Zen Dialogues

Reflections from Japan's Buddhist Traditions

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

Isn't Buddhism contradictory?

When I talked to a monk about my worries at a temple in the past, I was deeply hurt by being told heartless words. When I told them that I was hurt by my remarks, I was blamed for saying that it was because I was worried and because I thought I was absolutely right. That's you too, right? If I...

5 responses

I want to talk with monks of the same generation.

I'm indebted to you. I'm a single woman, but I'd like to talk about Buddhist studies (history, Buddhist scriptures, etc.) with monks of the same age. I'm also interested in history and cultural assets. I'm sorry for the inconvenience if you go directly to the temple and talk about that kind...

5 responses

I have a question about people who work at temples

I often see characters working at temples in games, books, and creations. I also write creative works, and some questions have arisen about temples, so I would appreciate it if you could answer them. 1. A story about monks being hereditary My parents are monks, so I'm going to become a...

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Is the feeling of enjoying good deeds bad?

As a club activity, I volunteer to pick up trash, and I was able to get along with my club mates and find fun when picking up trash. However, I was told something like this from within my peers Picking up trash and volunteering is charity The purpose is to save people and the environment in...

5 responses

Do you think aliens exist?

I'm sorry for asking such a strange question all of a sudden, Do monks believe in aliens? Whether it's from a Buddhist point of view or the sense of a monk, anything is fine, so I definitely want you to listen to it. Also, if aliens exist, is it possible for aliens to become...

5 responses

A religion without salvation

I don't know much about Buddhism at all. However, I was told this the other day by an acquaintance who had quit Buddhism. Everything is suffering, four hardships and eight hardships, all acts are impermanent... I understand that Buddhism is a religion that just takes things for granted, and...

5 responses

I don't want to work part-time

I'm a college student, and I don't want to work part-time because my hands are full of school. However, I want transportation expenses, companionship expenses, and money to do things I like and buy things. My family tells me to work part-time if they want money, but just thinking that I have to...

5 responses

About committing suicide leaving a child

I'm living with 3 people: a boy who will soon be 2 years old and his husband. My husband and wife are on good terms, and I love my children more than anyone else. There is no cause for particular worry, such as financial anxiety. Just a normal happy family. While my desire to die becomes...

5 responses

Will I be unhappy in the next life if I commit suicide?

A monk says that Buddha explained suicide from the source, “Even if you commit suicide, you will be a loser in life, and you will be unhappy in the next life,” but did Buddha really preach that way?

5 responses

What is attaining Buddhism.

(From the Editorial Department. (Part of the post has been changed) My boyfriend belongs to a religion, The Buddha's power died out about 2000 years ago. So even if you ask a monk to do something, you won't be able to attain Buddhism. They say that only those who believe in the Lord Seishonin...

5 responses

is it that great?

Hello. I'm currently doing funeral-related work. The attitude (towards this side) of the monks and priests who come there? I feel like he's a big guy. It's like “I'm here”... Rarely, there are people who aren't like that, Am I thinking too much? They are also undergoing training,...

5 responses

Are memorial services bad for ancestors?

The other day, I wanted to know about my “ancestors,” so I started making a family tree. Then my maternal grandfather's mother (my great-grandmother) was unenrolled. My great-grandmother had a torii gate at her home, and I heard from my real mother that she was close to a so-called psychic. I...

5 responses

About the Parishioners Pledge

My father passed away, and when the ashes were buried, my ancestors requested that I fill out and seal something called an admission invoice. When I checked the details, everything related to money, such as membership fees, fire insurance premiums, separation fees, etc., was only “separately...

5 responses

Please tell me why sutras are used as memorial services.

Why does reading sutras lead to memorial services for ancestors and Buddha related to oneself? While being severely punished, I had such a question. If I were to give an example, I think that in the Nichiren sect, people read the Lotus Sutra and perform memorial services for ancestors. The...

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Questions for people who turned around and became monks

Nice to meet you, I'm starting to have feelings that I can't digest on my own. I hope you can answer my questions when you have time. The other day, when I introduced Hasunoha to my relatives, saying, “There is a site where monks can consult,” I thought that my relatives muttered “there are...

5 responses

Will I never win the lottery?

As the title says. It's often said that if you don't buy a lottery ticket, you won't win, but even if you do, you definitely won't win, right? My husband said that even if I bought a lottery ticket, I would never win. The person in question is the manager and it's Sakura... So even if you...

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