Socho Koshin Ogui, Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America

Living in San Francisco, Socho Koshin Ogui is the writer of the popular column “Nyozegamon,” which appears in the Hokubei community newspaper and website.

The English translation for "Nyozegamon" is "I have heard it in this way". This refers to the passing down of stories from generation to generation.

Recent column topics include "Finding Happiness in the Midst of Misfortune" and "Why Does She Say She Has Nothing When She Has Plenty?".

Upon his appointment as Bishop of the the Buddhist Churches of America, Ogui was asked what his goals were as Bishop. Ogui said that his personal goal is to convey the wonderful nature of Buddhist tradition in the U.S. Further adding, "To do this, we must convey the traditions in a manner that is convincing to Americans."

Nyozegamon is a wonderful way of communicating these ideas.

READ BISHOP OGUI'S COLUMNS...

Tricycle magazine has made space on their website for a brief retrospective of articles on Shinran Shonin and the teachings of Jodo Shinshu. The links are posted on the Tricycle Editor's Blog. Here's a sample:

Beyond Religion: An interview with Rev. Dr. Alfred Bloom
by Jeff Wilson

How has Shinran made an impact on you personally?
I see Shinran as a towering figure. He took Buddhism, turned it upside down, and made it something that could illuminate people’s personal experience in a new way. Even though it comes out of medieval Japan, I believe his teaching is universal. And so he intrigues my imagination.

I think it’s the right time to explore a deeper interpretation of Shinran, because I think it might help those who are racked by guilt, by distinctions of flesh and spirit, and by the other dualisms of Western culture.


Born Again Buddhist
by Clark Strand

One morning not long ago, I was born again. Though unexpected, this was never outside the realm of possibility. According to the teachings of Pure Land Buddhism, all who call Namu Amida Butsu, Amida Buddha’s name, may be reborn in the “Land of Utmost Bliss,” provided they truly believe that he will save them. That, of course, had been the problem. Try as I might to finesse my way into the Pure Land, it didn’t matter as long as I didn’t believe.

DISCOVER MORE LINKS TO JODO SHINSHU ARTICLES ON TRICYCLE....

What does it mean to say Namu Amida Butsu? Rev. Gregory Gibbs explores this question in an article at the Shambala SunSpace blog. Gibbs is the minister at the Oregon Buddhist Temple in Portland. A former Catholic and Zen Buddhist, Gibbs also reflects on his experience to also answer how far the practise of meditiation can take you in an article for the Shambala Sun blog page.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AND SEE LINKS TO OTHER JODO SHINSHU LINKS AT SHAMBALA SUN...

It's one of our favorite movies of all-time. And while many religious groups have claimed it as their own, the question many ask, is "Groundhog Day" a Buddhist movie?

Shambala Sun magazine went to the source. In the July issue, writer Howard Garfinkel talks to Filmmaker Harold Ramis about his movie "Groundhog Day."

“The primary rule of Buddhist humor is that you never laugh at someone else’s expense. But, rather, laughter arises when we realize our futile attempts to escape the first noble truth. Pointing to our common bumbling deluded nature—with humor—apparently relieves some of the suffering. Ramis has done that in most of his films, but especially in Groundhog Day, where he seems to be saying, ‘This is what it’s like. Every day is the same thing; we make the same mistakes over and over.’ Ramis is always trying to shatter our ordinary take on reality, to reveal hidden dimensions. He is trying to create what Buddhists would call ‘beginner's mind.’”

READ THE ARTICLE AT SHAMABALA SUN....
READ THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS ACCORDING TO "GROUNDHOG DAY"...

In the spring issue of Tricycle magazine, Jeff Wilson interviews Taitetsu and and his son, Mark Unno.

Both men are ordained minsters in the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism. They are also teachers and writers. Mark Unno is a professor of Buddhism at the University of Oregon. Taitetsu Unno is a professor emeritus of religious studies at Smith College and the author of "River of Fire, River of Water: An Introduction to the Pure Land Tradition of Shin Buddhism" and "Shin Buddhism: Bits of Rubble Turn into Gold." Both books are have helped many people discover the riches of this major Buddhist tradition.

The Unnos help to sort out the subtle differences between the various sects and forms Buddhism takes. Here are a couple of quotes from the interview:

In Asia, laypeople generally relate to Buddhism devotionally. But in America, when laypeople engage in these traditions they most often want to relate to them solely as a yogic path, beyond devotion. The problem is that they have all of the problems that lay Buddhists have always had. Trying to force yourself into the yogic path while living with all of the distractions, complications, and follies of the lay life may not always work so well. In order to ease some of the strain on this artificial image of what a Buddhist life might be, it could be very helpful to bring in the Shin emphasis and recognition of our blind passions and our natural limitations as laypeople.

In some approaches to Buddhism, you try to get rid of emotional attachments, but not in Shin. We want to treasure the blind passions, the defilements, because they are the fertilizer for realization. It’s hard to make the passions disappear, but they can be deepened into wisdom and compassion. Some people use the word “transform,” but I don’t like it myself. The passions don’t become something else; they become more pungent. Pungent dharma. That’s Shin Buddhism.

READ THE ARTICLE ON THE TRICYCLE WEBSITE...

This week, my wife asked my daughter what she did at recess. Her response was that she "meditated." This practice probably came to her after Sensei Ulrich began introducing children's meditation into our weekly Sunday service.

"Think of your head shooting like a fountain, watering the flowers and grass around you."

A couple of the most popular internet searches that bring people to this website are "Eightfold Path for Children" and "Buddhist Stories for Children." This just shows the growing popularity of parents and teachers looking for Buddhist lessons for their kids.

In the fall 2008 issue of Tricycle magazine, a special section titled "Bringing Up Buddhists" explains some of the interest that exists in North America. It is a sampling of how Buddhists in the United States are teaching the dharma to children. The contents of the section includes an article on a Florida family trying to live a Buddhist life, a Dharma School in Portland and a meditation teacher working in the New York public school system. There is also information and inspiration for those who want their children to have a Buddhist educational experience.

Originally modeled after Christian Sunday Schools, Jodo Shinshu Temples in Canada and the United States have been offering a "Dharma School" children's program for decades.

The Level 8 Buddhist's blog has a great posting about bringing up a child in a Buddhist family. He also has many nice things to say about the Jodo Shinshu tradition that captures its "family friendly" culture.

Jodo Shinshu, among Buddhist sects, is among the most family-friendly. It emphasizes gratitude and humility, and is geared toward working-class people given its roots as a lay-Buddhist organization from 12-13th century Japan. So, we take her to the Sunday School there, and she plays on the slide, eats snacks and occasionally makes crafts. The themes are not overtly Buddhist, but just being in a wholesome Buddhist environment works wonders. She learns to be thankful for the food she receives, she learns to speak kindly to others, and to be nice to other children. That’s the real secret of raising Buddhist children. -Level 8 Buddhist

In the "Traditions" section of this web site, we have written, "In teaching small children, we should convey a feeling of reverence and gratitude. Children will learn through the examples set by parents and teachers."

Reciting the Nembutsu will live with them forever.

READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE TRICYCLE ARTICLE ONLINE...
READ "RAISING BUDDHIST CHILDREN" AT THE LEVEL 8 BUDDHIST...

courtesy Winnipeg Free Press

The Interfaith tour began on Thursday, January 17 at our own Manitoba Buddhist Temple. The turnout was overwhelming. Over 200 people filled the temple to observe how a Buddhist service is performed. The enthusiastic crowd showed a genuine interest by participating in the meditation and chanting exercises.

The series is organized by the Winnipeg Free Press "Faith Columnist", Brenda Suderman. She describes the tour as "prying open our comfort zones, experiencing each other at worship, prayer and other rituals, and learning just a bit more about ourselves and our neighbours in the process." She wrote in her column following the session:

Last Thursday night, more than 150 people packed the 60-year-old Buddhist Church near the Health Sciences Centre for an introduction to Buddhism, the first stop on a six-session interfaith course co-sponsored by the University of Winnipeg and the Manitoba Interfaith Council. That enthusiastic response astounded organizers, and proves to (Sensei) Ulrich that people are convinced of the need for interfaith dialogue and co-operation.

"You're here because there's a grassroots interest in this, it's a lay movement," the former Methodist minister turned Buddhist sensei told the audience during the three hours of chanting, singing, explanations, and questions. "In a pluralistic, multi-faith society, we end up with pluralistic, multi-faith individuals."

Sensei Ulrich enjoyed sharing this vision of a more multi-faith community. He told the audience that sometimes lay people are ahead of the clergy and religious leaders because they are already living the multi-faith experience in their own families. He said that many families are already dealing with religious issues that often come in mixed racial marriages.

WATCH A SLIDESHOW...
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR...
READ MORE IN THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS...
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MANITOBA INTERFAITH COUNCIL...

CBC Radio and CBCNews.ca are exploring the question "Where is God today?" Commentators, religious thinkers and ordinary Canadians give their thoughts. Among the particpants is our own Sensei Ulrich. He was interviewed about how he came to become a Jodo Shinshu Minister and was featured in a photo slideshow.
LISTEN TO THE CBC REPORT...
WATCH THE SLIDESHOW (Sensei Ulrich is the fourth person presented)...

Also in the series is Bonnie Tittaferrante from Thunder Bay. Bonnie is the Lay Leader of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhists of Thunder Bay. Here is part of the essay she wrote for CBC.CA:

Following the Path in a Northern Town
Gold, red, mahogany and marble Buddhas from various sects fill my home. But a single statue of my Buddha, Amida, graces the home shrine (butsudan), his fit physical features a mixture of many races. He stands with one hand upward and one reaching down to me. After chanting and readings of the Dharma (Teachings), the welcoming smell of sandalwood incense permeates my home, as it does Jodo Shinshu temples and homes worldwide. Once a predominately ethnic Japanese-based sect, Jodo Shinshu Buddhism (also called Shin) is slowly growing among those of non-Japanese descent.
READ MORE ON CBC.CA/WHATISGOD...