Attitude of Gratitude
The temple, after all, is not a gas station where one fills up with spirituality for the rest of the week at so many cents per liter. It is a living organization, not a mechanical machine. For this reason, temple …
Author: admin
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No Hocus Pocus
As Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, we shall seek to be mindful of our words and deeds, be responsible citizens of our society, and share with others the truth and reality of Jodo Shinshu. Understanding fully the principle of causality, we shall …
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What Do We Really Know?
Long ago, when I was a young student living in France, one of the locals proudly proclaimed that his country was home to 365 delicious varieties of cheese—one for every day of the year. When asked how many kinds we …
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If You See Something, Say Something
May all beings be happy and well
May no harm or difficulties come to them
May they live in peace and harmony
Adherents to the teachings of the Buddha are generally perceived as being guided by such benign tenets as …
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Many But One
“… in the Pure Land there are always many kinds of rare and beautiful birds of various colours, such as white geese, peacocks, parrots, saris (mynahs), kalavinkas and jivamjivakas. They sing with melodious and delicate sounds which proclaim the teachings. …
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Wonderful
A couple of blocks from our home in West Los Angeles, there’s a building topped with a glowing white sign bearing the name of the company that has offices there. Normally I don’t pay much attention to the excess of …
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Be Aware, Beware
What do you stress about? Money? Work? Possessions? Family? Relationships? Lack of time? As we’re often reminded, the Buddha-dharma, our teaching, is only helpful to us if we are mindful of it and apply it to all aspects of our …
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Fasten Your Seatbelts – We’re in for a Bumpy Ride
When I began writing this message, I was flying back to Burbank from San Jose. Overnight the weather had turned from being unseasonably balmy to bringing a winter chill with strong gusts of wind and snow in the mountains. I …
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Mind Your Tongue (and what to do when you can’t)
Everyone has opinions. In this electronic world, we’re bombarded by more clamour than ever before. Sometimes, it is the loudest voice or the most outrageous statement that gets heard—note the media focus on what gets said (or not said) by …
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What’s in it for You?
If you choose to walk the path of the Buddha-dharma, you are interested in a teaching that is pertinent to the state of your life right now. If you are interested in responses to questions such as how life began …