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Modern Adaptations of Shin Buddhism

Modern Adaptations of Shin Buddhism

Impact on Ways of Practice Both Inside and Outside of the Temple

               After speaking with the Minister of the service and hearing his explanation as to why he decided to pursue Buddhism, he handed me a small pamphlet called “a teaching day”. This pamphlet provided a sort of spark notes version of Buddhist teachings - the pamphlet consisted of 23 teachings and one was to be read per day. On one of these days of teaching (Day 5), it explains that the root of all suffering is “the principle desire for material objects”. 

               The question of "How has society impacted Modern-Day Shin Buddhism teachings and practices?" then evolved into to "How can Buddha’s teachings be applied to modern day social constructs and societal expectations to benefit the change in times?" He then pointed me to an additional quote within the pamphlet:


“People clinging obstinately to lives of wealth and honor, comfort and pleasure, excitement and self-indulgence, ignorant of the fact that the desire of these very things is the source of human suffering". The Minister then said that in order for him to accept the purpose of life, he was forced to reconcile with the fact that the corporate job that he once worked and the material possessions that he once desired were of no real importance to the end goal of his life, and the same can be said for those who choose to convert as well.

Visual representation of Nirvana - the goal of Buddhism


His last piece of advice to me was the below teaching day:


Day 10 - "once we reach our destinations, we should not make it our mission to hold onto those things that drag us down and instead focus on those things that we have"


This phenomenon described in Day 10 is frequently observed in modern day culture, but the practice of Buddhism has brought the focus from external living to internal - creating a sense of fulfillment and joy no matter the situation, and is responsible for teaching others that once they realize that happiness comes from within, it is only then that they will be content with life.

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