Why did you choose Buddhism?

That's a very nice question. As a person who lives as a monk, it is very encouraging that they think of such things. Thank you very much.

First, why did you choose Buddhism?
This is because Buddhism is a comprehensive discipline of the world of mind.
Of course, I also study philosophy and other religions. However, there is no teaching other than Buddhism about facing one's own inner world, confronting problems, and putting them into practice to save others.
Buddhism does not depend on God, others, or the environment.
I will push through a completely dark world of trouble, relying only on the lights of “teaching” and “myself learning the teachings.” There is also the convenience of relying on the Buddha and asking the Buddha for salvation, but basically “truth itself” is the summit called Buddha, and Shakyamuni's “teachings” who explained that path are like that mountain trail.

Buddhism also thinks philosophically.
Like Christianity, it also saves others.
Like scientists, they also pursue the truth about everything.
They also meditate to face themselves.

Kobo Daishi Kukai said, “Buddhism is not far away; it is in the heart and is very close.”
By facing your inner self to the ultimate, you can reach the truth without scientific proof. And they don't just use it to make it their own; they use it to save others. This is the good thing about Buddhism. Realist and benevolent.
While saying that the world is full of suffering, they say “the world is beautiful.” Buddhism is the opposite of nihilism.

I was struck by that kind of Buddhism.
Reciting sutras and giving a funeral is only a small part of a monk's motto.
Facing myself, how can we all be happy...
Thinking about it all the time is a monk's way of life.

　Why do we continue to learn and practice Buddhism? It is to save and free all sentient beings from reincarnation.
As you mentioned in your question, “what is happiness” is a topic that has been discussed universally, whether in the West or the East. When thinking about happiness, most ideas think of “me in this world” as the subject. They don't distinguish between self and others, and I think there are discussions about the concept of “happiness,” but even so, basically, there are implicit assumptions such as “how happy I am in this world.”

However, in the world of reincarnation, we are born and die repeatedly. Even if we are happy in this world, we don't know what will happen in the next life. And as long as we stay in this reincarnation world, we will always have birth, old age, illness, and death waiting for us, and we will continue to experience suffering.
Buddhism aims to break away from that world of suffering. In Buddhism, it is possible to search for the root cause that continues to be bound by reincarnation and how to eliminate it. Then, along with that idea, epistemology, ontology, and time theory are discussed.
Therefore, when I think about what happiness is, I think it is freeing from reincarnation, and I learn and practice Buddhist ideas.

Also, there is no such thing as “you can learn philosophy as an individual, but from the standpoint of being a monk, you won't be able to outwardly say anything contrary to the teachings of Buddhism”. If you think something is wrong with Buddhism, it is something that should be discussed thoroughly. However, it is something you can't do without studying Buddhism quite a bit...

Japanese language, mathematics, science, social studies, English, physical education, music, technology, home economics, art,,
Medicine, psychology, literature, economics, architecture, astronomy,
sociology, cultural anthropology, engineering, physics, law,
welfare, education, business...

well, anything is fine.
Anyway, I am convinced that Buddhism is the “foundation of all studies.”

Tuchigami-sama

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

Rather than choosing it, does it mean a relationship with the Buddha?

Incidentally, “everything is auspicious and empty” is an important view in Buddhist philosophy.

Even in the time of Shakyamuni, there were representative thinkers called Rokushigaido, and no matter what kind of ideology or philosophy up to the present day, there are places where I am truly overwhelmed by the truth that Shakyamuni explained and shown, although it is just a matter of time.

In the philosophy of thought and philosophy of Buddhism, rather than “believing” it, you probably want to learn that truth by truly proceeding with your own ascetic practices.

By all means, as a reference for that truth, I would be grateful if you could learn about the middle philosophy from Master Dragon Tree's “Fundamental Theory” to Tsongkapa's “Secret Clarification,” and the two truths (two truths) shown by Buddhism: secular abandonment and victory and devotion.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho

I think most of the religions that exist in the world are made up of stories created and created by humans. I think there are such things in the field of Buddhism as well.
Can you identify something that isn't it?
Things created by humans are creations, no matter how far.
The worldview developed by thoughts and thoughts is limited because it was thought up by living people no matter how far it goes.
We are bound by human-made conditionals.
Only someone wins. Only we are right. Evil is all around. Breaking that rule is taboo.
I became steeped in such ideas and principles.
With that, I don't think it's possible to guide people all over the world to an equal sense of peace.
Zen Buddhism has no thoughts or principles.
Thoughts and principles are “thoughts” and “things drawn by humans with their heads.”
Then, people who don't agree with that idea, people who are ashamed, and people who are rational cannot be saved.
I think there is a strong sense of cohesion among people who can sympathize with that idea.
The Buddha was able to gain enlightenment through his consistent nakedness.
Nor did they study anything with a Buddhist book in one hand like modern monks.
They don't have anything, they don't do anything, they don't grab anything.
I was able to abandon even the idea of Buddhism (because there are ideas similar to ideas) and become “truly just a person.”
The ultimate person is the Buddha, the Wise, and the Daigokuji.
A heart that is saved from all kinds of suffering and can also be freed from one's own thoughts.
This is something anyone can get.
It's valuable because everyone can get it.
I believe that it has the power to save people all over the world precisely because no one made it.
If the content says that people of that denomination cannot be saved, or that people of that religion cannot be saved, it is an ideology or principle.
Buddhism also has something called “Buddhist thought.”
The original form of Buddhism is “not thought.”
If you don't understand that the original Buddhism is not an idea, you won't be able to grasp the true meaning of Buddhism.
Buddhism of thought was compiled by Buddhist scholars.
There are no principles or ideas in Buddhism, which is the origin of Shakyamuni, or Buddhism, which is the origin of Dogen Zenji.
For that reason, Dogen Zenji even said, “You can call it the Zen sect or the Soto sect.”
Normally, they probably have sectarian guts or their own sectarian sentiment, but they don't even have that. Pure Buddhism does not involve human thought or principles.