Buddhism
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Dear friends, Let’s talk about 悟り- Satori, the enlightenment. In Zen Buddhism of Japan, Satori is the inner intuitive experience of Enlightenment. Satori is said to be unexplainable, indescribable, and unintelligible by reason and logic. It can be compared to the experience undergone by Gautama Buddha when he sat under the Bo tree and, as such,… Read more
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Dear friends, I have the urge to write about Mappo – The Dharma ending age, the longest period of fall knowings. The doom. The concept of the Dharma Ending Age, or Mappo in Japanese Buddhism is a fascinating and complex idea that speaks to the cyclical nature of time and the decline of spiritual truth.… Read more
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Dear friends, It’s a rainy day in Tokyo. I’ve been suffering the worst kind of headache for more than a week. Rain always brings me memories, which I thought I lost during my time that has been used to just survive. The song “Renaissance” by Paolo Buonvino suddenly hits hard. “Sometimes I justify the words… Read more
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Dear friends, Lately, it’s been tough. My life in Japan, my study, my job hunt, my mind, my thoughts, my heart, my love. All of them suddenly become so difficult to explain. I thought I could make it like I always do, but I burn out. Hard to admit it. I need a reset, restart,… Read more
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Dear friends, This is not an article about Taiyaki, even though I love Taiyaki and any Japanese treats. It’s summer, I’m craving some soft serve ice creams and a good bowl of matcha kakigori. Today, we’ll talk about Kata – 型. For me it’s an unseen blueprint that shapes everything in our daily life. In… Read more
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Dear friends, Let’s go back to our normal theme, which is Buddhism. So, what do we have today? It’s 求道 – Gudou, a term, or concept, that deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy. Gudou means “seeking after truth”, often refers to the pursuit of the path of enlightenment. It’s a journey of self-discovery, spiritual growth. Gudou… Read more
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Dear friends,If my cats Mikan and Azuki are still alive, I bet they think I’m crazy. Because…how can someone be so dumb and still can try to be cool at the same time? They must think I’m nuts. Am I? But today, let’s talk about my path to enlightenment. First, you need to listen to… Read more
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Dear friends,In my latest article, we have talked about Rinne and the meaning of reincarnation in Japanese culture. Today, do you want to talk about “あの世 – Ano Yo”, the after life in Japanese belief? Let’s do it with me. The concept of あの世 (anoyo), or the “other world,” is a deeply ingrained part of… Read more
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Dear friends,I’ve been studying Japanese culture for a long time. The more I read, the more I start to think about how shallow I am. Japanese culture has so many condensed concepts that have been taken me so long to truly understand. In this article, let’s talk about Rinne – The concept of life and… Read more
Letters from Hio 