American Buddhist Study Center
75 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingOur passion is to introduce Buddhist Values and Japanese culture. We will have interviews with authors, scholars, ministers, and artists. There will also be discussions and, to liven things up, we will have live performances.
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Episodes
An interview with Priya Kumari
February 24, 2023 19:42 - 9 minutes - 9.05 MBHoshina Seki interviews Priya Kumari, author and publisher of children's books. In this interview, Priya talks about how she started writing children's books and then setting up her own publishing company Eternal Tree Books. Even though her books are for kids 3 to 8, she adds a workbook at the end for parents and teachers. Take a listen; I think you will enjoy it.
An interview with Priya Kumari
February 24, 2023 19:26 - 9 minutes - 9.1 MBHoshina Seki interviews Priya Kumari, author and publisher of children's books. Priya's books are all beautifully illustrated, heartwarming stories about Buddha and Indian culture. These books are meant to teach children the values of gratitude and compassion. Please take a listen, I think you will enjoy it.
Weekly Wasan - Episode 68 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 115-116
September 29, 2022 19:19 - 5 minutes - 5.47 MBHi Dharma-friends! Welcome back for the conclusion of our traversal of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan or Hymns of the Dharma-Ages. , These verses are among Shinran's last public thoughts and are particularly trenchant, even for such a fearless guy as Shinran. In these verses, Shinran looks directly into the mirror and identifies himself as a fellow foolish being of this last dharma-age, our dharma-age, the time when the teaching alone remains, but the self-power practices and realization have becom...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 67 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) On Jinen Hōni
September 22, 2022 18:21 - 6 minutes - 6.15 MBHi Dharma-friends, This episode is a little different than others in the series because it is a prose passage inserted into the collection instead of verses. It is like a little Dharma talk or message from Shinran himself. It is known as "On Jinen Hōni" Jinen Hōni is often rendered into English as "naturalness." By way of introduction to this very basic Shin Buddhist concept of "naturalness," a definition by Rev. Mark Unno found online is very helpful: "The foolish being is always con...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 66 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 110-114
September 17, 2022 01:41 - 8 minutes - 7.57 MBHi Dharma-friends, In this episode we continue with 5 more verses of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan known as "Additional Hymns of Lament on the Term Hotoke." Hotoke commonly means "Buddha." According to the commentary found in The Collected Works of Shinran (CWS), "Probing into the origins of the term, Shinran traces it back to an early critic of Buddhism, Mononobe no Moriya (d. 587), who opposed its introduction into Japan. According to Shinran, Moriya applied the term, with the meaning "sick wit...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 65 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 105-109
September 09, 2022 17:08 - 9 minutes - 8.41 MBHi Dharma-friends! Today let's conclude the section entitled "Gutoku's Hymns of Lament and Reflection" by listening to the last five verses. These are poems of a very personal nature by Shinran, reflecting his awareness of himself as someone sharing the deepest weaknesses of his age. This is the Last Dharma-Age, and we are in the same boat. Shinran calls out high-ranking monks and dharma teachers of his time who are said to be so in-name-only. Showing no self reflection, they often give...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 64 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 99-104
September 01, 2022 16:12 - 9 minutes - 8.55 MBHi Dharma-friends! Today you can hear 6 more verses of "Gutoku's Hymns of Lament and Self-Reflection," part of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan. Shinran wrote these verses toward the end of his life, when he was around 85 years old. They are profound expressions of his own self-reflection. He also calls out the various deficiencies, as he sees them, of this own age. Particularly, he laments a superficial adoption of the Buddhist Teaching by both monks and laity. Significantly, he recognizes these ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 63 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 94-98
August 25, 2022 21:27 - 8 minutes - 7.6 MBHi Dharma-friends! Welcome back after a brief hiatus! This episode is the start of the next section of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan. It is called "Gutoku's Hymns of Lament and Reflection" in sixteen verses. This episode contains the first five of these. These sixteen verses as a whole are a particularly deep personal self-reflection by Shinran. Please recall that the Shōzōmatsu Wasan are the product of Shinran's final years, written when he was about 85 years old. The commentary in The Collec...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 62 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 88-93
August 04, 2022 15:14 - 9 minutes - 8.62 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, we conclude the section of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan called "Hymns in Praise of Prince Shōtoku" with six more verses. As you know, Prince Shōtoku (574-622 CE) promoted Buddhism in Japan throughout his life and was greatly revered because of this. Shinran was personally very devoted to him. Shinran associates Prince Shōtoku with Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and believed that he appeared in Japan providentially as the world was entering the ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 61 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 83-87
July 29, 2022 16:40 - 7 minutes - 6.88 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, we begin the next section of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan called "Hymns in Praise of Prince Shōtoku" in eleven verses. This episode covers the first 5 Wasan in this section. Prince Shōtoku (574-622 CE) is fondly remembered in Japan as having established the imperial government on a firm footing and also for vigorously promoting Buddhism there in his lifetime. Shinran had a profound personal devotion to Prince Shōtoku. The commentary in the Collected Works of ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 60 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns on the Dharma-Ages) 76-82
July 22, 2022 20:06 - 8 minutes - 8.17 MBHi Dharma-friends! This episode contains the concluding 7 verses of the section "Hymns on the Offense of Doubting the Primal Vow" Throughout this section, Shinran has been encouraging us to entrust wholeheartedly, without any reservations at all, in the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha to bring all beings to awakening in his Pure Land. Clearly, Shinran is trying very hard to make an impression about having absolutely no doubts or reservations! But, as foolish beings, we always have such reserv...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 59 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 68-75
July 15, 2022 15:29 - 10 minutes - 9.27 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, let's continue with eight more verses in the section entitled "Hymns on the Offense of Doubting the Primal Vow." Shinran's purpose in this entire section is to encourage us to wholeheartedly entrust in Amida's Primal Vow to bring all beings, especially those of us living in this last Dharma-Age, to liberation in the Pure Land. We will conclude this part next time. Until then, please be well, always saying -- following Shinran's advice -- Namo-Amida-But...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 58 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 60-67
July 08, 2022 14:27 - 10 minutes - 9.85 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, we begin the next section of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan entitled "Hymns on the Offense of Doubting the Primal Vow." There are 23 verses in this part, and today you can hear the first eight. In this section, Shinran is focusing on "doubt," which is a key feature of his understanding. Shinran teaches that in this last Dharma-Age, only the teachings of the Buddha remain. Ordinary beings lack the capacity and conditions to put these teachings into practice by the...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 57 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) 56-59
June 24, 2022 22:43 - 8 minutes - 7.7 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, we conclude the first part of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan, the collection known as "Hymns on the Right, Semblance, and Last Dharma-Ages." Shinran encourages us ordinary beings of this Last Dharma-Age to take refuge in Amida's Great Vow and say the Name and, thereby, attain liberation through Power-Beyond-Self. Shinran teaches that awakening or liberation through self-power practices is futile in this Last Dharma-Age in which we find ourselves. Note the last v...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 56 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 51-55
June 18, 2022 00:08 - 8 minutes - 7.82 MBHi Dharma-friends! Today you can listen to five more verses by Shinran in the collection Pure Land Hymns of the Right, Semblance, and Last Dharma Ages. Shinran reinforces his understanding of Power-Beyond-Self as Amida's directing of virtue for going forth and return. How fortunate for us to hear this teaching! Amida, though great love of sentient beings, directs virtue for our going forth. We attain great compassion thereby which, Shinran explains, is Amida's directing of virtue for ou...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 55 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 46-50
June 10, 2022 20:58 - 8 minutes - 7.99 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, we read five more verses of the Pure Land Hymns on the Right, Semblance, and Last Dharma Ages. Shinran further explains his understanding of how only by completely relying (in Shinjin) on Amida's Vow to Liberate All can beings in this Last Dharma Age realize awakening. It is Amida's directing of virtue for going forth from the Pure Land and returning that makes this possible. How grateful we are! Next time we'll continue with five more verses by Shinr...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 54 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 41-45
June 03, 2022 14:47 - 8 minutes - 7.6 MBHi Dharma-friends, Welcome back to Weekly Wasan! Today, continue listening to the Shōzōmatsu Wasan or Hymns of the Dharma Ages with five more verses. Shinran reflects in this group on the present age - the Last Dharma Age - and its difficulties and challenges. Mired, as we are, in an endless and futile go-round of striving for Awakening through our own limited efforts, we find ourselves stuck. However, Shinran says that, when we receive the true cause of birth in the Pure Land from Śāky...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 53 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 36-40
May 27, 2022 17:11 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBHi Dharma-friends! This episode's verses from the Pure Land Hymns on the Right, Semblance, and Last Dharma Ages are very powerful and are among my favorite expressions of the Dharma by Shinran Shonin. Shinran is telling us not to worry that our own limitations due to distractions and self-indulgence are too heavy for Liberation. The Light of Amida's Vow of Wisdom is like a great torch illuminating a dark place. That Light is boundless and reaches everywhere. Because saying the Name, Nam...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 52 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 31-35
May 20, 2022 21:12 - 9 minutes - 8.7 MBHi Dharma-friends! Today let's listen to five more verses in the collection "Pure Land Hymns on the Right, Semblance, and Last Dharma Ages." in today's group, Shinran explains how the Nembutsu teaching is a function of Wisdom. Our own aspiration for Awakening is in itself caused by the compassion of Śākyamuni and Amida for sentient beings. Amida entrusts his selected Primal Vow (the Nembutsu) to the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Mahāsthāmaprāpta. It is Mahāsthāmaprāpta (Wisdom) who nurtures us...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 51 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 26-30
May 13, 2022 20:57 - 8 minutes - 7.73 MBHi Dharma-friends! Today we hear 5 more verses from this collection by Shinran Shonin. A striking image in these verses is Shinran's comparison of those who now follow the Nembutsu path with Maitreya Bodhisattva. Maitreya Bodhisattva is the next fully enlightened Buddha after Śākyamuni who will appear in the world when causes and conditions are right to do so. Nembutsu followers, saying the Name of Amida Buddha through Shinjin, realize the same Awakening or Enlightenment as Maitreya when...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 50 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 21-25
May 06, 2022 20:49 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBHi Dharma-friends! This is our fiftieth episode! Today let's listen to five more wasan verses in the section entitled "Pure Land Hymns on the Right, Semblance and Last Dharma Ages." Shinran really gets into the nitty-gritty of his understanding of the Buddha's teaching for our times. Amida Tathagata has directed his Primal Vow universally towards sentient beings. When ordinary people of this Last Dharma Age entrust themselves to this Vow and abandon their limited self-powered efforts to ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 49 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 16-20
April 30, 2022 01:34 - 10 minutes - 9.96 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan, we hear 5 more verses. Shinran, in the earlier verses, having described in somewhat bleak terms the difficulties of the situation in which we find ourselves in this latter Dharma Age, now turns to the way open to us: entrust ourselves to the Vow of Amida Buddha (Unmeasured Light and Life) to liberate all beings through the Nembutsu, become reborn into Amida's Pure Land, and thereby enter into Awakening ourselves with others throug...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 48 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 11-15
April 21, 2022 17:26 - 10 minutes - 9.4 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, we continue the section "Pure Land Hymns on the Right, Semblance and Last Dharma Ages." Shinran is really making the case that he finds himself (and, therefore, we also find ourselves) in the Last Dharma Age - a very difficult time to find Awakening for ordinary beings such as us. Shinran is impressing upon us the need to entrust ourselves to the Primal Vow and say the Name, Namo-Amida-Butsu. That is the one guaranteed way to enlightenment. As Shinran ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 47 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma Ages) 6-10wasan
April 16, 2022 13:04 - 11 minutes - 11 MBssss
Weekly Wasan - Episode 46 - Shōzōmatsu Wasan (Hymns of the Dharma-Ages) Introduction & 1-5
April 01, 2022 22:58 - 10 minutes - 9.86 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, you can listen to the opening verses of the Shōzōmatsu Wasan collection. These poems are from the end of Shinran's life when he was around 85 years old. There are 116 verses in the collection. The core of the book consists of 56 wasan on the Dharma-Ages, "Pure Land Hymns on the Right, Semblance, and Last Dharma Ages." Shinran taught from the perspective that he was living at the beginning of the Last Dharma-Age, when only the teaching of Śākyamuni sur...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 45 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Hōnen 113-117 & Concluding Verses 118-119asan
March 19, 2022 02:31 - 11 minutes - 11 MBHi Dharma friends, This episode concludes Shinran's verses on his own teacher, Master Genkū (Hōnen) of Japan, the seventh master in Shinran's Jōdo Shinshū lineage. In these verses, Shinran reverently recognizes Hōnen as a manifestation of Amida Buddha and describes his passing in terms familiar from the entry of Śākyamuni Buddha into Nirvana. Shinran concludes the Kōsō Wasan collection with two concluding verses. In the first, the teachings of all seven masters are summarized and restate...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 44 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Hōnen 108-112
March 12, 2022 02:42 - 7 minutes - 7.32 MBHi Dharma friends! Today's episode contains five more Wasan verses by Shinran Shonin on Master Genkū (Hōnen), who lived in Japan 1133-1212 CE. Hōnen was Shinran's personal teacher, and in these verses, he reiterates how Hōnen is the embodiment of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas teaching the Pure Land Way (that is the Way of Nembutsu). Having received this wonderful and guaranteed teaching from such a great master himself, our teacher Shinran is saying that we too should follow the same way with ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 43 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Hōnen 103-107
March 05, 2022 16:09 - 8 minutes - 8.27 MBHi Dharma-friends, We continue with five more Wasan verses by Shinran Shonin on his own teacher Master Hōnen, also known as Master Genkū. Hōnen lived 1133-1212 CE in Japan and was Shinran's personal teacher. Shinran's devotion to Hōnen was profound, even to seeing him as manifestations of Mahāsthāmaprāpta, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, and Amida Buddha himself. Shinran wishes us to understand the profound import of Hōnen's teaching and to say Nembutsu ourselves with complete confidence. Ne...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 42 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Genkū (Hōnen) 98-102
February 26, 2022 02:06 - 9 minutes - 9.11 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, we begin the section of the Kōsō Wasan on Master Genkū, also known as Master Hōnen. Hōnen (1133-1212 CE) is the seventh master in Shinran's Jōdo Shinshū lineage. Hōnen was Shinran's personal teacher, and Shinran -- although a great master himself and the founder of Jōdo Shinshū -- never regarded himself as anything other than a true disciple of Hōnen. Master Hōnen was a very distinguished Tendai monk and was famed as a master of the entire Buddhist can...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 41 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Genshin 93-97
February 19, 2022 03:18 - 9 minutes - 8.95 MBHi Dharma-friends! In this episode, we conclude the section of the Kōsō Wasan on Master Genshin, who lived in Japan 942-1017 CE. He is the sixth master in Shinran Shonin's designated Jōdo Shinshū lineage. Master Genshin greatly popularized the Nembutsu teaching in the Japan of his day, and Shinran greatly admired him. He is known as the master who distinguished the "fulfilled" and "transformed" lands, always encouraging us to rely on saying Amida's Name of the Primal Vow and thereby ensu...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 40 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) - Genshin 88-92
February 12, 2022 14:01 - 10 minutes - 9.5 MBHi Dharma-friends! Today we begin Shinran Shonin's Wasan verses on the Sixth Master in the Jōdo Shinshū lineage: Master Genshin. Shinran moves from China to Japan with Genshin. Genshin lived from 942-1017 CE and was a Tendai monk on Mt. Hiei (as were Shinran's own teacher Master Hōnen and Shinran himself for a long time). Genshin was really huge in making the Pure Land teaching popular in the Japan of his own day. Shinran greatly admired Genshin's virtue and broad learning. He regarded...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 39 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Shan-tao 82-87
February 04, 2022 22:22 - 10 minutes - 9.98 MBHi Dharma friends! In this episode, we conclude our traversal of Shinran Shonin's Wasan verses on Master Shan-tao of China (613-681 CE). Shan-tao was so important to Shinran's understanding of the Buddha Dharma. In this group Shinran again affirms that true-entrusting or awakening, which he calls "Shinjin," arises from the spontaneous working of Amida's Primal Vow through Nembutsu. After reflecting on the various obstacles this teaching has encountered, Shan-tao and Shinran urge us to pe...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 38 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Shan-tao 77-81
January 28, 2022 18:42 - 9 minutes - 8.75 MBHi Dharma-friends, In this episode, you can listen to 5 more of Shinran's Wasan verses on Master Shan-tao of China (613-681 C.E.) Building on what he said previously, Shinran further describes the qualities of diamond-like (or doubt-free) Shinjin or true entrusting -- how it alone fulfills Śākyamuni Buddha's intent as well as the teaching of the other Buddhas for ordinary people in our present circumstances. We are taught to remember that this diamond-hard confidence is not our own doing ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 37 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Shan-tao 72-76
January 21, 2022 22:04 - 9 minutes - 8.39 MBWelcome back, Dharma friends! In the episode, you can listen to the next group of 5 Wasan verses based on the writings of Master Shan-tao (613-681 CE). This group contains some wonderful images by Shinran conveying his understanding of the Buddha Dharma through Shan-tao's thought. One is "diamond-like Shinjin," or leaving our own blind passions and relying exclusively on the power of the Primal Vow. Another powerful image is that of Śākyamuni and Amida as our own father and mother, guidi...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 36 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Shan-tao 67-71
January 14, 2022 23:21 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBHi Dharma friends! Today we cover 5 more of Shinran Shonin's Wasan verses on Master Shan-tao (Zendo in Japanese). Shan-tao (613-681 CE) lived in China and is the Fifth of the Seven Masters, making up the Jōdo Shinshū lineage. We learned in the last episode that one of the most basic contributions of Shan-tao to Shinran's thought is how simply saying or vocalizing the Name of Amida Buddha is the only essential practice for Awakening or Enlightenment. In today's group of verses, Shan-tao teac...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 35 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Shan-tao 62-66
January 07, 2022 21:41 - 10 minutes - 10.2 MBHi Dharma friends! Welcome back to the Weekly Wasan podcast. Today we begin Shinran's Wasan verses on Master Shan-tao, who lived in China 613-681 CE. Master Shan-tao (Zendo, jp.), the Fifth Master in the Jōdo Shinshū lineage, was a direct disciple of Master Tao-ch'o the Fourth Master. His influence on Hōnen (Shinran's teacher) and thereby on Shinran himself is really huge. There are many points where Master Shan-tao clarifies and expands on the teachings of the prior Pure Land Masters. ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 34 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Tao-ch'o 55-61
December 11, 2021 02:36 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBHi Dharma friends! This episode contains all 7 of Shinran's Wasan verses on Master Tao-ch'o, who lived in China 562-645 CE. Master Tao-ch'o is the fourth in Shinran's lineage of Seven Masters. Tao-ch'o, employing T'an-luan's distinction between self-power and other-power, divides the whole of Buddhist teachings between the "Path of the Sages" or the Sacred Path and the Pure Land Path. The Sacred Path leads to attainment by one's own efforts and the Pure Land Path through the Other Power ...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 33 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) T'an-luan 50-54
December 03, 2021 23:53 - 8 minutes - 8.17 MBHi Dharma-friends! With this episode, we conclude our traversal of Shinran's 34 Wasan verses on Master T'an-luan, who lived in China 476-562 CE. Master T'an-luan is the great teacher of Other Power or Power Beyond Self, which is a core feature of Shinran's understanding of Buddhism. In today's verses, T'an-luan explains that whether one's practice is fully in accord with reality is determined by Shinjin (entrusting or awakening). The shinjin of Self-Power is shown to be lacking, while t...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 32 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) T'an-luan 45-49
November 26, 2021 21:00 - 9 minutes - 9.16 MBHi Dharma friends! Today's episode covers 5 more verses written by Shinran Shonin based on the writings of Master T'an-luan, who lived in China (476-542 CE). As you know already, Shinran relies on Master T'an-luan for the teachings on Other Power. In today's Wasan verses, we learn that only the Shinjin of Other Power is sufficient for birth in the Pure Land. Shinjin is often understood as "true entrusting" or "awakening." T'an-luan explains why Shinjin based on Self Power is not adequate...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 31 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) T'an-luan 39-44
November 20, 2021 02:26 - 10 minutes - 9.64 MBHi Dharma friends, We're continuing with Shinran Shonin's verses on Master T'an-luan of China (476-542 CE). Today we encounter the marvelous image of ice and water - how the ice of our blind passions melts into the water of virtues through the power of Amida's Vow and ultimately flows into the great ocean of Enlightenment. This analogy was beloved by Shinran and subsequent Shin Buddhist masters and teachers ever since. Enjoy these Wasan verses, and please tell your friends about the podca...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 30 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) T'an-luan 33-38
November 13, 2021 14:08 - 10 minutes - 9.77 MBHi Dharma friends! In this episode, Shinran delves into the nitty-gritty of Master T'an-luan's teaching. We hear about the important concept of Amida's "directing of virtue," which we are told has two aspects: that of going forth and that of return. T'an-luan is the master upon whom Shinran relies for his understanding of Other Power or Power Beyond Self, a key part of his understanding of Buddhism. Next time we'll continue with six more verses in this collection. If you are enjoying th...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 29 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) T'an-luan 27-32
November 05, 2021 22:05 - 10 minutes - 9.66 MBHi Dharma friends, Welcome back to our reading of Shinran Shonin's verses on Master T'an-luan, the third master in the Jōdo Shinshū lineage. T'an-luan, who lived 476-542 CE in China, is the one who best explained the teaching of Other Power, a key concept in Shinran's understanding of Buddhism. While today's verses lean more toward the biographical end of the spectrum in this collection, there are tantalizing intimations of the powerful teachings that follow. Please enjoy them! If you l...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 28 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) T'an-luan 21-26
October 29, 2021 18:51 - 9 minutes - 8.8 MBHi Dharma friends! Today we begin the series of Wasan verses written by Shinran Shonin on Master T'an-luan, who lived in China 476-542 CE. Shinran wrote 34 verses based on T'an-luan's writings, regarding him as the clarifier and teacher of Other Power, a very important part of the Jōdo Shinshū understanding of Buddhism. Other Power has been sometimes misunderstood or criticized by those unfamiliar with it as being "non-dualistic." However, for Shinran, that was not the case at all. T'an...
Weekly Wasan - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) - Vasubandhu 16-20
October 23, 2021 19:49 - 8 minutes - 7.66 MBHi Dharma Friends, This week we cover the five remaining Wasan verses by Shinran on Bodhisattva Vasubandhu. The teachings of Bodhisattva Vasubandhu on "the mind that is single" is central to Shinran's understanding of Buddhism. That is why Shinran regarded Vasubandhu as the second of the seven masters in the Jōdo Shinshū lineage. The Wasans in this episode are among my personal favorites. See what you think! Next time we will start the next section, which is on Master T'an-luan, 34 gath...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 26 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Vasubandhu 11-15
October 15, 2021 15:40 - 8 minutes - 7.83 MBHi Dharma Friends! Welcome back to our traversal of the Kōsō Wasan by Shinran Shonin. Today's verses are based on the writings of Bodhisattva Vasubandhu, who lived in India from around 320-400 C.E. Shinran particularly wishes us to pay attention to Vasubandhu's understanding of "the mind that is single," the mind that focuses completely on the path to awakening, which is Nembutsu Path. This episode covers the first five of Shinran's verses on Vasubandhu. Next time, we'll hear the second...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 25 - Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Nāgārjuna 6-10
October 08, 2021 16:54 - 8 minutes - 7.71 MBHi Dharma Friends! Today, please listen to the second group of Master Shinran's verses based on the writings of Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna. Nāgārjuna taught that there were two paths to reach Enlightenment: the Difficult Path (the Great Path of the Sages or the way of Self-Power, for deeply accomplished people) and the Easy Path (the Nembutsu Path or the way of Other-Power, for ordinary people such as ourselves). Shinran encourages us to listen to Nāgārjuna and follow the Easy Path, always say...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 24 Kōsō Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land Masters) Intro. & Nāgārjuna 1-5
October 01, 2021 19:48 - 10 minutes - 9.54 MBHi Dharma friends! With this episode we begin a new collection of Wasan by Shinran Shōnin, The Kōsō Wasan or Gathas of the Pure Land Masters. The Seven Masters comprise the lineage of Jōdo Shinshū from Śákyamuni Buddha to today, as transmitted to us through the teaching of Shinran. The Seven Masters are: 1. Nāgārjuna (c. 150-250) 2. Vasubandhu (c. 320-400) 3. T’an-luan (476-542) 4. Tao-ch’o (562-645) 5. Shan-tao (613-681) 6. Genshin (942-1017) 7. Genkū (Hōnen 1133-1212). Each wasan verse i...
Interview with Professor Aaron Proffitt
September 24, 2021 20:20 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBIn this episode, learn about how a Southern Tennessean ended up teaching East Asian Studies at the University of Albany. Professor Aaron Profit talks about his love of Buddhism that took him out of the back hills of Tennesse to the University of Colorado and then on to Japan.
Weekly Wasan - Episode 23 - Jodo Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land) 115-118
August 13, 2021 20:15 - 6 minutes - 6.44 MBHi Dharma friends! With this episode, we conclude our journey listening to the Jōdo Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land) of Shinran Shonin. In this section, Shinran venerates Mahāsthāmaprāpta, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, who Shinran especially associates with his own teacher, Master Hōnen. Just as he received his own profound understanding of Nembutsu through Master Hōnen, Shinran now passes it along to us. How truly grateful we are! It has been a joy reading this collection of Wasan verses wit...
Weekly Wasan - Episode 22 - Jodo Wasan (Hymns of the Pure Land) 111-114
August 06, 2021 17:17 - 6 minutes - 6.17 MBHi Dharma friends! Let's start the final section of the Jōdo Wasan, "Hymns To Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Based of the Sutra of the Samadhi of Heroic Advance" Mahāsthāmaprāpta is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Shinran Shonin identified his own teacher, Master Hōnen (who he also calls Master Genkū), with this bodhisattva in particular. It might be helpful to keep this in mind as you listen to the verses. Thanks for listening! Next time we'll finish up the Jōdo Wasan. You can also hear the latest episo...