Takeoff And Landing Today I leave for Japan to attend minister’s meetings at the Overseas Bureau of Nichiren Shu. Since Japan is a long way and across the ocean I have no choice but to fly. I am not a big fan of flying. When I was younger and making monthly trips across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii and San Francisco during a six month period it was a lot of fun. Back then they…
What’s Normal At first when we begin practicing Buddhism it may seem awkward to engage in all the self-reflection and examination we are called to do. I am sure, if you are like me, there are even times when it may seem easier to just ignore all the effort and just be ‘normal’. But what is normal? Is it normal to go into default mode doing and being without thinking? Or is it normal to…
Till You Are Full Supposedly there is an old custom of greeting folks in Chinese. Instead of simply asking ‘how are you?’ people would inquire ‘have you eaten until you are full?’ This form of greeting may have originated from a time when food was scarce, perhaps not even knowing when the next meal would be. I bring this up because frequently people ask me how much Odaimoku they should chant. This comes primarily from…
Kishimojin Kishimojin Day Today we celebrate the day set aside to honor Kishimojin. Perhaps I should give a little background into who exactly Kishimojin is. The story behind this particular figure is told outside the Lotus Sutra, and is part of the mythology of Buddhism. Kishimojin comes from Hariti in Indian mythology. This particular diety is an ogres who is notorious for her many demon daughters and the fact that she is said to steal…
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