Tiny Thinker's blog is well worth reading!
http://peacefulturmoil.blogspot.com

At Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley

Photos by Al Billings

16th & 23rd Sept Events

In Berkeley on these 2 Tuesday evenings, I will host free events at the new Jodo Shinshu Center on 2140 Durant Ave, one block from the UC campus. The hour and a half from 7PM to 8:30PM will be portioned about 20 min for tea and welcome, 20 min for a Japanese chanting service with voluntary participation, 30 min for a Dharma talk, and 20 min for questions and discussion.

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SEPTEMBER 16
SAICHO AND ENNIN ~ UNIQUE AND ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE TENDAI FOUNDERS
The religious environment they established allowed for spiritual growth in all directions and fostered a wide range of experiences based individual priests' studies and inclinations. Tendai was able to include Vajrayana practices, the teachings of various Mahayana sutras, Zen meditation (shamatha and vipasyana), Chinese traditions, Pureland beliefs, bodhisattva precepts, and a unique mountain-circling ascetic practice called Kaihogyo.

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SEPTEMBER 23

TENDAI TODAI ~ RELEVANT AND USEFUL

During 1200 years of twists and turns of Japanese history, Tendai has carefully preserved its variety of teachings and arts, so that today both laymen and monks find the benefits in this world as well as the other world. In these times of rapid change and an uncertain future, Buddhism including Tendai can provide a solid and reliable guide for those who study and practice the Dharma.

The True Artist of Life

One of the teachings I've received is "Die before you die." In the writings of D. T. Suzuki, there is a good explanation of this message, beginning with a poem of Bunan, a Zen master of the 17th century.

WHILE ALIVE

BE A DEAD MAN,

THOROUGHLY DEAD;

AND ACT AS YOU WILL,

AND ALL IS GOOD.

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TO LOVE GOD IS TO HAVE NO SELF, TO BE OF NO-MIND, TO BECOME "A DEAD MAN," TO BE FREE FROM THE CONSTRICTIVE MOTIVATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. THIS MAN'S "GOOD MORNING" HAS NO HUMAN ELEMENT OF ANY KIND OF VESTED INTEREST. HE IS ADDRESSED AND HE RESPONDS. HE FEELS HUNGRY AND HE EATS. SUPERFICIALLY, HE IS A NATURAL MAN, COMING RIGHT OUT OF NATURE WITH NO COMPLICATED IDEOLOGIES OF MODERN CIVILIZED MAN. BUT HOW RICH HIS INWARD LIFE IS! BECAUSE IT IS IN DIRECT COMMUNION WITH THE GREAT UNCONSCIOUS.

ONE OF THE GREAT MASTERS OF THE T'ANG SAYS: "WITH A MAN WHO IS MASTER OF HIMSELF WHEREVER HE MAY BE FOUND HE BEHAVES TRULY TO HIMSELF." THIS MAN I CALL A TRUE ARTIST OF LIFE.