Rakusu Procedure?

[Jundo]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

you know when i think about it... you are right Taigu. i did resist doing it because i thought what people think of me but i realize that i dont really care what they think. so i will start putting it on my head and chanting! actually even looking forward to it a bit ( next time im home and sitting with the rakusu )
thank you for this encouragement...
Gassho, Dojin.

And, of course, no need to make a show of it, intentionally shock anyone. Just be natural. My view is, if it is really disquieting to your mother ... no need to do it in front of your mother (be kind to mom). My own mother, who was originally not too sure of my "becoming like those guys wearing bedsheets" a few years ago, finally asked me to sit Zazen with her when she was sick, and to have me lead a Buddhist-Jewish-Whatever funeral for her when she died.

And no need to wear it on a first date with a new girl/guy. On the other hand, no need to hide it at a certain point from a girlfriend/boyfriend if you truly want them to know who you are (allowing the other's beliefs is important in a relationship).

I do not wear my Buddhist robes all the time, for example, most times when attending the PTA at my son's school or going shopping for groceries. Most of my day, I am in t-shirt and jeans. But I could wear my priest's robes, and sometimes I do wear my robes (if it happens to be a day on which I happen to be wearing robes and need to get to the PTA or grocery store, I go ... I have done both) and, I think, nobody would be that shocked. Sometimes people stare for a moment, but it is no big deal.

And, even if they are "shocked", I am sure it is a mild shock. Even mom and my relatives (most of them ... the rest, they have their own problems) got over it. The neighborhood where I live is used to me (believe me, while they are used to Buddhist priests in Japan ... they are not used to "Big Yankee" Buddhist priests, so that gets looks).

On the other hand, I intentionally do not wear Buddhist robes to a friend's non-Buddhist wedding, or a relative's Jewish funeral, because I did not think it appropriate. I have worn it at weddings and funerals when asked to do so.

I do not wear them when meeting a translation client for my work ... as I do not think it necessary or appropriate to mix religious views and business. On the other hands, several of my clients found out and think it a positive thing ... (although this is Japan, of course).

Our own Taigu sometimes stands in front of the local train stations in full regalia, begging bowl in hand. I think he has to put aside what people think. Here is a picture of Taigu ...



So, just be natural to the circumstance, and do not overly worry about what people think, nor try to throw it in anyone's face. Judge by the circumstances.

But you know, Daniel. You are in Israel. Certainly, you have seen this ritual of Orthodox Jews. Do you notice anything similar? How hard could it be for folks to understand?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 3609231223



Gassho, J

[Dojin]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Jundo i couldnt Agree with you more.

i think you summed it up beautifully so i will not try to add anymore to that since it pretty much sums up what i think.

as for hiding it i never hid it. i always do it during the ceremonies and such. during the Jukai my girlfriend say on the side and watched me do it... laughed and took pictures but she doesnt do a big deal of it only sometimes make a joke about it or something... so after seeing this i think i might start doing it whenever i wear a rakusu.

as for wearing it out side i will never do it... unfortunately israel isnt the most religion tolerant place in the world ( unless its their own )
and some orthodox jews are very very fanatical about things they think as corrupting. each year there is a gay parade in israel mostly it is done in tel aviv ( the big secular city in israel ) and nobody is bothered to much but about a year or 2 ago they wanted to do it in the capital in Jerusalem. there was a huge public out cry that they couldnt do it. the orthodox jew threatened that if it is done they will just blow it up, because the parade is very provocative with people dancing sometimes in revealing cloth and gays kissing ( lesbians included ). even though they organizers promised a very modest thing that wouldnt include things like that.

on another occasion that actually happened last year there was a parking garage near the old city in jerusalem where you could park your car ( for money ofcourse ) and go walk there. so the city decided to open it on saturday and let people park their cars there. and violating the shabat!!!!
the orthodox jews rioted they came each week there and rioted! they through rocks at cars, jumped under the wheels of cars to stop them. it was madness!

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