Live show part two: nembutsu and music

In the second installment of our live show, we answer two listener questions. First, we received a question about Shin Buddhist nembutsu practice and the concern that chanting the nembutsu might be something of a crutch, that while making one more calm it might distract us from very real world social problems. We frame this… Continue reading Live show part two: nembutsu and music

Live show part one: cosmology

Our second live recording -- actually live this time and broadcast via webstream across the Internets -- was recorded in the lobby of the Jodo Shinshu Center. This is the first installment of that day's recording. Our jumping-off point is our previous conversations about science fiction and Buddhism, focusing here on the issue of cosmology… Continue reading Live show part one: cosmology

Live show part four: marriage and politics

In the final episode of our first live broadcast, we tackle more audience questions. To get things started, we field a question about the BCA's official position on same-sex marriage (a big shout out to Rev. Briones' officiating at the wedding of George Takei and Brad Altman!). This bounces us around some questions regarding BCA's… Continue reading Live show part four: marriage and politics

Live show part three: abortion and shinjin

In part of three of the live show series, our first question has to do with Shin Buddhism's stance on aborted fetuses. Scott cleverly ducks the question but Harry provides some interesting insight into the Japanese ritual of mizuko kuyo (water baby ceremony) and the efficacy of ritual in Shin Buddhist context. Our second question… Continue reading Live show part three: abortion and shinjin

Live show part two: rants

In the second installment of our Live Show, we start off talking about the distinctiveness of Shin Buddhism and its difference and similarities to other types of Buddhism. This somehow sets us off on a series of rants against, among other things, The Golden Chain and universalistic Buddhism. (Our apologies to Golden Chain or One… Continue reading Live show part two: rants

First live show: a certain reality

On Friday October 2, we did our first recording before a live studio audience. Setting up in the Kodo of the Jodo Shinshu Center, Harry and I did a little live mixing of our theme music before launching into a regular podcast, this one inspired by a listener question. The question? What's the Pure Land?… Continue reading First live show: a certain reality