Zen Dialogues

Reflections from Japan's Buddhist Traditions

Nothing is going well

Nothing has been going well for the past year or two. I'm heartbroken, my relationships break because things don't go well with my friends, and I'm being transferred against my will at work, so honestly, I'm mentally overwhelmed. Probably because of that, I don't know, but I often sleep all the...

4 responses

Shouldn't you believe in different denominations?

Hello. I was very moved when I came across the Heart Sutra when I was in middle school, and I am indebted to the temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect on New Year's. However, while studying Buddhism, I came across the term “Haijin Sanmai.” I really liked this phrase, which describes the Buddha's...

4 responses

is money good for offerings?

There is a temple where people come to pray every month. They were handing out sweets along with the offering. From now on, they said, “I don't need sweets, please increase the number of offerings instead.” The temple says that the temple earns little money, but they also have other jobs...

4 responses

Names that have a bad meaning for homophones

I'm indebted to you. I've discussed it with my son's name once before. At that time, we discussed what they regretted having used guesswork, but after reading the words you received, the original arrangement of the kanji was unique, but I also liked it, and my sense of regret was suppressed...

4 responses

Even though I'm married, I'm worried about my co-workers!!

Hello. We are a married man in his 30s The content seems like a joke, but it's a serious problem. There's a woman I'm interested in my current job. I don't think that person has a good personality, and I think they have ten faces, but they have very big breasts. I know I'm married, but...

4 responses

About SNS

What do monks think of SNS? I've always felt lonely. However, I wasn't good at socializing, partly because I had trouble communicating. I started a blog to get away from loneliness. Since then, socializing with people on the internet has become essential. Right now, I'm using Twitter and other...

4 responses

There was a past where she worked in the sex industry

I looked at her cell phone and discovered that she had been working in the sex industry until about 1 year ago. I was also considering getting married to her, and she promised me that I would never do that kind of work again. I love her, and the feeling that I can't help it doesn't change, but...

4 responses

Who is faith for?

I've been wondering a lot lately. What do monks believe for? For example, in order to believe and go to the Pure Land of Paradise (although it may change depending on denomination)... I think it's common for people who believe in religion to have good things and not so good things happen for...

4 responses

Have I made a mistake?

Thank you for your support this time too m (_ _) m This consultation is about mistakes made by my own immaturity. Right now, it looks like she's pregnant with a child whose child she doesn't know. It cannot be determined that proper tests will not be performed at the hospital in the near...

4 responses

Is death a bad thing?

Hello. I am very grateful for your words here when I lost my beloved cat to illness about a year and a half ago. Actually, there is another cat, and they are the sisters of the deceased child, but this one is now 9 years old My cat is nearing old age. I'm doing fine now without any...

4 responses

Should I directly complain to the temple?

I always enjoy reading it. I'm worried about the temple that has taken care of my great-grandmother's grave since her generation. About 20 years ago, the son of the chief priest finished his ascetic practice and began working at a temple. This son is a wonderful Osho who has also participated...

4 responses

Tragic events and Buddha's mercy

Thank you very much for your continued support. Also, there are times when I feel doubtful, so I would like to ask a question. I would be happy if you could give me some good advice. It's around this time today that indiscriminate killings and news of major natural disasters have been...

4 responses

I slapped my 4 year old daughter on the cheek

I'm worried about my daughter who cries a lot. My daughter has been crying a lot since she was a baby. During the period when my ego began to sprout, I was able to remove circular hair due to tantrums every day. Even so, I sympathize with my daughter's desire to do it herself, and I've raised her...

4 responses

Child's name name name judgment

I gave birth yesterday, and my oldest daughter is 1 month old. The older one is a boy. It's the girl I've been waiting for, and even before I became pregnant, I decided on a name with my husband and mother, saying that if it were my second girl, I'd like to name it this. Then, pregnancy and...

4 responses

What is the meaning of living as the value of living things declines?

Is there any point in living being 30 years old and living beings declining in value? Honestly, that's enough. Humans should have lived based on instincts, but modernization has led to an age of reason, and original desires have been suppressed, and Natsume Soseki said that the end of...

4 responses

About self-harm

Self-harm cannot be stopped. The precious body I received from my parents has been damaged in various ways. Really, the content is something you won't be able to regret. I can't stop self-harming due to the conflict that I hated myself for a long time and wanted to disappear, but I shouldn't...

4 responses

What are you studying for?

I'm attending a preparatory school, what have I been studying for lately? Is there any point in going to college when there's nothing I want to do? It just makes me think about things like that. What does the monk think studying means?

4 responses

About departure fees

I want to quit the temple I'm currently a parishioner and take care of a different temple. I've been indebted to them for generations, but when I asked for an eternal memorial service since there were no heirs to the tomb, it was an amount I couldn't pay, so I would like to take care of them at...

4 responses

Jobs related to Buddhism

Hello. I'm currently in my 3rd year of high school, and I'm thinking of leaving home to take the Kyoto University Department of Buddhism. It's not a temple house, but my high school is a Buddhist high school, and I wanted to learn Buddhism in more detail as I learned the teachings in class, so...

4 responses

About denominations.

My family is the Jodo Shinshu sect, but recently I've been interested in the teachings of the Shingon sect. Personally, isn't there a problem with the Shingon sect being a sect?

4 responses

page 1