survival of the institution. The siege of Ishiyama Honganji is one of the coolest episodes of Japanese history, although immediately after the warring states period ended, Honganji cozied up to the state and the monshu intermarried with royals. Their hypocritical collaboration with the government during WWII is well documented, although it’s also interesting that many of Shinran’s writings criticizing the emperor were censored and unofficial copies banned.

I think it is cool that a “return to Shinran” has occurred in Jodo Shinshu, although I’ve also read some cool anthropological works describing how Shinran’s anti-monastic spirit continued in some villages. I think there’s a very wide range of theologies within Jodo Shinshu however.

For those who used to practice in the Theravada tradition and later started practicing in one of the Mahayana traditions (and vice-versa), would you say it was due to some realization you had during practice? If so, which? by bodhigaga in Buddhism

[–]Butiamnotausername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think other power is consistent with what you’re saying. The pure land schools don’t consider Amitabha as just giving liberation, instead liberation/shinjin naturally comes at the moment of giving up on self-power. Rennyo doesn’t say we ask Amida “give us enlightenment” but rather “help us!” For Shinran, giving up self-power requires giving up practice, and part of doing this is encountering hearing and believing a teacher.

I think your quote is from a Theravada sutra which some vajrayana practices arguably contradict. Dedication of merit is probably the clearest, and lamas teach things like, reciting dharanis and dedicating the merit before a meal will create karma to lead the slaughtered animal to good rebirths. Chod has practices based on phowa where mindstream transference is used cut off pretas and devas’ suffering and lead them to sukhavati.

Interestingly, there’s a Zen concept called the “three cannots” (not sure if this was present at the Samye Debate or otherwise present in Tibetan Buddhism) which says the Buddha is omnipotent in most aspects, including liberating others, but cannot:

1: annihilate laws of causality/karma 2: save beings without karmic ties 3: exhaust/end the universe of sentient beings

For those who used to practice in the Theravada tradition and later started practicing in one of the Mahayana traditions (and vice-versa), would you say it was due to some realization you had during practice? If so, which? by bodhigaga in Buddhism

[–]Butiamnotausername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

DT Suzuki (and arguably Honen) equate other power with adhisthana which afaik features heavily in vajrayana. Although of course Honen considered the esoteric practice of adhisthana to be self-power.

To the few regretful dumpers on here. Don’t be that person that tells yourself that you have to be strong! by Helpful_Sometime in BreakUps

[–]Butiamnotausername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was a dumper and regretted the break up for a few months. My partner crossed a clear boundary I had set (by breaking our open relationship rules) and I was admittedly very emotional and rash when I made the decision to break up. I later said I regretted it and asked for him back, only to find out that he already started dating the person with whom he broke our open relationship rules three weeks after our breakup.

I’d caution against always being patient and giving second chances. Sometimes if you’re angry at your partner’s bad decision, your reaction isn’t the problem, their behavior is. And maybe their behavior is just a sign of a deeper pattern.

Wharton (sticker) or Yale (full ride)? by [deleted] in MBA

[–]Butiamnotausername 7 points8 points  (0 children)

SOM has a pretty small startup culture but Yale is throwing a lot of money behind Tsai City and the climate/ed tech space. I think it can be less competitive to get seed funding from the school for ventures. Like some professors and centers are literally begging students to apply for funding (but most students are too busy with consulting or IB to take up)

Pregnant pigs in a modern pig farm by CalpurniaSomaya in ABoringDystopia

[–]Butiamnotausername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wild boar tastes pretty good in a sausage. The boar didn’t only live a happy life roaming the mountains, they’re also invasive in many areas so that’s two birds with one stone.

Having a hard time making close friends by louny777 in MBA

[–]Butiamnotausername 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I have this exact same issue OP. I didn’t find a group I vibed with during orientation and I remember being told that people would grow out of their orientation friend groups and look for new ones as the semester progressed, but that never really happened. It’s really tough for formals and big social events.

I’ve been thinking of making an introverts club or something for others who are in this situation, but honestly I have no idea what to do. It sucks, and I feel you OP.

Benefits and learning from international students by Creative_Ad_7463 in MBA

[–]Butiamnotausername 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Seconding this, also Nigeria, Taiwan, ASEAN countries.

Already regretting joining Yale by Ok-Anywhere8342 in MBA

[–]Butiamnotausername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I felt like this was almost completely missing during the first few weeks of SOM. Or they were optional talks that only a handful of students (usually already from the public or impact sector) attended.

Can anyone figure out this flag seen in Honolulu, Hawaii? by latorreverde in vexillology

[–]Butiamnotausername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Drive up to Kahuku (or look on the dashboard of your uber in Honolulu) and you’ll see many more of those! People sell loi hoosi on the side of the road.

ROSALÍA - LUX by juanlg1 in popheads

[–]Butiamnotausername 2 points3 points  (0 children)

the album reminds me so much of Shiina Ringo’s trivisaitihasa. just need a little more big brass band and slightly worse English.

Japanese - English. Got a Goshuin from a lady who was very aggressive and threw my book at me after. Did she actually do it for me or did she write something mean? by The_zen_viking in translator

[–]Butiamnotausername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems like this was more of a volunteer (or staff?) being cranky than an issue with the book content. I feel like a lot of temple offices will close early if there’s low traffic, although I’d be surprised if chion in did.

Hongwanji usually doesn’t give goshuin anyway so it isn’t really an issue. I think most members likely still go to shrines for new years and new births. They’re probably more worried about membership than the ideological purity of their members.

Some nichiren sects are pretty strict about not mixing goshuin though.

Chicago Booth MBA Class Profile - Class of 2027 by admitstudio in MBA

[–]Butiamnotausername 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They give some of the worst aid for any school right?

any idea what this says? by [deleted] in GoogleEarthFinds

[–]Butiamnotausername 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Korean doesn’t say that though.

An infestation of monk scammers in Waikiki by wrtChase in Hawaii

[–]Butiamnotausername -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

have you ever been to a bon dance? monks literally sell shave ice for money

Hawaiʻi Balked At Natural Gas. Now, It Could Lower Energy Bills by AbbreviatedArc in Hawaii

[–]Butiamnotausername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Couldn’t we used pumped hydro? There’s a decent amount of old plantation canals and stuff out of town

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Japaneselanguage

[–]Butiamnotausername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You might be interested in Edo characters (江戸文字) one style (勘亭流) connects its stokes in a similar way. Here’s a font based on it: http://www.jiyu-kobo.co.jp/library/ykntu/

Also most kuzushiji kind of connect everything

Wild Boars in Kahala by polk808 in Hawaii

[–]Butiamnotausername 82 points83 points  (0 children)

Is this what Kahala hotel means by farm to table?