I couldn't answer my Taiwanese friend's question

The traditional Japanese sect of Buddhism with the highest number of temples and followers is probably the Jodo Shinshu sect.

The Jodo Shinshu sect is called “no commandment,” and there are no precepts.
Called home Buddhism, you don't “become a monk.”

Don't shave your hair, get married, eat meat, and drink alcohol.

It has existed in this form for about 800 years since its founder, Shinran.

Until the Meiji Restoration, carnivorous wives, etc. of monks other than the Jodo Shinshu sect were ostensibly prohibited.
However, in reality, it seems that carnivorous wife drinking alcohol etc. were not that uncommon, even outside of the Jodo Shinshu sect.

After the Meiji Restoration, carnivorous wives, etc. of monks other than the Jodo Shinshu sect also became free.

I think the reason it was so easily accepted is because the Jodo Shinshu originally existed in Japan.

Ami-sama

This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is my humble answer to the question.

Speaking of Jusei himself, I am seriously aware that having a wife without returning to secular life is one of the “crimes of paranoia” (felony of permanent banishment of monks).

In light of changes in the tradition, culture, and history of Japanese Buddhism, there are also precepts that should be tolerated, and precepts that do not conform to the times and society, and there are aspects where it is not necessary to unequivocally observe the precepts of Shakyamuni's time, but I think that only “harami sin” has a slightly different personality.

Therefore, I am aware that even though I am a “monk” for convenience in Japan, I am not a “monk” from Buddhism outside of Japan (especially Therawada Buddhism with strict precepts, Tibetan Buddhism, the Gelk school, etc.), and there is no point in being called a “family believer.”

However, that doesn't mean I can't practice Buddhism, and I want to work hard every day to practice without changing so that I can move forward in the path of Buddhism as much as possible, even as a firm believer.

Also, I don't just respect them because they keep the precepts, and whether they are monks or at home, I don't think it's necessary to look at it comprehensively, including whether they are people who have Buddhist wisdom, mercy, and convenience, and whether they are people with good personalities worthy of respect.

I would like to ask for your wisdom.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho

I think there are Taiwanese monks in Japan, but the reality is that there are many so-called Japanese-like monks that aren't the case.
In my case, I was already married before I became a monk, but even so, compared to the Buddha abandoning his wife and children and going to ascetic practice, I may not be prepared enough.
Maybe it's because I've given up on what will lead to my awakening in this world due to my weaknesses, abilities, circumstances, environment, etc.
Even though I've given up, I'm not laid-back. We are doing our best to the extent possible. I've kept my meat and alcohol lower than before I became a monk. The effort itself is an ascetic practice.
I'm not a monk who is very respected, but I think a monk who is respected is that kind of monk who consults people in need, helps people who are suffering, and is close to people who are sad.
So, in Japan, there are monks who are respected, and there are also monks that are not respected.
I think your failure to answer is proof that our work is still insufficient.
I will work hard so that you can answer naturally.

Nice to meet you, Ami.

Certainly, in Buddhism, there are many precepts, such as the Ten Good Precepts, the Ten Precepts, the Ten Precepts, the Ten Precepts, and the 48 Light Commandments, starting with the well-known Five Commandments “not killing, not stealing, not being delusional, and not drinking.”

It depends on the denomination or denomination to which they belong, and the time and period of their training, but many Japanese monks living in modern society take wives, eat meat, and drink alcohol.

Since it was mentioned in the Meiji period that “carnivorous wife belt hair storage etc. are selfish things, etc.,” it is ostensibly free, but in the Jodo Shinshu, there are teachings of Shinran Shonin, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu, and they have recognized it since ancient times.

However, even in other sects, there are monks who have been drinking alcohol since ancient times (that is, since the Nara period), and there is also a custom of drinking alcohol as medicine in cold regions, so it is not uniformly observed.

In the Shingon sect to which I belong, during ascetic practices, of course, meat, alcohol, and fellowship with women are cut off, but when the ascetic period is over, it will return to normal.
Even now, I often drink alcohol, kill meat, etc. for a period when entering waterfalls and mountains for personal training, but I usually have a normal diet.

> Japanese monks have relationships with women who eat and drink meat, so why are they respected for that? Isn't it just like ordinary people?

This is my answer when asked.

“Half of the answers are correct, but half are off.
Japanese monks (and lay Buddhists) receive a commandment called Sanjujokai (Sanjujokai).
One is the commandment not to do bad things. The two commandments are to do something good. Three are the precepts of trying to act for others. Also known as the Bodhisattva Commandment, or Mahayana, it is one of the precepts of Mahayana Buddhism, and Mahayana Bodhisattvas accept it both when they are monks and at home.
Also, in the first place, the meaning of receiving a commandment is that it is important to keep that commandment, but even more than that, it causes a sense of repentance (a heart of remorse). Also, the essence of the commandment is not to blindly drown in desire (control worries).

Whether they eat meat or drink alcohol or have a wife, there are many people you can respect, and people who save others and live for others. The opposite is also true.
An eye that sees through the essence. This is what really matters.”

Gassho (^ people ^)

It's nice to have a question with all kinds of perspectives like this!
I'm looking forward to other people's answers, but it also makes me think, so I'm going to participate.

One thing I thought was that Japanese monks don't become monks in order to be respected.
Certainly, in Japan in the old days, there were many people who also worked as doctors, participated in politics, and were respected as a result, but I don't think that's “because they want to be respected.”

The purpose of Buddhism (although there are many ways to say it) is enlightenment.
There isn't just one path to enlightenment.
I think there are paths that place importance on abstinence, and there are also paths where we go together.
I think this is the result of the natural development of Buddhism suitable for Japan and Taiwan for Taiwan.

Taiwanese Buddhism may not be familiar with it in Japan, and it may be difficult for Japanese Buddhists to live in Taiwan.
There is nothing wrong with the monk, and I think there is a greater power.

But the goal of enlightenment that Taiwanese Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism are aiming for should be the same.

My wife's old job had many foreigners, and since she was engaged to me, she was often asked this kind of question. This is a story I heard from my wife at the time.
“Isn't Buddhism in China (Taiwan in Ami's case) different from Buddhism in Southeast Asia, Tibet, and India? Similarly, Japan has its own Buddhism, and everyone is different. It's best to say that Japanese people have no choice but to think that's what it is... Regardless of other countries, people of Chinese descent think China is the world standard, so it's better to explain it like this rather than explain it in detail.”
Even in Christianity, Catholic priests are prohibited from carrying wives, and Protestant pastors are O.K., but recently there is a feeling that Catholic priests are being looked at rather with white eyes. Due to pedophilia issues... If it's a question of “why is it respected” rather than “yes or wrong,” there is no clear answer. “Fashion revolves around” is an essential final boss, too.

Now, let's start with a culture-shocking story that softens the brain.
Originally, there is no commandment prohibiting carnivorous eating in Buddhism. The original idea is “don't be stingy on what you get from alms.” However, from the viewpoint of immortality, it is a condition that they are “not designed for monks.” Reference: Three kinds of fresh meat. So meat that is shared or meat prepared for an unspecified number of people, such as meat from supermarkets, is usually OK.
Rather, it is clearly stated in the oldest collection of rules of the Theravada system called Quaterritsu (Shibadatta), that “the prohibition of eating meat was initiated by Daibadatta (a traitor corresponding to Christian Judas), but it was a problem because young monks were influenced by it.” Or even in the primitive sutras called Suttanipata, “Eating meat is not namagusa. It has been repeatedly explained that “touching someone else's wife or telling a lie is namagusa.”

Actually, Chinese Buddhism “prohibited religious people from eating meat by the Imperial Court's Code (law).” They controlled the monks by making them observe national laws rather than Buddhist precepts. The reality is that Japan also imported this, and it was prohibited by the Yoro Ritsuryo and the Sunnin Code during the Nara period. It's a story about how people are respected not for their logic, but for their images.

I also wanted to talk about the part where the precepts are getting stricter and the wife belt, but I omitted them due to character restrictions