I haven't posted in a long time. I've got ideas that I want to write about, including further reflections on itadakimasu, Buddhist music, and the difficulty of explaining Buddhism. But either I've been too busy or just haven't felt inspired. Actually, I think maybe recording two podcasts last week wore me out!

For now, I will just announce that I am GOING TO LAS VEGAS THIS WEEKEND! It's not all fun and games - I'm going to be speaking at the Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha, which is a BCA fellowship. We're going to spend an extra night though, because I've never been there, and neither has my wife. We aren't gamblers - we just want to see it as much as anything else. Plus my wife wants to go to a buffet.

But who knows - I could come back rich! Whatever happens, we'll have fun.

Part 2 of the American Buddhism podcast has been posted!

In Japan, before eating a meal it is customary to say “itadakimasu.” This isn’t necessarily a “Buddhist” practice – I would be willing to bet that most people that do it just consider it “Japanese,” without understanding the deeper significance. However, I have had it explained to me in a Buddhist sense, and this is partly what I would like to relate here.

The Japanese language is very different from English in that it has “honorific” and “humble” variants. Depending on the relative status of the person that you are speaking with, the words that you use change. For example, the plain form of the verb for “to be” is imasu. So to ask, “Is Mr. Tanaka there?” one would say, “Tanaka san wa imasuka?” However, if Mr. Tanaka is a superior, then one would say, “Tanaka san wa irasshaimasuka?” Irassharu is the polite form of imasu. There is also a humble form, oru, so if Mr. Tanaka’s wife answers the phone and he isn’t there, instead of answering “Iie, imasen,” she would say “Iie, orimasen.” You can pretty much get away with the neutral level, but if you really want to integrate into Japanese society, work at a company there, etc., then you have to learn these polite and humble forms.

( So what does this have to do with itadakimasu? )

I'm kind of embarrassed, but I forgot a great source for Buddhist books in Berkeley that is still around: the BCA Bookstore! They are in their new location at the Jodo Shinshu Center - they used to be located at the BCA Headquarters in San Francisco near Japantown. I find the new location to be much more convenient. OK, this is sounding like a commercial, just wanted to set the record straight before I forget!

I realized that I need to acknowledge the bookstores in the San Francisco Bay Area that sustained me while I was studying Buddhism in Berkeley. I moved to California on September 1, 1996. I remember the date so well because that is also the date that the first missionaries were sent to San Francisco from Nishi Hongwanji: September 1, 1899. I hadn’t yet applied to the Institute of Buddhist Studies – I needed one more class on Buddhism in order to be able to do that, so I spent the Fall semester taking a class in order to be able to do that. I also needed a job, and lucked into a position at Cody’s Books on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. ( Little did I know that I was entering a whole new community, if not culture! )

The title to this entry could be interpreted in several ways, but in this case I mean that I have a podcast available! It is called the DharmaRealm, and in it you will find discussions between myself and my friend Dr. Scott Mitchell of the Institute of Buddhist Studies. We just recorded one on American Buddhism: part one is available now, and part two will come out in a couple of weeks.

We are also on iTunes and facebook!

Some of my earliest encounters with Buddhism came through Tibetan Buddhism. When I was in a study-abroad program in Japan during college, I found some postcards with incredible paintings called "tankas" (or perhaps more accurately, thang-ka). In fact, I just found the artist that turned me on initially: Kenji Babasaki. These traditional paintings of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and other deities have such incredible beauty and detail. They were used as objects of worship (gohonzon in Japanese), usually in monasteries but often rolled up and carried by a monk as he went around the countryside, teaching Buddhism to the people.

But Tibetan Buddhism is inextricably linked to the political aspect of Tibet as a nation. And with the upcoming Olympics in China, there have been a lot of protests as the media focuses on the region. The situation is very complex. The Dalai Lama, as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists and the exiled leader of the Tibetan people, has consistently called for non-violence, as he seeks autonomous status for Tibet. Many people want Tibet to be a free, independent state, but that is not the public stance that the Dalai Lama has taken. However, it seems obvious to me that Tibetan culture and religion is under attack the way things are now, and something needs to change.

The Buddhist Churches of America recently issued a letter to the government of China asking for a peaceful resolution to the current conflicts. My friend and podcast-compatriot Dr. Scott, AKA dj buddha, has some interesting thoughts as well.

Keep your eyes on the news - the San Francisco Chronicle had coverage of the protests over the Olympic torch in San Francisco, and the New York Times reports on the protests in Tibet, as well as other ethnic groups that are protesting their treatment by the Chinese government.

This past weekend, someone found an interesting document in one of the Church's store rooms. Here's the cover of the booklet:



( more documents )

One of the most important events in my life – as far as Buddhism is concerned anyway - was discovering used bookstores. I’ve always enjoyed reading since I was a kid, but if I really think about it, I didn’t read that much. A lot of times I started something and didn’t finish it, like Lord of the Rings or Dune. I was always much more into listening to music on my walkman.

I first became interested in Buddhism when I was in college, but I didn’t really find very many other Buddhists in my area, or practice centers where I felt comfortable. ( then, the discovery! )

I'm going to start off with some pictures of my temple, the Buddhist Church of Lodi. I managed to borrow my wife's camera while the sakura were still blooming:



The Dharma Wheel above the entrance door was hand carved by one of my members! He actually made a lot of stuff around the church.

( more )

Well, here it is, my new livejournal!

This is the official blog for Rev. Harry Gyokyo Bridge. I am a minister of the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA). Please note, however, that this blog contains my own personal views and opinions, and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of either the BCA or the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha denomination.

I will mainly be posting about Buddhist topics, whether dharma messages or thoughts on current events. Please feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.

Namo Amida Butsu
Rev. Harry