How do foreigners feel about the teachings of Buddhism

「自灯明法灯明」のバランスはどうですか？釈尊の教えの中には、「自灯明(じとうみょう)、法灯明(ほうとうみょう)」ということばがあります。 自らをともしびとする。 自らをよりどころとする。 と同時に、仏の教えを示した真実のことば、ダルマ（法）をよりどころとし、ともしびとしていかなければならないといいます。What is the meaning of "Rely on yourself" and "Rely on the Dharma(Truth)"? Shakyamuni's teachings have a phrase: 'Jitomyo, Houtoumyō'. Enlighten your inner self. Self-reliance. At the same time, it is said that we must rely on the Dharma, the actual words of the Buddha's teachings, as a source of light.

Dialogue: [How do foreigners feel about the teachings of Buddhism?]

1)

What is the meaning of "Rely on yourself" and "Rely on the Dharma(Truth)"?

Shakyamuni's teachings have a phrase: 'Jitomyo, Houtoumyō'. Enlighten your inner self. Self-reliance. At the same time, it is said that we must rely on the Dharma, the actual words of the Buddha's teachings, as a source of light.

I believe both are equally important.

2)

The concept of "self-light" does not exist in the West. There is only "God's Light". Christianity, Judaism and Islam do not have the idea of thinking for oneself and making one's judgements.

Is it because there is an absolute God?

If you obey God, you will be fine. So the idea of "self-light" is lovely in Japan.

3)

Next question. What does "correct" mean in "Eightfold Noble Path"?

Right View

Right Thought

Right Speech

Right Action

Right Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Meditation

There is a saying in the Noble Eightfold Path, "To see rightly".

So what is right?

In Christianity and other religions, righteousness is held by God, so all you have to do is believe in it.

But Buddhism does not work like that.

When Buddha was asked what the correct standard was, he said, "Away from extremes."

4)

In other words, "don't be biased."

It's like a Zen question, but you're biased towards the moment you think it's "right".

This bias creates mistakes.

For example, the Heart Sutra explains an "empty" mind.

"Empty" means no substance.

Things have no reality.

5)

A monk too attached to 'emptiness' is called 'obsessed with emptiness'.

They say that's not good either.

This isn't easy.

It may be that what is right for me is a fluctuating thing.

There is no such thing as absolute rightness, and rightness may fluctuate according to age, position and environment.

6)

This may be a problem with the Japanese language, but I think there are a lot of negative phrases.

For example, "All things are impermanent (transitory/evanescent). All things are not permanent." and "All things lack inherent identity (self)". Can you say that in a positive sentence?

"All things are impermanent (transitory/evanescent). All things are not permanent." = All things in the world change and repeat the fate of being born and disappearing, and nothing does not change forever. That life is fleeting and empty.

"All things lack inherent identity (self)" = The idea that all things that exist in this world are caused by fate and that there is no self that is an unchanging entity.

7)

For example, there is a doctrine called the Ten Commandments.

Juzenkai is a negative form of the Ten Evils in Buddhism.

8)

Ten Commandments:

Don't kill: Do not intentionally kill any living creature.

Don't steal: Do not take what has not been given to you.

Immorality: Do not engage in immoral relations such as adultery.

Don't lie.

Don't speak empty words.

Don't use abusive language.

Don't say anything that might cause a quarrel with others.

Don't have intense greed.

Don't have anger.

Don't have a wrong view (ignoring the principle of cause and effect).

9)

These are all negative phrases, but they can be interpreted positively.

For example, "Don't kill" (not intentionally killing living things) means "Let them live".

In other words, to value one's own life and, at the same time to appreciate other lives as one's own life is "non-killing".

10)

Another example is "Don't steal", which means  "Do not take what has not been given to you."

But it becomes a positive phrase if you think of it as 'giving'.

Buddhism has a lot of negative phrases.

Especially because Buddhism hates worldly desires, we eliminate more earthly desires.

11)

So, what about esoteric Buddhism? Finally, as a result of denying, we affirm the end.

In other words, desire and vexation are not good after denying and denying, but we are alive.

We are worth living.

Esoteric Buddhism teaches that we should make use of the desire to live.

I find esotericism very positive.

14)

"All things are impermanent" means that it is not constant, so things change.

It teaches us to live in the present moment without being attached to it or caught up in the past or future.

So I think it's a very positive teaching.

15)

What is the ultimate purpose of Buddhism?

"Relieving Suffering and Imparting Joy" = Buddhist words. To remove the suffering of sentient beings and to give them comfort. To show compassion.

"Bodhisattva" is a way of life in which one seeks not only one's happiness but also the salvation of all people and strives to realise world peace.

16)

What does it mean to practise Buddhism? The way of life that Buddhism aims at is to live like a bodhisattva, which reduces suffering and gives pleasure.

And it has no goal.

What is "Buddhist enlightenment"?

Perhaps the answer is that the goal of Buddhists is enlightenment.

17)

However, the Buddha does not have a clear image of 'enlightenment'.

Is there an exam for 'enlightenment'?

If you take the test and pass it, it does not mean you are enlightened.

But enlightenment is invisible.

That's why we constantly improve ourselves towards 'enlightenment' and update ourselves in a good direction.

18)

And with this realisation as our reason for living, we move forward step by step.

Buddhism is not a spectacular result but a stack of effects.

So it is not a way of life that seeks results, but the ultimate "enlightenment" is a long way off, but if you do not take a step, you will not get any closer.

The Buddhist way of life is to take that step without fail.

19)

So what is the difference between becoming enlightened and becoming a Buddha?

I think it is the same.

"Attainment of Buddhahood during life" is a Buddhist term that means that a person becomes a Buddha in the same physical body in which they were born in this world.

If an ordinary person attains enlightenment, he can become a Buddha even in this world—the teaching of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.

There is a famous saying of Kobo Daishi: "attainment of Buddhahood during life."

With this body, I will become a Buddha.

20)

It has been said that attaining Buddhahood takes an extremely long time.

But there is no point in becoming a Buddha after death.

Let's become Buddha while we're still alive.

This means that Buddha and enlightenment are the same.

21)

So Buddhism is a teaching for the living?

Is it ok that Buddhism is a religion?

I am often told that Buddhism is not like a religion.

I think so.

That's why I think it's better to call it "Budda's road(way)" instead of Buddhism.

The way to become a Buddha is to practice it.

22)

There are many Buddhist sects.

The rules are the same for Christianity and Judaism.

Gods, people and prophets are the all most same.

But in Buddhism, we meditate zazen and sing nembutsu and Chant Daimoku.

There are different sects of Buddhism; are they all Buddhism?

23)

Zazen: A Buddhist training method in which one sits with correct posture and faces oneself by uniting one's mind. Its original meaning is "to quietly examine one's heart". It has a long history and is said to have begun with the training of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

Nenbutsu: Reciting the Buddha's name aloud while remembering the image of the Buddha and his merits is called Shomyo Nenbutsu. We chant 'Namu Amida Butsu' by praying for salvation to Amida Buddha, Lord of the Pure Land of 100,000 million lands in the West and devoting ourselves to Amida Buddha.

Daimoku: This phrase from "Namu-myoho-renge-kyo" is chanted during religious services in the Nichiren sect and the Lotus Sutra. It means "to take refuge in the teachings of the Lotus Sutra". By chanting it, it is said that one can inherit the merits of Shakyamuni, and 'Namu-myoho-renge-kyo' was the centre of the teaching.

24)

They are the same as Buddhism.

I think that's the beauty of Buddhism.

Diversity, or rather, there is a word that "expedients are the ultimate."

In the Dainichikyo, it is preached that "expedients are the ultimate (extremely convenient)''. This means that removing people's suffering in front of you is the ultimate Buddhist way to happiness for yourself and others.

"Expedients" means approaching, reaching, skilful, and practical means or methods. In the meaning of the teachings that the Buddha preached to guide sentient beings to enlightenment, it refers to the technique and function of the Buddha's enlightenment of sentient beings backed by truth.

25)

The paths to enlightenment are "eighty-four thousand paths" or innumerable.

Eighty-four thousand paths: In the sense that there are many, Dharma is the Buddha's teaching. It is a collective term for Buddha's teachings for 45 years. Ananda, who was said to be the most listened to of Buddha's disciples, said, "I have learned 82,000 teachings from the Enlightened One and 2,000 teachings from the practitioners."

26)

Buddhism is not simple.

It is not black or white.

Among the greys, there are blackish greys and whitish greys.

Buddhism seeks answers while wavering in them.

27)

But in the West, if anything, they say this is black or white.

It's straightforward.

Our Buddhism is a very down-to-earth, humble work.

It has no end.

There is no such thing as having achieved something.

28)

So enlightened people don't last forever.

We have moments of enlightenment from moment to moment, too.

But in the bustle of everyday life, we fell utterly into ignorance.

Ignorance: The state of being unable to understand Buddhism's fundamentals because worldly desires trap you.

Ex) The "darkness of ignorance".

29)

We monks recite sutras every morning from 6 am.

I believe that this is the moment of enlightenment.

Because when we put our hands together, we are saying the actual words of the sutras and chanting with a mind that is one with Buddha.

Only that moment is Buddha.

30)

Also, we become confused and ignorant after leaving the temple, meeting various people and experiencing multiple events.

That is why it isn't easy to be enlightened all the time.

But returning to that point is repeated, which is "repentance".

Buddhists repent repeatedly.

Buddhists make repentance before chanting sutras.

31)

Initially weak, but my flexibility and tolerance have become my strength.

You're ex-CIA, so you're not convincing.

Dialogue: [How do foreigners feel about the teachings of Buddhism? ] 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6cfH3nbGwY

Buddha's Teachings Learned in Simple English 

https://www.jga21c.or.jp/data_files/view/461/mode:inline