Dharma Wheel

As there is no forum (that I've found) specifically dedicated to Jodo Shinshu, I have created one.

https://jodoshinshuforum.tk/

As someone who is learning about Jodo Shinshu myself, I'd like somewhere to ask questions.

Is it possible to follow Jodo Shinshu and yet practice devotion to these bodhisattvas? I'm interested in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism (leaning more toward Shinshu) but I have a strong devotion to Kannon-sama (Chinese Guan Yin).

I've just come back from a vacation to Japan, where I visited a number of Buddhist temples, including Higashi Honganji, one of the two head temples of Jodo Shinshu. I attended a morning service at another Jodo Shinshu temple in Tokyo and really liked it. On the other hand, I have very little experie...

Hi, I'm a Buddhist from New Zealand who is currently visiting Japan. At the moment I'm in Kyoto. I've read about Shingon Buddhism and would like to attend a Goma ceremony. What time of day are they normally performed? Does anyone know of a particular temple in Kyoto where they know the time the Goma...

There was an article in the New Zealand SGI magazine with this exact title. Unfortunately there is no online edition so I can't post a link. It basically said that Nam Myoho Renge Kyo could be considered as God (according to the definition of some Christians anyway). The Buddha talked about beings c...

So his teachings don't fit into Pure Land or Chan Buddhism? Is his focus on Guan Yin unusual for Chinese Buddhism?

I came across the website Guan Yin Citta , which is based on the teachings of Master Jun Hong Lu. I was wondering what form of Buddhism he practices. Is this standard Chinese Buddhism or a particular group with different teachings? He teaches, among other things, the practice of burning paper houses...

I thought it was White Tara. I think I'll get it - I like the representation of Tara on it. It comes from China so it may well have been made in Tibet. There are no online Buddhist stores in New Zealand, and one that I've found in Australia that will ship to NZ doesn't have any Tara thangkas.

Absolutely, treat it with respect -- put it in its own bag, don't wear it as jewelry, and don't take it in the bathroom, put it on the floor or step over it. This would be showing disrespect to the role that it plays in your life, like any other Dharma item. Other than that, no need to get bent out...

I'm looking to get a thangka of Tara to put in my small Buddhist shrine. I found this one on AliExpress. I'd just like to make sure it actually is a Tara thangka and whether it is White Tara or Green Tara (the description says Green Tara but it looks more like White Tara).

Thinking on what my teacher said many times, it is your responsibility to keep your vajrayana items secret and safe under lock. Unless they are intended for the public sphere (objects of liberation upon seeing, smelling, and such) Afaik sutrayana items are not secret. :popcorn: I'm wrong? What are ...

I saw an article by Lama Zopa Rinpoche about the treatment of Buddhist scriptures. He mentions that he doesn't place his iPad on the bed, because it has Buddhist scriptures on it. Is this attitude to Buddhist scriptures universal in Tibetan Buddhism, or it is just Lama Zopa Rinpoche's view? I know t...

I am a former Catholic. According to the Catholic church, baptism leaves an indelible mark or 'character' on the soul of the recipient. Confirmation and priestly ordination do so as well. Once one has been baptised in the Catholic church, they are considered to be a Catholic for the rest of their li...

I've been reading about Pure Land Buddhism and came across the exception to the Eigtheenth Vow (committing the five grave offences and slandering the Dharma). What exactly does "slandering the Dharma" involve? I used to be a fundamentalist Christian and considered Buddhism a false religion...

Do you need empowerment to chant the Medicine Buddha mantra?

I attended a Tsog for the first time last Tuesday at my local Buddhist centre. I got a massive plate of food, most of which I brought home. However, I still have some left over. One of the items probably isn't okay to eat any more. I understand that the food is considered sacred (like Hindu prasad) ...

I came across this book on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive shop: Daily Purification: A Short Vajrasattva Practice. I would like to give this a try but I don't know if it's appropriate for me to do as I haven't had any initiation or empowerment from a lama. What do you think?

The Buddha says in the Dhammapada: "You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way". How does this fit with the Tibetan practices of recitation of mantras, devotion to Tara and other deities etc? For example, at the end of the Praise to the Twenty One Taras is a list of benefit...

So it seems like that main areas to avoid are adultery, rape and harmful sex. Anything else is generally okay. Am I right?

And this is the case across Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana/Tibetan Buddhism?

Grigoris wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2017 5:26 pm According to the Buddha unwholesome sexual activity (sexual misconduct) is basically any non-consensual activity, or sexual activity with somebody that is married or betrothed. That's it.

So you can be a good Tibetan Buddhist if you simply follow this rule?