This is where Dharmajim gets to talk about his favorite subject: the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. Dharmajims Buddhist journey is typical for a westerner. He studied in Zen, Theravada, Dzog Chen, and Nichiren Buddhism. Dharmajim has practiced as a monastic & as a layperson. He has served as Abbot of a Temple & a Prison Chaplain. The writings here reflect the multifaceted nature of his journey.
This was the opening talk given by Ryuei at our temple's first open house. This talk was given for people who knew nothing about Buddhism, so he sketched out the core of all schools of Buddhism...
The two newest halographs in the GohonzonShu (1999) drawn by Nichiren at the very begining of his teaching career after two fiery & passionate buddhist deities called Fudo & Aizen visited him in a dream to urge him to propagate the Lotus Sutra. All Nichiren's Mandalas from the very begining include these two characters as sanskrit seed syllables on the far right & far left.
Many people who want to learn about Buddhism get very confused by the terminology and different points of view presented by various schools of Buddhism. In order to clear up some of this confusion, I offer this brief overview, beginning with the Buddhist canon, which is the source for the Buddhas actual teachings and therefore the inspiration for all of the various schools and lineages.
Tao-sheng (c. 360-434) was a neo-Taoist Buddhist scholar who first proclaimed in China (and was exiled for) the doctrine of the universal Buddha Nature based upon the Nirvana Sutra, chapter 12, included here.
A delightful commentary by Jim Wilson in the form of a conversation between two friends visiting in a coffeehouse discussing the deathless in the Lotus Sutra, Middle Length Discourses, and Vajrayana.
An essay attributed to Saicho [Dengyo Daishi], founder of Japanese Tendai Buddhism, who lived from 767 to 822. A BDK translation available online and thru Amazon.com.
Now Online! This is the 13th century Japanese Zen Master Dogen's fascinating essay on the Lotus Sutra from his Shobogenzo, called Hokke-ten-Hokke, or "The Flower of Dharma turns the Flower of Dharma."
The Buddha's teachings for women, as well as many articles and books by or about women in buddhist history, past and present. Homepage of the Buddhist Womyn WebRing!
Links and resources for online Sutras and Suttas from many traditions. Books available through Amazon.com and elsewhere. Home of the Buddhist Sutra Libraries WebRing.
Tales on the karmic retribution of good and evil from the oldest collection of Buddhist legends in Japan, 'The Nihonkoku Genpo Zen'aku Ryoiki' by the Monk Kyokai of Yakushi-ji, written down about 1200 years ago.
