Looking forward to this! That’s one of my favorite chants, depending on the version you do.
Here’s a version of the 4 Vows done in a calligraphic font. Been trying out new free Japanese fonts. XeTex makes installing new LaTeX fonts easy!
https://gwmatthews.github.io/the-four-vows-KouzanGyousho.pdf
… If you’re insulted by whatever you think @_Marcus was trying to imply, perhaps you need to go re-read Buddha’s teachings on how to respond to insults.
I apologize for not being clear. I have lived here long enough that I dont speak clearly purposefully because I expect the other person to be able to read the meanings. 空気読む as it were.
No ill-intent in such. But, please do be aware that many Japanese may incorrectly interpret your meanings as well in person or in writing. Just as with the first message my Japanese colleagues (as I expected as well) would have expected you to understand the topic was Japanese temples and only Japanese temples. Not understanding that may be interpreted negatively or even as purposefully misunderstanding. Depends on the part of Japan youre in how much they would read into it and it depends on if the Japanese person you are speaking to is sufficiently westernized or used to talking to foreigners. The more experience they have with foreigners and English generally the less they read into what is said.
Actually sure. I dont know why were getting into each other hair so much. It doesnt matter all that much. Thanks for being reasonable. Im tired and its been a long week. Were both being hypocrits in one way or another. I respect yoru religion even though its not mine and im sure you respect mine just fine too. (Even though its just essentially causing pain and damage to my body for … profit?)
Hey, Im going to keep this one up as its more of a lesson on shintoism and not so inflammatory i think. Ill delete the part where I quoted you though.
Just as a last thing.
Im sorry theyll take that church down. I do think that is short sighted of that particular city.
The more I think about it. It is probably the city and most Japanese people dont really pay attention to things not in their city. I think we both made it into a “JAPANESE CULTURE” discussion when its probably more of a city and particular people suck conversation. Even in America youve got politicians destroying historic buildings and calling it progress. (The UK might be better about this I honestly dont know).
You should really try to promote it in Japan. Make other Japanese people notice it. You might be the difference and end up saving it. Some Japanese people do care about the old architecture. I mean look at the old clock tower in Sapporo, (Several other buildings). The tons of old structures still around in Okinawa. Tokushima. Satsuma. Gunma. Theres a lot of examples. The old naval bases and academies in Hiroshima.
I say all that in like 100% seriousness. I think youre right that Japanese people tend to turn a blind eye to things they dont want to see and I can guarantee if I havent heard about the majority of japanese people dont even know its a thing…
Its worth a shot and that church deserves a shot to survive too.
(Edit: They also tend to preserve light houses. I dont know why but there are a ton of really old light houses all over Japan)
I am honestly glad you enjoyed it. I came for the Heart Sutra (Because I enjoy chanting it and listening to it). I stayed to argue. Im keeping the bit about Shintoism up and its effect on the view of certain things because id like to think its somewhat interesting. It might not be.
I dont think it applies to historical buildings that arent Japanese traditional buildings though and that was a misunderstanding I had of the conversation. I had assumed it was about Japanese traditional buildings only.
We’re pretty good at protecting historic landmarks from a policy perspective, although I am no expert on the particulars.
相So… I meant to join in on this conversation almost two weeks ago but then life happened or something and I kept postponing it. And now I’ve apparently missed quite a bit (haven’t read anything that’s deleted) but I’m glad y’all got it sorted out. May the informative discussions continue in peace. 
Naturally, I don’t mean to immediately start a new heated debate. It’s just that…
…the urge to say “but [some of] Buddhism is doctrinal. You can’t tell people what their religions are supposed to be.” is very strong. I’m sure you know already and there’s no malice in my remark - just really felt like mentioning it in case someone who isn’t aware of that scrolls by.
“Buddhism” (as an ~ism) is not just a philosophy or lifestyle, it’s also definitely a Religion; all kinds of questionable content, internal strife and schisms, discrimination, [re]interpretations, dogma, revivals, reboots, etc. included. It’s got heavens and hells, angels and demons, saints and sinners, all of that gory story stuff too. Like a very thick layer of mud over the Lotus of the “original teaching” (if there can be said to have been such a thing). Just like the monotheist religions, Buddhism is not a monolith: there’s great diversity to its systems, as developed by a great number of geographically and culturally diverse people over a very long period of time.
Buddhism - even when just limited to Japan - is 波瀾万丈 (and with that I leap to:)
Yes, please! 
Those are fantastic. I remember this other thread that was all about WK yojijukugo, and just found another. Would always welcome more.
This made of think of a similar concept (or thought experiment) in western philosophy, in the form of Theseus’ Ship. In a way this is true of the human form as well. We’re constantly shifting, being replaced bit by bit but still considered to be the same person by most others. And that too is found in Buddhism, of course: self vs no-self discourse.
If you cut up Theseus’ ship with my grandfather’s axe… does it make a sound?
You are not the first to comment on my remark. I am sure that you could tell that it really was just expressing my frustration with 当て字. What I was really saying was “There is nothing holy about 涅槃 why can’t I write it as ネハン?”
The funny thing is that I have made peace with these 当て字 now there are a limited number of them, and a limited number of terms and names that use them. I think I will write up a little guide.
All that you say about Buddhism and religion I am deeply aware of. I need to be careful not to start believing my own “soft sell” that I do of Buddhism, living mostly in a world of people to who see Buddhism as a strange and threatening thing.
If I can think of clever way to reword my original poorly stated remark, I will. I did not mean to speak so broadly and generally and inaccurately.
There is my edit of the moment. 
Link for a 1930’s dictionary of Chinese Buddhist terms.
https://mahajana.net/texts/soothill-hodous.html
I am sure that many of these have been directly copied into Japanese Buddhist texts. Totally overwhelming!
Oh yes, I could tell. Fair point too! Katakana was once developed by monks specifically as a short hand for copying sutras, if I got my sources right, and nowadays is pretty much exclusive to loanwords, so there isn’t really a good reason for keeping all the Sanskrit terms in kanji (other than giving them that authoritative “ancient knowledge” look).
Like I said, I just… see to many (‘regular’?) people thinking Buddhists only believe in one “Buddha” (even though they themselves might have 3 completely different plastic statues in their garden) oblivious to the fact that e.g. Tibetan, Thai and Japanese forms are completely different things. Or they think that Buddhists constantly strive for world peace and are somehow more spiritually advanced, unaware of the indoctrination, myriad of sects, strict adherance to rituals, intolerance and even violence that is present in reality. But that’s of course a problem all religions share: a gap between ideals and implementation, scripture and practice… contradictory words and actions of a Faith’s followers. (also this is by no means a criticism of any particular believer of whatever, should anyone read this and feel attacked)
And yes, some people might even go so far as to say the literal words themselves are holy. This is why the main object of worship in Nichiren is the Lotus Sutra, and why spinning prayer wheels supposedly grants you instant karma points, right? I once had a muslim guest staying over who remarked that me putting my tea cup on top of a Bible (happened to be on the table and space was limited), would really not have been allowed had that been a Koran. I suppose there are plenty of Christians out there who would agree. [/rant]
Anyway, thanks for the free dictionary! A bit much indeed, but it might come in handy someday. 
十句観音經
観世音
南無佛
輿佛有因
輿佛有縁
佛法僧縁
常樂我淨
朝念観世音
慕念観世音
念念縦心起
念念不離心
One possible translation:
Kanzeon!
Praise to the Buddha
Let go to the Buddha
Return to the Buddha
Buddha Dharma Sangha
Eternal, joyful, pure, Self
Through the day, Kanzeon
Through the night, Kanzeon
Reciting arises from the Buddha within
Reciting is not separate from the Buddha within
Kanji-by-kanji literal: (beware, this completely ignores the intended meanings of most of the kanji!)
After a few of these, the meaning shapes up pretty easily.
観音 is Kannon, of course
観世音 is Kanzeon
南無 is namaste, I bow to
Shortly I will continue with the more meaningful translation.
Translations and readings needed to complete:
Heart sutra is now complete with, annotated version, new version with just the kana readings, two print versions, and a traceable one too.
And one last thing, for now at least! Here is the complete set of versions of the four vows. Full annotations, readings only (romaji and kana), reading only (kana), compact, spaced, three times and for tracing.
And a version with plainer kanji.
