Dharma Talks

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Hoonko is a holiday in the tradition of Japanese Jodo Shinshu Buddhism that observes the memorial of its founder, Shinran Shonin. Today is Hoonko. Delivering our dharma talk is Sensei Ashikaga. Sensei is the minister at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago located in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.

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Experiences of a Buddhist student – Sensei Adams talks about his journey to become a Jodo Shinshu minister. Henry comes from Buffalo, MN and received his academic training in the United States. He has several very interesting anecdotes about his ministerial training he received in Japan. If any of our listeners are curious about pursuing the dharma please contact the Buddhist Churches of America http://buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/home/. We offer all levels of study both graduate and distance learning.

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Reflections on the New Year – Sensei Siebuhr delivers the first dharma talk of the New Year reflecting upon the impermanance of life and the human condition of unhappiness. Henry Adams, a student of the Buddhist Churches of America, is visiting today. Sensei recalls the many funerals he has presided over the years of his ministry, funerals ranging from the very young to the very old. From this duty of his ministry he is reminded of the impermanence of life. Sensei also touches upon the human condition of unhappiness. You may have heard of the global survey of happiness. Here is a link to the website of the foundation that conducts this annual poll http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/. The organization does quite an academic survey of the citizens of the world. You may find it interesting to examine the results in the survey PDF found on the website. Survey results can be found in the appendices.

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Shoshinge – The Hymn of True Faith For those of you are not able to attend one of our services I have recorded our Sensei chanting Shoshinge. This podcast episode consists of a short explanation of ShoShinge, a Buddhist chant. For a more in-depth explanation http://www.shindharmanet.com/writings/sanbutsuge.htm. Sensei ends the service with a short five minute talk.

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Sensei Siebuhr conducts our yearly New Year’s Eve service. We introduce the service with the ringing of the Temple’s bell. This is followed by chanting the San Butsuge (http://www.shindharmanet.com/writings/sanbutsuge.htm). This is followed by a short dharma talk where Sensei reflects upon the impermanance of life and how we should not take our existence for granted. Sensei then explains why it is a Japanese Buddhist tradition to ring in the New Year by ringing the bell 108 times. The number 108 is the 108 blind passions (http://www.michineko.de/culture/silvesteregl.htm) humans are subject to.

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Life is suffering – The first noble truth … Shakyamuni Buddha Sensei Siebuhr delivers this week’s dharma talk. Sensei discusses in depth what is meant by “life is suffering”. We are all dying. Dwelling on the human situation would be very depressing but examined from a different philosophy it could lead to a constructive conclusion. What does it mean to be a human being not to suffer the torment about imminent death? Human suffering leads to enlightenment.

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300 or 10, You never know who’s listening. … Sensei Kono Service this week is in honor of the founder of the Midwest Buddhist Temple, Sensei Gyodo Kono. Sensei Kono came to Chicago directly from the relocation camps of World War II. A majority of Japanese-Americans resettled on the West Coast upon release from the camps. Chicago and the Midwest was a secondary destination. Reverend Kono came to Chicago to serve the Japanese community and founded the Midwest Buddhist Temple 34 years ago. Reverend Kono also undertook the ambitious task of constructing what is now the home of the Midwest Buddhist Temple on 435 W. Menomonee dedicated in 1971. Sensei Miyamura, having served under Sensei Kono, has many stories to tell about him. The way Reverend Kono learned English was especially insightful to his ability to overcome obstacles in creative ways.

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Today is Bodhi Day, the day that Shakyamuni Buddha obtained enlightenment. Unlike Buddhist teachings of Shakyamuni’s time, Shinran Shonin taught that you can attain enlightenment without the discipline of lifelong meditation or being part of the privileged class. Sensei talks a little about the history of our tradition, the Pureland sect of Buddhism, and how we came to being. Sensei also tells about the historical relationship between the Midwest Buddhist Temple and the Buddhist Temple of Chicago. Another interesting fact is the historical relationship between Nichiren and Shin-Buddhists. This is a must listen for people who are curious about the history of Shin-Buddhism. You can also access an archive of several years of past talks from iTunes. Search for “Midwest Buddhist Temple” in iTunes and you should be able to locate our archive.

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Sorry for missing last week’s upload. I think I’ve ironed out all the bugs and we should be back on schedule. This week Sensei starts his talk with the Amida sutra or the longer chant. He then explores the Buddhist position on striving or competition in modern life. He then closes with his thoughts on music in Buddhist practice and sings along to a J-pop song. I will try to find the lyrics for this song and post them to MidwestBuddhistTemple.org You can also access an archive of several years of past talks from iTunes. Search for “Midwest Buddhist Temple” in iTunes and you should be able to locate our archive.

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We’re back on the air. Sorry for the hiatus. The podcast recorder was down due to a hardware failure. Sensei Siebuhr talks about what’s mistakenly called ojuzu beads. In shin-buddhism these beads are called o-nenju. Sensei also describes what buddhists are doing when they clasp their hands in what looks like prayer. Buddhists do not believe in petitionary prayers or requests to a superior being. Sensei also talks about his conversation with someone who is seeks tranquility in his life.Sensei Siebuhr talks about