Dynamic Buddhism Action...

It was a really cold rainy spring night, like a winter. When I walked around Yasaka shrine, I heard something rhythmical sound near there. I was so interested in them, so I tried to find where they were coming from. They were from Chion in temple!

To honor master HONEN's memory, they praied to Amida Buddha, all night with as many as people! Prayers go up private national treasure building and sat by the Buddhist statues. All the people were praing with voice "Namu Amidabutsu 南無阿弥陀仏 (Namo Amitabha)" and temple blocks(<---They were the sounds I heard in outside). They were so DYNAMIC! I've never seen or experienced before! so GREAT! I'd love to join this next year! At ordinary times, I always thought Japanese Buddhism is lazy (I mean, compare to Tibetan or Sri Lankan, or any Hinayana Buddhism) but this was really Dynamic! I was so impressed! It was a good chance to me to reconsider the image of japanese buddhism.

20070418ChionInTemple01 知恩院


Map of Chion-in temple

zoom in&out or move available

Hōnen(法然; 1133-1212) was a Japanese born Buddhist and the founder of the first independent branch of Pure Land Buddhism known as Jodo Shu.(Wikipedia)

[Link]
*Hōnen Shōnin(by Wikipedia)
*Chion-in(by Wikipedia)
*御忌サラナ

watch more videos--->hibikore videos to feel Kyoto