Zen Dialogues

Reflections from Japan's Buddhist Traditions

Is reading sutras a laughing matter

Unlike the usual serious consultations, this is a slightly relaxing question. Hiroshi is a comedian, isn't he? Among his stories, he said, “It's Hiroshi. There is a saying, “Every day at a fixed time, you can hear the sutras from the next room,” but how does that make the monks feel when they...

5 responses

I don't want to sell the house I love.

Hello. My husband's business failed and I got into debt, so I love the house I live in now I had to sell it and let go. It's hard to come to terms with my feelings, I'm filled with sad feelings. My husband blamed me after this happened, We also had a lot of fights. I also thought about...

5 responses

Weakly intentioned

My intentions are really weak, and I've been worried all the time. Even if it's a decision, I procrastinate, put it off, such as let's do my best from tomorrow, and even cause trouble to people around me because it's work or private time. I'd like to hear some words. I look forward to working...

5 responses

I don't know if I should get divorced like this

Thank you for taking the time. I don't understand my feelings, so I'm going to ask you a question. Question content/is it better to get divorced? I don't understand my own feelings. I've been married for 15 years, and I'm in love with my affair partner and I'm thinking about getting...

5 responses

I wonder if the original premise of Buddhism is wrong

I'm a temple son, and I often say, “Let's pray to the Buddha to get out of this difficult world. My father explained, “If you do that, you will be saved in the next life.” However, when I was a kid, I thought, “Well, is it painful when you're traveling with your family too?” When asked, the...

5 responses

I'm thinking about becoming a monk

I graduated from graduate school at the Faculty of Science until now, and now I'm working as an engineer, but I'm thinking about becoming a priest. The reason is that I have been thinking for the past few years that I want to understand myself, to know the truth of this world, and to contribute...

5 responses

homeless people

As I walk around town, I sometimes see people who seem homeless. So, I know that's rude, but I have a question. Why are monks blessed with food, clothing, and shelter (they seem to be blessed. (Sweat) Wouldn't it help people who are homeless or in debt...? Monks may also be cutting back...

5 responses

Is AI a Buddha

Automatic sentence generation AI, such as ChatGPT, is an AI that learns based on huge amounts of sentence data and automatically generates optimal sentences following the previous context. Since it itself is a program, it has no intention or life, but it derives optimal sentences based on much...

5 responses

What is enlightenment?

Please tell me about enlightenment. Is training your mind enlightenment? Is it about making the mind grow? Is it about accepting what happens to you and acting on it? Is it about self-controlling so that you don't understand the various emotions that spring up in your heart? What does that...

5 responses

Am I qualified to be a Jodo sect believer

I believe in the Jodo sect, but I came across shocking literature the other day. In the collection of the names of the nembutsu of the two ancestors, Seikofusa Bencho Shonin “Calling the last act of death is too much an important rule for the first term. I soon learned that people in the...

5 responses

Assuming there was simultaneous euthanasia gas all over the world

　This is a radical proposition, a thought experiment, and my desire. My desire is for all kinds of life to die out in an instant, and at the same time, without any suffering. I am truly disappointed in this world, and I strongly desire a break away from the substance called the body. I can't...

5 responses

Is this world really all suffering?

　I think there is a Buddhist teaching that everything is suffering, but I usually enjoy life. This pain seems to mean that things don't go the way you want, but for example, if you want to turn on the TV, you can turn it on. I don't think at all at this point. If everyone is in trouble in the...

5 responses

What is the driving force behind kindness?

Answer I would like to ask what motivates the kindness of the monks. I looked at Hasunoha in its entirety from the previous question, and I saw many examples where there was no thanks from the questioner even when the responding monk answered sincerely. Also, there were monks who wrote “I have...

5 responses

Temple heir

I'm the oldest son of the temple. Since ancient times, people have been told that they want them to be heirs of the temple, and I have lived my life. However, they didn't want to take over, and they worried about that and became truant in high school. I went to college at a place related to...

5 responses

I will commit suicide on New Year's.

This fall, I was diagnosed with depression, took a leave of absence for about 1 month, and now I have returned to work. However, it is a very, very uncomfortable state due to the current situation where careful work arrangements are causing trouble to those around them. (I don't really care...

5 responses

Recommended books for beginners studying Buddhism

Thank you for always taking the time to consult with us. I spend my days feeling convinced, impressed, and healed not only by the answers to my own consultations, but also by seeing the monk's answers to other people. Let me express my sincere appreciation and respect. I'm not going to go so...

5 responses

I made the monk angry

I made the monk angry. I sent an email to the monk about a certain problem. He has a troublesome personality, so he e-mailed me many times and gave me advice. The other day, I received an email from that person saying “even 1 yen is fine, so please pay” and “or stay friends from now...

5 responses

Memorial service for ancestors who are suffering in hell

If bad thoughts just before death go on endlessly in that world, and you have fallen into a child's path or hell, what kind of memorial service should you do? It is essential to offer meals in the morning and evening. In the end, they probably have no choice but to give up on their own...

5 responses

Temple Bride

It's a remarriage between divorced women. There were no children from my previous marriage. I met my current husband through a friend's introduction. My husband is the chief priest of the temple, and I am a member of the temple family. Since the beginning of our marriage, we have managed to...

5 responses

About the monks and chief priests

Good evening. I would like to ask you a question that is very difficult to say. I am interested in Buddhism (history, cultural properties, doctrine, etc.), and would like to talk with monks of the same generation. If I have a relationship, I would like to be in a relationship with that...

5 responses

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