Lay robes: playing house?

[jphiled]

Joining the party late here, but a great thread.

Professors Reader and Tanabe have a book titled "Practically Religious" and early in the book they something called "Protestant Buddhism".

Bodiford's book on the history of Soto Zen describes what he calls "Neo-orthodoxy".

I think what they are getting at is that in the quest for a more pristine Buddhism we might just be trading one culture for another.

Anyway, I guess I've been on both sides of the fence over the years. My wife, who's Japanese, was a good foil for me because she often challenged my assumptions and I learned a lot in the process.

Like Reverend Jundo said, sometimes there's more under the surface than one might think. Then some things are genuinely impractical too.

Also, as a certain priest once told me: "Don't throw out something until you thoroughly understand first." :-)

[Daijo]

I like to think that the practice itself is the robe. The physical garment itself is just the representation of 10,000 Buddhas. I think there's something beautiful about the rakusu, and the kesa, and the kimono. There's something special about the religious ritual, which includes the garb and the lingo. All of these things can be very silly, but it depends on how we treat them. Personally, I need an element of tradition in my practice, but I also need a bit of breaking away from tradition too.

Salt, but not too much.

[Risho]

I like to think that the practice itself is the robe. The physical garment itself is just the representation of 10,000 Buddhas. I think there's something beautiful about the rakusu, and the kesa, and the kimono. There's something special about the religious ritual, which includes the garb and the lingo. All of these things can be very silly, but it depends on how we treat them. Personally, I need an element of tradition in my practice, but I also need a bit of breaking away from tradition too.

Salt, but not too much.

Well said! Thank you. I feel that way too.

Gassho,

Risho

[pinoybuddhist]

I like to think that the practice itself is the robe. The physical garment itself is just the representation of 10,000 Buddhas. I think there's something beautiful about the rakusu, and the kesa, and the kimono. There's something special about the religious ritual, which includes the garb and the lingo. All of these things can be very silly, but it depends on how we treat them. Personally, I need an element of tradition in my practice, but I also need a bit of breaking away from tradition too.

Salt, but not too much.

Gassho,
Raf

[jphiled]

Salt, but not too much.

Or like spice: a little goes a long way. Too much ruins the flavor. :-)