Medgya wrote:
> On Feb 20, 9:07 am, CL <flot...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> As Ikoma-sensei, the former abbot of Ikegami Honmonji liked to say to
>> people who thought Buddhism was location specific "Some of the ten
>> thousand roads that lead to the Buddha pass through places where there
>> are no trees, no grass, and very little water.  But they arrive at the
>> same place as the others if you stay on them."
> 
> He's talking about the mind, though, isn't he? When you want to cook a
> meal, a kitchen is a good choice.

Yes, but the kitchen doesn't need all mod cons.  A simple campfire will 
work just fine and will provide sufficient nutrition in many cases.  The 
first time I heard him use that analogy was to a bunch of Komeito types 
(Honmonji is fiercely anti-Sokka Gakki / anti-Ikeda / anti-Komeito 
despite being the location where Nichiren died and was cremated).  They 
were bitching because the abbey at the back of the temple had too many 
Western-style rooms with chairs and they somehow felt that it interfered 
with their sutra studies.  Ikoma-sensei explained that the universe was 
the container of the soul, not a room nor a room of any specific size or 
type and that learning was independent of time or place.

Ikoma-sensei's attitude was that you taught people where they are and 
you use what is available where you are.  And that is more important to 
believe than the way you believe.

For the record, I may or may not be Buddhist.  I don't mention it on my 
resume or web site.  Honmonji used to be my local temple and 
Ikoma-sensei handled the blessing of my new BMW motorcycle before 
telling me that he rode a Harley and asking if I'd like to tag along 
with him and a few monks while they did motorcycle tours of his flock of 
14 million people.  I saw him perform as many services in leathers and 
boots as I did with him in full robes.  And, I filled in for his 
acolytes a few times when he was short handed.  He was probably the most 
decent individual I have ever met in Japan.

-- 
CL