Japan's tragedy and religion

buddhajunkie

Here's an article on religion and tragedy in Japanese mainstream culture.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/14/how-japans-religions-confront-tragedy/?hpt=C2

Spaceless

A misconception of funeral and money generating Buddhism :eek2: . A little disappointing and sad for the Japanese society. Because of this little misconception, it turns some of them off from exploring Buddhism and the golden opportunity of being liberated in this short lifespan. To the least, planted good blessings :vimp:

May the merits of sharing be dedicated to all beings :thumbsup:

Spaceless

Being Vegetarian and Reciting the Buddha's Name are the Only Ways to Protect the Nation and Quell Disasters

by Great Master Yin Guang

To talk about protecting the country and ending disasters, we must know how to protect the country and how to end disasters. There are two means to reach these goals. One is temporary, while other is long-term. If we can be vegetarians and recite the Buddha's name constantly in the hopes of protecting the country and quelling disasters, then our sincerity will wrought infinite merit. Sincere prayers for the time being are effective to some extent too. But it would be best if we can protect and quell by being vegetarians. If we are vegetarian and recite the Buddha's name, then the power of vows will persist, deviant energy will dissipate while proper energy will grow. With fine intentions, kind words and good deeds, the nation will naturally be protected and disasters will naturally not occur.
Ancient texts say that sages do not get cures for contracted illnesses but get cures for not yet contracted illnesses; do not get cures for existing disturbance but get cures for not yet existing disturbances. Cures for existing disturbances are ineffective; cures for not yet existing disturbances are effective. Curing a nation is the same as curing a sickness; some cure the symptoms, while some cure the source. Curing a sickness is to cure an existing disturbance. To effectively cure an existing illness, we must cure the symptoms first; treat the head for a headache; treat the feet for aching feet. Once the symptoms are gone, then cure the source, making the body's energy and blood circulate smoothly. Recovering to health at the source, one will be energetic and apply oneself with vigor.
Nowadays our nation is at the brink of danger. Therefore I believe that to cure the nation, we must cure both the symptoms and the source. The best way to cure using this two-prong approach is to recite the Buddha's name, do good deeds, avoid killing, be vegetarians and understand deeply the cause and effect of the past, present and future. The fate of our contemporary world is that the various disasters, consequences of hardship, we face are a result of much evil in the past. We know these types of evil retribution are a result of past causes of doing evil. To avoid painful consequences, we must eliminate the causes of pain. We can eliminate causes of suffering done in the past by reciting the Buddha's name and repenting. If we do not plant causes of pain now, we can avoid consequences of pain in the future.
What are the causes of suffering? They are the three poisons of greed, hatred and delusion. What are the causes of goodness? Helping others. If everyone understands the law of cause and effect, then we will avoid all evil, do all kinds of good. Disasters have no way to enter. Unfortunately people nowadays do not understand the law of cause and effect. Therefore they are full of selfishness and are willing to do any evil. They are only concerned about themselves but not others. We should know that helping others is just to help ourselves; hurting others is just to hurt ourselves. Consequently, I always say, cause and effect is the law with which sages rule the world and Buddhas save living beings. Abandoning cause and effect for discussions on how to govern a nation and how to bring peace to the world is as ridiculous and impossible as fishing on trees. The Buddha said, "If we wish to know the causes of our past lives, simply look at what we face in this lifetime. If we wish to know the results of future lives, simply look at what we do in this lifetime." If everything we do in this lifetime is evil, then how can we avoid evil consequences in future lives? We will certainly face the fallouts of being in a family that is unkind in this lifetime. One text says: "Do good and a hundred auspiciousnesses appear. Do ill, a hundred calamities befall." This principle is the same as the law of cause and effect spoken by the Buddha. Fallouts are beyond retribution, proper; they may not be personal retribution. What I enjoy in future lives is my personal celebration or catastrophe. Retribution beyond the personal may be celebrations and catastrophes for offspring, who take on what their ancestors have accumulated.
People do not understand cause and effect and think that people escape karma after death; there is no more favorable or unfavorable consequence. This is the most misleading view for future generations. We must know that after death, people's consciousness does not become extinct. If people realize that their consciousness does not get extinguished, then they will certainly enjoy doing good and not dare to do evil. If they believe that death is the end all and be all, then they will indulge in the present, avoiding no evil or doing every evil.
This type of extremely evil behavior is the result of annihilistic views. If people can avoid all evil and do every good, then the world will naturally be at peace and people will be happy. However, this is still not the most ultimate idea. What is the ultimate practice? Recite the Buddha's name to become reborn in the West, to become liberated from birth and death. At the same time, we must reduce deviance, maintain sincerity, unite the family, living up to one's role. That way not only will the fate of the nation turn, but disasters will disappear too. Today's disasters are a result of everyone's collective karma. If people all recite the Buddha's name and do good, then collective karma can turn and the fated catastrophe will be gone too. For example, during the Battle of Shanghai on January 28, families that recited the Buddha's name enjoyed many miracles. Individuals who cultivate alone can attain responses, not to mention what will happen when a group cultivates. Therefore, a national disaster can also be averted by everyone reciting the Buddha's name sincerely.

May the merits of sharing be dedicated to all beings :thumbsup:

Cloud

That's Pure Land Buddhism and "Amitabha" Buddha that @SeaImprint is takling about, FYI. It can be confusing when you keep posting about reciting the Buddha's name sincerely my friend, not everyone follows that form or knows what that means.

Spock

Some may even suggest its mumbo jumbo

formermonkJohn

so my friend isn't the only one that thinks the disaster in japan is some kind of karmic payback for eating whales and dolhins, as to reciting the buddhas name, i think he means some thing like the thai; NAMO NAHMASTAY, PAHQUAOWATOE AHRAHATOE SAMMA SAMMBHUDDISSA, buddhists all over the world do stuff like that and not eating meat, i can't agree more with that, although i broke down and had chicken, instead of tofu in my thai red curry today, eating the chicken was unpleasant, so i prayed for the chicken, that didn't make it taste any better, so it'll be tofu next time...... sincerely john

hermitwin

I would suggest that its against what Buddha teach to say that simple
chanting can be so powerful.

formermonkJohn

i can't see how it could possibly hurt, though. its just like a priest prescribing multiple hail marys on the rosary or chanting om mani, its a form of meditation just like and probably more effective than focusing on the breath, it quietens the minds thought and allows mindfulness to occur.

yiming

i broke down and had chicken, instead of tofu in my thai red curry today, eating the chicken was unpleasant, so i prayed for the chicken, that didn't make it taste any better, so it'll be tofu next time...... sincerely john

You should have prayed for the cook who loused up your curry. If you don't use your brains, you will move from one disaster to the next. Vegetarianism is an eating disorder unless you are a cow.

aMatt

You should have prayed for the cook who loused up your curry. If you don't use your brains, you will move from one disaster to the next. Vegetarianism is an eating disorder unless you are a cow.

You certainly make an impression!

formermonkJohn

yiming you make me want to barf, in fact thats what you deserve to eat, anyone that hates vegetarianism is certainly not respecting the buddha!!

Cinorjer

Eat meat, don't eat meat. Some people say eating meat disrespects the Buddha, others say vegetarianism is unnatural or unnecessary.

There are parents who don't even have a bowl of rice to feed their children, who might see the entire debate as somewhat missing the point.

formermonkJohn

"Eat meat, don't eat meat. Some people say eating meat disrespects the Buddha, others say vegetarianism is unnatural or unnecessary." cinorjer said


is not creating suffering for sentient beings like animals unnatural or unnecessary??? from a scientists perspective monkeys are basically vegetarian, we weren't really made to eat meat, however some people need some meat to feel healthy, even me once in a while, so i only occasionally eat chicken and avoid the higher beings.

if not eating meat would cause you suffering, would you be willing to sacrifice some or all of your meat to enable less suffering for sentient beings, 50 noble japanese warriors are sacrificing their lives willing to stop the nuclear reactors from causing a chernoybelesque catastrophe, what if they were selfish like most meat eaters and only cared about making themselves happy,

religious life is all about making sacrifices for the greater good, not living a life of excess, if you could kill and eat your own dog and enjoy eating it, then your a real carnivore, most people today, if they had to kill their own animals to eat meat would become vegetarians, your pet dog is no more important in the buddha's eye than an innocent cow or sheep. i really believe this

formermonkJohn

from what ive read, the money, time, and food it takes to preserve meat, if the whole world become vegetarian, we could have well over twice as much food to more than feed everyone for less costs than today, sure its no sin for a starving person to eat what ever they can get, if you can't consider vegetarian could you at least go down the food chain and eat only chicken and or fish, could you only eat meat every second or third day, do you really need peperoni on your pizza or would vegetarian pizza be just as good, baby steps, people.

the first step is TO ADMIT THAT EATING MEAT CAUSES PAINFUL SUFFERING FOR ANIMALS WHICH ARE SENTIENT BEINGS,, step two TO ADMIT THAT THE BUUDHA TAUGHT NOT TO KILL AND CAUSE SUFFERING FOR SENTIENT BEINGS, step three TO BELIEVE THAT EATING LESS MEAT OR NONE CAUSES LESS SUFFERING FOR SENTIENT BEINGS step four CALL YOUR SPONSOR OR TALK TO A VEGETARIAN MONK AT YOUR TEMPLE

hermitwin

I just find this amitabha business hard to swallow.
but if the followers are happy, so be it.
just dont think its Buddhist.

SherabDorje

There are people in Japan that have nothing to eat, no clean water to drink, and some are now stuck in their homes with the windows taped up to avoid the radiation from the crippled nuclear plants. What role does religion play in their lives now. How should we as Buddhists react to the catastrophe?

formermonkJohn

all pray, and do anything else we possibly can like organize against nuclear power maybe, here in southern cali, have an earthquake kit food and water saved up, know where and how to turn off the gas and water, study earthquake preparadness. pray pray pray, burn only one stick of incense on your alter instead of three out of respect for the dead, pray for the souls of the dead and dying.........thats my 2cents

NomaDBuddha

There are people in Japan that have nothing to eat, no clean water to drink, and some are now stuck in their homes with the windows taped up to avoid the radiation from the crippled nuclear plants. What role does religion play in their lives now. How should we as Buddhists react to the catastrophe?

Take refuge in a safer zone.

Barra

The prayer procedure is as follows.
> Day and Time:
> March 31st, 2011 (Thursday)
> 12:00 noon in each time zone
> Please say the following phrase:
> The water of Fukushima Nuclear Plant,
we are sorry to make you suffer.
> Please forgive us. We thank you, and we love you.
> Please say it aloud or in your mind. Repeat it three times as you
> put your hands together in a prayer position. Please offer your
> sincere
> prayer.
>
> Thank you very much from my heart.
>
> With love and gratitude,
> Masaru Emoto
> Messenger of Water

I had the above prayer forwarded to me. I don't know anything about Mr. Emoto, but I find the sentiment in the prayer kind of fascinating. It is asking us to have compassion for the water of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant. Others may think that the waters are the "enemy" in the piece. But I guess we HAVE made that water suffer - first by giving it a morally difficult job to do, creating energy the way it does - and with the meltdown (which the earthquake did, not us, but anyway....) the waters are emitting radiation - hurting and destroying things, which again is causing suffering.

zombiegirl

The prayer procedure is as follows.
> Day and Time:
> March 31st, 2011 (Thursday)
> 12:00 noon in each time zone
> Please say the following phrase:
> The water of Fukushima Nuclear Plant,
we are sorry to make you suffer.
> Please forgive us. We thank you, and we love you.
> Please say it aloud or in your mind. Repeat it three times as you
> put your hands together in a prayer position. Please offer your
> sincere
> prayer.
>
> Thank you very much from my heart.
>
> With love and gratitude,
> Masaru Emoto
> Messenger of Water

I had the above prayer forwarded to me. I don't know anything about Mr. Emoto, but I find the sentiment in the prayer kind of fascinating. It is asking us to have compassion for the water of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant. Others may think that the waters are the "enemy" in the piece. But I guess we HAVE made that water suffer - first by giving it a morally difficult job to do, creating energy the way it does - and with the meltdown (which the earthquake did, not us, but anyway....) the waters are emitting radiation - hurting and destroying things, which again is causing suffering.

masaru emoto is the "messages in water" guy. he supposedly did several experiments that involved submitting regular water to "emotions" via either writing intention or meditation on bottles of water. he took before and after photos of the shapes of the water molecules. he has several books with these photos, generally supporting the concept that water responds well to positive stimulus and poorly to negative stimulus. he was referenced in the popular movie
"What the Bleep"

here is a link to the full article that your forward came from:
http://www.naturalnews.com/031908_prayer_Japan.html#ixzz1IG2FB8dt