You look younger than your real age

My hobby was visiting temples even before I got married, and I had a hobby that wasn't appropriate for my age, where I was looking forward to puja sessions and special visits.

Once a year in Kyoto and Nara, I usually go out to places like Kamakura on my days off.

I don't know if my childhood is overlooked due to my age, or if my childhood is overlooked for my age, but when I go to a temple to collect admission fees and worship fees, or when I copy sutras and ask for a payment book (I go there at a time where I have common sense), monks and temple people look bothersome from my point of view, and what do you know? There have been times when I was given a face that looked like that.

I'm interested in Buddhism, and there are things I still don't understand at the temple where I went to zazen sessions, so I want to know more about it, so are there any books you recommend? When I talked to him, I was tempted to smoke and even quit zazen sessions.

Did you actually write the sutras, even though you went there? There were times when I was uncomfortable, such as being questioned, and being surprised when I wrote it up first at the Shokai.

Anyone can go to the temple, right?
I didn't go during a particularly busy period, nor did I go there on a day when there was a memorial service etc.

But I wanted to smoke. Can't I go if I go because I'm young? If I'm old, is it appropriate for my age?

I visited places that accepted me many times, and I also went to puja sessions every month.

Well, among the people who come, they are young, so they can't donate large sums of money, but I don't want to be judged by their appearance. (I've never gone to pray in this crazy fashion.)

Is it because you're not a parishioner even when you're praying with rosaries or incense sticks out of your bag? They make a disgusting face, and they look like they're writing a disgusting account book.

To put it bluntly, I really think it would have been nice to ask someone who had such an attitude at least once about why.

5 Zen Responses

bothersome characters?

Well, to be honest, there is a possibility that it will be bothersome.
In short, amateurs who blindly seek knowledge tend to annoy people who actually do that work.
There are people who ask geeky questions because they just want to know without clarifying the purpose of what they want to use that knowledge for.
I work as a civil servant in the countryside,
For example, people who have immigrated from the city say, “This is common sense in the city, but is this level in the countryside?” To the point of saying that, they even asked questions about systems unrelated to that person's life,
A person claiming to be a lawyer said, “This system is definitely ◯◯, isn't it? So, by the way, what happened to this one here?”
If you ask a question without any particular purpose (casually coming to another window even though it came as a separate case),
It's creepy (I feel like I'm testing my strength), and it can be bothersome.

First, why don't you express why you want to learn Buddhism and give off the aura of “I'm just an amateur with no harm” so as not to be alarmed?

It's a sales smile

Most monks don't want to smoke people like Namu-san, and they don't change their attitudes due to age, whether they are religious members, etc., but it just so happened that there were people who had an overtly unpleasant attitude. I'm very sorry that you felt so uncomfortable during this fun prayer. As the same monk, I apologize.

Incidentally, there is always smoke from incense sticks etc. in temples, so the boy basically has a smoky face. Also, for us, what corresponds to a fast food sales smile is an expression of philosophical agony (see portrait of Beethoven in the music room). From now on, I hope you can just think, “Oh, this person also did their best to get wrinkles between their eyebrows.”

If you answer the question

Tonight is a long time coming. How are you?

“Anyone can go to the temple, right?” “Yes, that's fine.”

I am very happy when young people come to pray.

There's nothing you should enjoy from a young age like Buddhism.
Please feel free to pray.

Did the other person really say that

Based on the trend of consultations up until now, I feel that Namu has a strong tendency to have strong “subjectivity” about things.
Isn't that just what “I” (Namu-san) felt”?
Has it been confirmed by the person himself?
Are you sharing your own “subjectivity” and dealing only with “subjectivity”?
Instead of believing in “Buddha” or “Buddhism,” don't you believe in “your own interpretation”?
For Namu-san alone, really being “Namu” would mean leaving that kind of personal opinion, subjectivity, and private opinion. (^<^)
What all sects of Buddhism have in common is probably leaving “selfish self ego and one's own personal way of looking at things.” (^<^)　

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