Acharya Sujatin (temple host)

Following the discussion after the essay :: here

Dharmavidya writes:

I am making this into a new discussion as it is somewhat at a tangent from the “Unmodernising Buddhism” theme.

Clearly Anapanasati and Satipatthana were teachings that were important to the Buddha.  These were key items that he wanted disciples to hang onto.  The question i…[Read more]

BUDDHIST MODERNISM

One reads a good deal these days about Buddhist modernism.  This is a movement that began in South and South East Asia as a resistance to colonialism.  Local Buddhists wanted to present their countries as “modern” and so injected a lot of Western rationalist prejudices into their culture and religion in order to make it look …[Read more]

Video talk here :: link

Dharmavidya:

A little while ago I answered a knock on my door and found myself in conversation with two Jehovah’s Witnesses.  I told them I was Buddhist.  They immediately asked if I was a religious Buddhist or a philosophical Buddhist.  I replied, without hesitation, that I was a religious Buddhist.  We had a pleasant conversation and found…[Read more]

Dharmavidya talks about solitude – :: here

Dharmavidya writes:

A CONTROVERSIAL ESSAY

Tao Sheng (360-434) was an important figure in the history of Chinese religion. He was a younger contemporary of Kumarajiva and of Hui Yuan and he spent time with both of them as well as at his home temple further to the east. He wrote a number of important essays and commentaries, some of which met with…[Read more]

Thus did I hear

Once the Buddha at Shravasti dwelt

In the Jeta Anathapindika garden

Together with a multitude of friars

One thousand two hundred and fifty

Who were arhats every one

As was recognised by all.

Amongst them…

Shariputra the elder, Great Maudgalyayana, Maha-kashyapa,

Maha-katyayana, Maha-kausthila,

Revata,…[Read more]

Dharmavidya writes:

FAMOUS WORDS

Buddhist sutras generally begin with these words.  Hearing is very important in Buddhism.  In fact, the essence of Buddhism is to hear the Dharma.

These words can be taken in a simplistic way and quickly passed over or they can be reflected on to some benefit.  Simplistically, one can take them as the in…[Read more]

:: link

The core element in Pureland Buddhist practice is nembutsu.  Nembutsu means being with the Buddha.  Buddhists “take refuge” in being with the Buddha.  It’s as simple as that.  This is why Buddhists have Buddha statues, so that they keep in mind being with the Buddha.  We are greatly affected by the company we keep and the best possible company to…[Read more]

https://youtu.be/tFfAeg5PMr8

Dharmavidya

Hui Yuan of Mount Lu (334-416) was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, founder of Pureland Buddhism in China..

Mount Lu

Mount Lu is in the centre of China, just south of the Yangtse River, nowadays close to the city of Jiujiang.  The area is a national park with spectacular scenery.  Throughout history there have been many hundreds of t…[Read more]