Zen Dialogues

Reflections from Japan's Buddhist Traditions

If I made a mistake and prayed to the devil

While praying to God, I thought of the devil in my head, so I prayed. Regardless of what I prayed for, the devil thinks I made a deal and if I die, will I fall into hell? Or is that not the case in particular since I just thought of it with my brain? I'm uneasy

4 responses

I want to be able to search for things I need to do

There are times when I can't see what's around me. If it's inside the house, not only do you forget to immediately replace the contents of your bag after you get home, forget to put away the clothes you have taken off and dried before going to bed, or forgetting to close the window even though...

4 responses

Things to put in a coffin

My grandfather's funeral was held the other day. When I put it in the coffin, I put it in the coffin so that I would hang my grandfather's black crest, but is this common? I felt like it wasn't there when my maternal grandfather passed away... I didn't fold it up and put it in, and I was...

4 responses

It's been 2 years since I changed jobs

It's been 2 years since I changed jobs We have consulted here before. After all, the corporate culture doesn't match? Since it is an office with a small number of people, relationships tend to be close no matter what. Even while I'm at work, we occasionally chat, so what are we going to do...

4 responses

It's painful just denying myself

I'm a college student who entered the university of my first choice this spring. I've managed to get through my university life so far, but I'm always struck by a sense of anxiety and emptiness. I'm depressed every day because I compare myself to others. Whether it's thinking about something...

4 responses

It's Shinitai

I think I want to die even though I don't have the courage or tools to die. He's just a normal person. What about the exterior I can't tell my parents everything about how melancholy and happy come alternately during the day and that they cry every day Is there any point in me being alive? You...

5 responses

How to restore a marital relationship

I'm having trouble with my relationship with my husband and would like some advice. We've been married for about 5 years. My husband seems to be thinking about an affair or divorce recently, and every day is so uneasy that I wake up with palpitations every day. What made me notice was that...

5 responses

Will training make you able to handle souls?

When the tomb was built, they were asked to do something like an initiation ceremony. Is it OK to be able to handle souls after practicing ascetic practices? Does it mean that monks practice ascetic practices to acquire such special abilities?

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I haven't stopped being frustrated since I worked

I joined the company as a new graduate, but every day I just got scolded for my failure. Maybe that was the cause, and after working, I began to feel angry at trivial things. I feel angry about things I didn't care about before, such as the person in front of me walking slowly, and the LINE I...

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My own failure

When I was in the 5th grade of elementary school, when the kids in my class stepped on both ends of the broom while cleaning, I was hanging a rag, and my finger was stepped on by that broom. They didn't apologize even when I said it was painful, and I didn't like that kid anymore. After that,...

4 responses

Are there exchanges between monks and priests?

I'm curious, so let me ask you a question. Do Japanese monks ever gather with monks from temples around the world to hold exchange meetings? (online or something) One more thing, are there exchanges between Shinto priests and monks at each shrine? I think it depends on the temple or shrine,...

4 responses

What is a good way to have a good relationship with your family.

Nice to meet you. We are in our 30s. I live with my older wife, daughter who will be 1 year old this year, and 1 cat. I changed jobs and moved just recently because my income and living expenses aren't commensurate. The background is like this. My problem is how to deal with my wife and...

4 responses

Every day is painful

I just changed jobs and it's hard every day. It's closer than my previous job, but commuting was terribly exhausting due to transfers and congestion, making it harder than before. There weren't many jobs in my previous job, and my employment quota changed, and I changed jobs to make more useful...

4 responses

Keeping the commandments

There are “precepts” in Buddhist teachings, so why must they be followed? I work for a regular company, and I have a longing for monks who keep the precepts. I also have a feeling that I want to become a monk. But it's hard to take the first step. Previously, when I asked questions about...

4 responses

I'm afraid of life and myself

Hello. I'm afraid of life. This is because people can die easily. By jumping off a rooftop or jumping into a railroad track. I'm afraid of such an unfortunate, ephemeral life. Why are we living such lives now even though we die? If you want to die, you can die anytime, so I wonder why...

4 responses

where do people go when they die?

Go to heaven or hell. Being born again becomes a new life. I've also heard that if it's cremated, it becomes a ghost, and if it's a burial, it becomes a zombie. Life after death. I'm sure it's a world you won't understand as long as you live. However, it is precisely because we are alive...

4 responses

Is child-making a parent's ego?

I came up with the idea that it wasn't my parents' ego that I was born in the first place. My parents have an arranged marriage. The two found a partner through matchmaking, even though I don't know why, whether it's for financial reasons, or if they just want children or a family. It's...

4 responses

Do I need a driver's license, computer operation, or anything else to become a monk?

My name is Harusora and I want to become a monk in the future. It goes without saying that devotion to and learning about Buddhism is essential for becoming a monk, but are there any other skills (or are better) required? It seems that a car is necessary for traveling at memorial...

4 responses

I got into a fight with my friend

The beginning was that until then, we had been communicating on LINE, etc., but suddenly communication became normal. I wanted at least one report from there, but I left it as it was for a while, wondering if there was some reason why they didn't dare to contact me. The promised day to play was...

4 responses

It's unbearably painful due to regret.

I lost an important person last fall. Since then, it's been so painful that it's been unbearable. I'm just that person's work colleague, so there's nothing I can do. I'm married, and I loved that person. I just liked it and didn't mean to say anything. There was a time when the workplace...

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