The sutras belong to a high priest

There are many dojos all over the country where you can write sutras. And most of the people who copy sutras there are ordinary people. Nonetheless, anyone would feel uneasy if a friend or acquaintance said such a thing. Even in Buddhism, depending on the sect, there are also groups that actively keep away from ascetic practice itself, and maybe those teachings are followed.

Sakuyu, please feel free to copy the sutras. However, if relationships with friends and acquaintances don't go well because of that, it's over the horse, so it might be better to be told at some point, “I heard from a monk, 'Whoever can do it'.”

Sakuyu, it's been a while.
I'm Tetsuya Urakami from Nagomi-an.

I read this question, heard the words of an acquaintance, and ended up being a bit (-_-#).
How deep knowledge about Buddhism does that acquaintance have?
When it comes to religious matters, there are many people who say that their own assumptions are common sense, even though they have almost no knowledge!
... and I can't help getting angry at Sakuyu, I'm sorry m (_ _) m

Now, back to the main subject, there are various reasons for copying sutras, such as praying or learning, depending on the sect.
But originally, in the days when there was no printing technology, people borrowed sutras from their masters and monks, copied them, and returned the original. In short, I was doing it to get my own personal sutras.

As an aside, in modern times (although there have been fewer these days), craftsmen with fusuma and shoji are called “priests.” This is like a craftsman who was originally asked to transcribe sutras by a high-ranking monk (not a highly virtuous monk). High priests are by no means the only ones who copy sutras.

I think they also hold shakyo events at nearby temples and, in some cases, places like cultural centers, so why not sign up without feeling too bothered.
Incidentally, I was asked by a public facility nearby to be a lecturer for the Shakei Association.
http://753an.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2013-10-22

They were sold at a 100 yen shop in my neighborhood. There is also a brush pen next to it.
200 yen for a set.
You can't write sutras, Buddhism, or philosophy because someone else would own them.
Don't do it because they'll enshrine it in a high place.
Neither God nor Buddha are in such a high place. It's not at the bottom.
You and I are in that ocean.
Sha sutras should also be more familiar to people in the world.
There are passers-by and there are also people who sanctify them, but it's not something that should be worshipped. It would be better to ignore it (^o^)
I'm also a member of the Soto sect, and the best way to write sutras is the Josekyo.
There is no sutra called the Nyozekyo.
The true meaning of sutras is not that there is no use for letters, but right here right now, right here right now, the truth in front of you, this is it. It shows the truth in front of you.
This is called Jozekyo.
When you copy the sutras, the world becomes a feast.
However, you can't just end up writing letters.
When sutras are recited, the whole world feasts.
However, it's no good to read letters or words.
When you nembutsu, the whole world is in for a feast.
However, you can't draw your own selfish idiots.
When you zazen, the whole world feasts.
However, it's no good to stick to the swirl shape or try to get Iemon.
“Do not read the Josekyo Sutra”
There is no sutra more wonderful than the sutra called “reality” right in front of you.
It's not that you can't copy the sutras.
When I want to look at the moon, no one sees a hand or finger showing beyond it.
So I'm just saying look at that thing indicated by “it” in This is it.
The destination of the sutras is here, here, the fact in front of you, the truth.

I think the meaning of writing the sutras will change depending on the purpose. At our hospital, in order to seek it, we are proceeding with the copying of sutras under the title “Petit ascetic practice” so that you can experience it first.
I do it with the hope that you can relax, look back at yourself, and live with a new feeling in the quiet space of the temple.
In this day and age, it seems that there is no time or place to do anything quietly. Furthermore, it seems that the number of people who cannot concentrate on one thing is increasing.

Incidentally, at the nursery school managed by our hospital, kindergarten children copy the “Heart Sutra.” After reciting the sutras together, we will write for about 30 minutes. The reason is that I want children to concentrate on one thing, a “kind heart” and a “grateful heart,” and do it with the desire to cultivate a “compassionate heart.” Of course, since I'm a kindergarten kid, I don't know the kanji, and I don't understand the meaning. What's more, I can't even use a brush. I'm tracing with a pencil. Also, when I graduate, I am asked to write my future dreams, and I dedicate it to the principal image for a permanent period of time. The kindergarten children also wrote quietly for 30 minutes.

I think everything is a challenge. If there is something you can do or want to do, I think you can do it. However, if you do something big right from the beginning, I don't think it will last long.
Also, I think the attitude of quietly copying sutras in front of the Buddha is important.

Please try it out.

Hello, Sakuyu.
First, the answer is “copy the sutras.” Please try copying the sutras. In the age of the internet, if you search for places where you can teach, places where you can experience copying sutras, and places where you can dedicate, you're sure to find them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also, Sakuyu has a good friend.
I also have friends and seniors around me who take care of me in various ways based on their own ideas.
But there are no juniors among them (probably because they aren't liked...).

My friends and seniors are like that.
Actually, before I think “thank you so much for being kind,” I first feel “extra indebted to you.” It's frustrating. Hi hey, that's probably your way of thinking; I'll ask for now, but I don't know.

Why are you so annoyed? are you being led astray? Does Sakuyu ask questions?
I think it's because it's unexpected or it shakes my thoughts. Maybe it's because they've been stabbed in a painful place, or brought up a new point of view.
This fact is not a bad thing.

... I wonder what this friend said. Please don't decide that those who mislead people are bad either, but please try to experience it and share your impressions.

this is a friend who says interesting things~
To do good things, to do the right thing, to accumulate merits, what is a mess...

All of the respondents are right.
Please proudly copy the sutras.
If it is in accordance with Buddhist law, that is fine.

Sakuyu-sama

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

As Mr. Urakami said, there was no printing technology in the past, so copying the characters of the sutras on paper with a brush was used for studying and reciting sutras, and as sutras spread through this “shakyo,” Buddhist teachings also spread to various regions. In particular, many sutras were copied by the monks who went to mainland China to study Buddhism as envoys to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, so Buddhism was brought to Japan.

As an authority on the merits of transcribing sutras, there is “... acceptance, reading, interpretation, explanation, and writing of the Myōhō Ke Sutra...” in Hokke Sutra and Hoshibin 10, I believe that from where merits in writing are explained, eventually, the meaning of profit (riyaku), memorial service, or prayer was also included.

However, I believe that in order not only to “copy the sutras” mechanically and operationally, but in order to turn it into a true merit, profit, and memorial service, it is still most important to have a firm understanding of the content and put that teaching into practice.

In the sutras, the “Heart Sutra” is the most familiar and famous, but how many people actually understand what its content is, and can it be said that it has been put into practice based on that teaching... I think there are places that are extremely strict even though it is unauthorised.

Of course, it is actually difficult to fully understand the idea of “sky” described in the Heart Sutra, but it is extremely important in defeating ignorance (fundamental ignorance) and distress, which is the cause of our hesitation and suffering.

By all means, I would be happy if you could not only “copy the sutras,” but also thoroughly study and examine what kind of content it actually has, actually make use of that teaching as your own, and connect it to merit (accumulation of good deeds).

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho

To Sakuyu-sama

Not only monks were allowed to write sutras
It is something that many people can participate in.

So of course, Toyama is also
You can participate at many temples.
Also, it is an age where many books are lined up in bookstores.

Be sure to cherish this relationship
Why don't you try doing it? Gassho