Monday, August 24, 2015

Monday, August 3, 2015

Saturday, August 1, 2015

There are more people that are tyring to change Funeral Buddhism to more practically helpful Buddhism. Unlike Edo-era, it is not a mandatory that every family has to tie together with a certain temple any more. People have a right to choose the temple that really helps them.

There are some people that got into Buddhism, not through Japanese Buddhism, but from the preach or books of Dalai Lama's. His thoughts, Tibet Buddhism, are closer to the original Buddhism of Old India. His words are consistent and thoughtful. A lot of people are impressed by his words.

Japanese Buddhism might be at the point where to look around and make a move. Maybe trying to get the original style back, even gradually, might make Japanese Buddhism more attractive and helpful for a lot more people.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Buddhism easy to enter

Current Japanese people may not feel very good if someone is very enthusiastically religious. It's almost unusual that poeple strongly believe in any religion. A lot of people try not to be diferent than someone next to you in this country, believing a relision makes you different and that makes you stick out in the society. It it normal that you don't have a religion you believe. If you are showing an interest, you become a stranger.
People however still visit tmeples and shrines. Those places are called "power spots" and even younger generations still go there for sightseeing purpose. Well, that's maybe because those poeple are looking for some sort of spiritual power. They just don't find any spiritual power in Buddhism or any other religions, but still they might be still wanting to have a some spiritual power that they grab onto.
Buddhism is slowly getting re-accepted by Japanese people recently. Some religions, you may have to made a life changing decision or hard training to enter, but Buddhism is pretty openly accepting. You can step in to Buddhism without changing or sacrificing a whole lot of your life style. That easy and relaxing religion is probably still a good fit for Japanese people even if it's yet to be common.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

How Buddhism has changed

How Japanese Buddhism has changed

Going over the history of Japanese Buddhism really quick.
It came to Japan in 6th century and was used to build constitutional laws. Buddhism was taken into the national poilical system and grew. More monks went to China to learn up-to-date Buddhism later on, then started more original Thoughts and Practices separatedly from the politics. Later, some monks interprated Buddhism based on the citizen’s desires in the domestic battle era. They said that Buddhism can help you simply by praying with words. The citizens also desired to have a funeral based on Buddhism. Those monks answered the request and started connecting Buddhims and life/death. Further, in Edo-era, the goverment make citizens to belong to a temple group to ban Christinanity. This was to prevent revolts again the goverment by gaining arms from the foreing countries. Buddhism again tied with politics and gained an authority. Buddhism then concreted the style that was going on at the time, funeral Buddhism.
Not, the country has been very modernized. Connection between religious beliefs and community has become less, and even the funeral Buddhism is not well accepted in the society. Ever since the Buddhism became “funeral Buddhism”, Japanese people has lost an enthusiasm in any sort of religion.
Satoshi Kajiyama

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Buddhism to Funeral Buddhism, how it's changed

Going over the history of Japanese Buddhism really quick.

It came to Japan in 6th century and was used to build constitutional laws. Buddhism was taken into the national poilical system and grew. More monks went to China to learn up-to-date Buddhism later on, then started more original Thoughts and Practices separatedly from the politics. Later, some monks interprated Buddhism based on the citizen's desires in the domestic battle era. They said that Buddhism can help you simply by praying with words. The citizens also desired to have a funeral based on Buddhism. Those monks answered the request and started connecting Buddhims and life/death. Further, in Edo-era, the goverment make citizens to belong to a temple group to ban Christinanity. This was to prevent revolts again the goverment by gaining arms from the foreing countries. Buddhism again tied with politics and gained an authority. Buddhism then concreted the style that was going on at the time, funeral Buddhism.

Not, the country has been very modernized. Connection between religious beliefs and community has become less, and even the funeral Buddhism is not well accepted in the society. Ever since the Buddhism became "funeral Buddhism", Japanese people has lost an enthusiasm in any sort of religion.

Satoshi Kajiyama

Small happiness

Is sometime unexpected.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Think about Buddhism

June 10, 2015

Think about Buddhism

I was born and raised in Japan. Majority of poeple in Japan is Buddhists… technically. I have to say technically, because not too many people practice, or even know what Buddhism is… including myself of course.

It’s ashame, when I noticed how little I knew about Buddhism. I don’t consider myself that I’m religious, like many others in Japan. I don’t know if I consider myself a Buddhist first of all. But it’s still ashame that I don’t know a quite much about the religion that the culture of the country I was born in was formed based on.

I’m not trying to ask a help from believing Buddhism. I don’t think I can change my mind completely religious believing Buddha. I only want to learn Buddhism to appreciate what it is and what kind of culture I grew up in based on Buddhism. Well, at the end, maybe I can find something, some spiritual belief that I can hang on to. That, certainly I won’t mind.

I always want to be selective. After I understand matters. Religions, I’m not caught up in Buddhism. I want to appreciate Christianity or all other religions. I just want to know correctly, and be selective, what’s good, bad, or not sure.

I read a book written by Akira Ikegami. Well known journalist in Japan. Very introductory book. Not quite advanced. He’s not even a religion researcher. He’s a journalist. But I wanted to start somewhere easy. He’s a famous guy, and the book had a good review… so I picked it haha.

Let’s start going over this book, and I want to share my thoughts.

Satoshi Kajiyama

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Thoughts and thoughts

Trying to post some tip about Ks academy...

Monday, July 20, 2015

At the library

What r the things I don't know... Too many.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Link

Http://Satoshikajiyama.com

Back in 604AD, Prince Shotoku set 17 constitutional laws, according to the common sources. The second law says “Respect the Three Treasures, they are Buddha, Law, Monk”.

At the time Japan was not unified as a country. Each authorities had a group and had their own society. Prince Shotoku used Buddhism to centralize the authorities to unite a country.

The Emperor Shomu built temples all over the country, and the leading temple Todai in Nara. Buddhism started to expand as the country was becoming formed. Shinto, however, was still not excluded. Shinto Gods were given roles to help and protect Buddhism and moved on together. Shinto Gods were considered an image of Buddha and always there for people in need of help.

In Meiji-era, Shinto was designated as a national religion and Buddhism was separated from Shinto. Some temples were taken down because of it. Currently in Japan, however, people still believe in both Shinto and Buddhism. Not even feeling awkward if a shrine is right next to a temple. In Japan, Buddhism has been changing its form and style as time changes, and has been always accepted.

Satoshi Kajiyama