Pippa meets Japanese soul

• What differentiates Buddhism (Nichi Ren Shu) from Christianity?
  What differentiates Buddhism (Nichi Ren Shu) from Christianity?

  

  Buddhism (Nichi Ren Shu) focuses on the life you are living now and how to live a better, more fulfilling life now. It is based on self-awareness and you deciding in your heart what is right and wrong. This, in turn, will allow you to go to a better place in the afterlife.
  Christianity however is based on following the commandments laid out by God and the rules of the church. If you obey the commandments and the churches rules, you will go to heaven, if not, to hell.
  Also, Buddhism (Nichi Ren Shu) allows all people the chance to actively participate in the faith. Women, who are usually barred from holding significant positions in Buddhism are welcomed into the Nichi Ren Shu Buddhism, and are even allowed to become Buddhist priests. Reformed criminals are also offered the same opportunities.
• Why do all the images of the Buddhist Gods look so menacing?
  Why do all the images of the Buddhist Gods look so menacing?

  

  Because it’s the job of the God to fight or ward off bad spirits. If he looked kind and forgiving, he wouldn’t be as effective.
• Did you have a choice to become anything but a Buddhist priest when you were young, and will your daughter have the chance to carry on your work as a Buddhist priest?
  Did you have a choice to become anything but a Buddhist priest when you were young, and will your daughter have the chance to carry on your work as a Buddhist priest?

  

  No, I didn’t have a choice. I was told when I was 5 years old that I would become a Buddhist priest. My daughter will have a choice. If she wants to become a Buddhist priest she will have that opportunity, but I am also going to recruit another pupil to teach alongside her. At the end of teaching period, I will choose the best person to carry on after me, whether it is my daughter or my pupil.
• Who does the temples land belong to and who pays for its maintenance?
  Who does the temples land belong to and who pays for its maintenance?

  

  The temple belongs to the people of the Buddhism (Nichi Ren Shu) faith. The maintenance is paid for by me and donations from my parishioners.
• What percentage of Japanese people belongs to the Nichi Ren Shu Buddhism?
  What percentage of Japanese people belongs to the Nichi Ren Shu Buddhism?

  

  About 10%~20%.
• Does Buddhism have a heaven and hell like Christianity?
  Does Buddhism have a heaven and hell like Christianity?

  

  Yes, we have similar concepts. Instead of the devil we have demons and hell is often likened to a hot volcanic place that is very unpleasant to be.
• Do you have re-incarnation in Buddhism?
  Do you have re-incarnation in Buddhism?

  

  In Buddhism (Nichi Ren Shu) we believe that the spirit lives on forever. For example, if my father died, only his body dies. His spirit would become part of me and hence live on.
• What is a Butsudan and what does the ringing of the bell signify?
  What is a Butsudan and what does the ringing of the bell signify?

  

  A Butsudan is a Buddhist altar that is kept in a person’s home. Because of time constraints, it is not always possible for parishioners to come to the temple every day and the Butsudan allows people to pray at home. This is ideally done three times a day, morning, noon and night. But the typical Buddhist does it twice a day.
  The ringing of the bell at the beginning of the prayer calls forth the spirit of your loved one and the ringing at the end of the prayer sends your loved one’s spirit back.
• I noticed the wonderful smell of incense throughout the temple. Does this serve any other purpose but giving off a nice smell?
  I noticed the wonderful smell of incense throughout the temple. Does this serve any other purpose but giving off a nice smell?

  

  Yes, it serves to purify or cleanse a person’s soul.
• What’s this?
  What’s this?

  

  It’s a Kiribi. When you strike them together they give off a spark. This spark serves to erase bad things
• Is this a real samurai suit of armor?
  Is this a real samurai suit of armor?

  

  Yes, it is. It’s from the Edo era and was worn by a samurai who killed a lot of people causing many more people a lot of grief. The owner gave the suit to the temple to try to neutralize its bad karma.
  Also, you might notice how small the armor is. People from the Edo era only had an average height of 153cm.
• How often do you use the temple?
  How often do you use the temple?

  

  Every day. The right hand side of the temple is used for people praying for the dead and the left hand side is for people praying for the future. Each service lasts about 30 minutes.
  
• I noticed that you strike two different bells 3 times and then you keep up a steady rhythmic beat on wooden sticks. What purpose does this serve?
  I noticed that you strike two different bells 3 times and then you keep up a steady rhythmic beat on wooden sticks. What purpose does this serve?

  

  The first 3 strikes represent the past; the next 3 strikes represent the future. The constant rhythmic striking after that is so that the priest and the parishioners don’t fall asleep during the service. Priests didn’t used to use these. Also, these wooden sticks are just a round shape now, but before they used to be in the shape of a fish, hence the name mokugyo (wooden fish). The shape of a fish was used because fish never close their eyes, creating the image of them always being awake.
• Why do you have a mirror over there?
  Why do you have a mirror over there?

  

  It’s a window from which the gods can see you.

After listening to the Buddhist priest explain about the different aspects of Buddhism I was surprised by the similarities and differences with Christianity. Buddhism focuses on achieving peace with your inner self through self-reflection, ending not only your suffering, but the suffering of those around you. Christianity （especially Catholicism） on the other hand, focuses on following specific rules,that if followed will allow mankind to live together in relative harmony. No inner reflection is necessary. Simply put, Buddhism seems to trust that when people are given the time to think and reflect that they will do the right thing. In contrast, Christianity puts its trust in its commandments and rules instead of its people. However, the concept of heaven and hell is a constant throughout both religions, as is asking God for held of times of trouble and sadness. The belief that the spirit lives on forever is another parallel shared in both faiths. I think that this belief reverberated the most pleasantly in my consciousness long after my visit to the temple ended.

While being shown around the temple and its grounds, I noticed how its quietness and serenity might encourage self-reflection with its peacefulness. The many paintings and sculptures displayed so beautifully throughout the rooms and hallways of the temple were very attention-grabbing. The temple was welcoming, peaceful and uplifting, reflecting the values  shared by the people of the Buddhist faith.

Name: Philippa Keogh

Nationality: Australian

Job: English teacher

Living place: Tokyo

Living in Japan for: 15 years