Photo of the Day (12-10-08)

by Jamie Rhein on

As daylight is shrinking in the month of December, as we move forward to the winter solstice, candles come to mind. In Denmark, where I spent this last week, candles are salvation in a way. Everywhere I went candles turned rooms into soft glows of warmth.

This shot by flicts evokes memories of other places where candles are a prominent feature.This temple in Lhasa is reflective of every Buddhist temple I’ve stepped into where smells of incense and flames fill the air. Candles are such a universal element of hope. On a grey day in Columbus, a lit candle would work wonders. All I have to do is locate a match.

Along with the lovely angle that highlights the candles, this shot is also intriguing because flicts has included other artifacts that are significant to Buddhism. This is almost like a still-life painting meant to capture a moment.

If you have shots of captured moments, send them our way at Gadling’s Flickr photo pool. They may show up as a Photo of the Day.

Die and be reborn in a temple in Thailand: It only takes a minute and a half– and a coffin

by Jamie Rhein on

One of my favorite things to do in Thailand is to have a hand and foot massage. I feel rejuvenated afterward and it only takes 30 minutes. Plus, the massage is cheap and accessible. Hand and feet massage establishments are plentiful.

Here’s another way to rejuvenate in Thailand. At Wat Prommanee in Nakhon Nayok, about 60 miles north of Bangkok, you can climb into a big pink padded coffin for a few moments, and then climb out as a new person.

With high demand in the wanting-to-become-like-new-again department, visitors to the temple, hundreds of them, wait in line for their re-birthing experience. There are nine coffins, so it’s a stream-lined process. Monks, who also chant a dirge, tell people when to get in and get out.

The New York Times article, where I found out about this new opportunity to slough off the old and attract the new, provides these examples of what it is that gets people to climb into a coffin.

  • need for relaxation
  • prosperity
  • get rid of bad luck (the guy who said this had had a car accident and a break in.)
  • to win a soccer game (An entire soccer team showed up)

If traveling with your family, bring them along.

By the way, getting reborn isn’t free. It costs about $5. You can also pick up an amulet to take home.

If you do go, according to the article, don’t stand too close to the coffins while waiting your turn. You don’t want the bad karma being released from the people in the coffins to go right into you.

I’m wondering what happens if a person refuses to get out because a minute and a half just isn’t enough. Could you keep paying more money to stay in longer? Or do you have to get out, go to the end of the line and do it again?

Big in Japan: Praying pooch attracts droves of temple goers

by Matthew Firestone on

The Japanese have an intense love for all things cute or kawaii (?????????)…

So, when a story like this one gets picked up by the international press, it’s kinda hard not to comment on something as cute as this!

According to the Associated Press (AP) in Japan, attendance at a Buddhist temple in Okinawa has increased since the temple’s two-year old Chihuahua started joining in daily prayers.

Aptly named Conan, the feisty little critter sits on his hind legs, raises his paws and puts them together at the tip of his nose.

According to Joei Yoshikuni, a priest at Jigenin temple, “He may be showing his thanks for treats and walks.”

He continues: “Basically, I am just trying to get him to sit still while I meditate – it’s not like we can make him cross his legs!”

Of course, there still might be hope for Conan to participate in the daily meditation rituals as it only took him a few days to imitate the motions of praying.

“I think he saw me doing it all the time and got the idea to do it too,” says Priest Yoshikuni.

Buddhism has an extremely strong foundation in Japan as the religion first arrived in the archipelago 1,200 years ago from mainland Asia. In fact, almost three-quarters of Japanese people are registered Buddhists, though the only time they enter a temple is on their death bed.

As a result, the vast majority of Japan’s 75,000 temples are in serious financial trouble. Although funerals are a huge source of income, especially given Japan’s aging population, the temples will have to attract new followers if they wish to thrive beyond the immediate future.

Fortunately, since word started to spread about Conan, Jigenin temple now gets 30% more visitors than it did before. Truth be told, it may be a rather unorthodox way to attract new followers, but Japan’s temples have been anything but conservative as of recent.

According to Priest Kosuke Kikkawa, who recently organized a fashion show for Buddhist monks in Tokyo: “Many of us priests share the sense of crisis, and a need to do something to reach out to people. We won’t change Buddha’s teachings, but perhaps we need a different presentation that can touch the feelings of the people today.”

Fellow priest Hogen Natori, who has been performing his traditional mantras at jazz clubs throughout Tokyo, whole-heartedly agrees.

“Many Japanese don’t want to come to temple. They think Buddhism is very difficult, and deep and serious, but Buddhism is much more than that – exciting, funny even. I want to spread this kind of teaching.”

Fortunately for the monks at Jigenin temple, their rather photogenic praying pooch might just be the ticket to reviving interest in their faith.

In fact, following news of Paris Hilton’s exploits here in Japan, primed and pampered pet Chihuahuas have become all the rage amongst the young and fashionable.

Only in Japan!

** Photo of Conan was taken by the Associated Press (AP). The Buddhist images were courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project. **

Temples and churches to visit in New York City

by Jamie Rhein on

I have spent so much time in New York City since my brother has lived there for years, that I often forget to look for the new things to do. The tried and true are enjoyable, plus I’m visiting which suits a different purpose. Site-seeing is a small part of my trips. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one place I head to often since it’s right across from Rockefeller Square and I like the way the candles smell.

Seth Kugel’s article, “Devotion in its Various Homes” is one that made me think, “Now, why didn’t I think of that?” as an article idea. It also presents options for my next visit to New York.

Kugel gives presents an overview of the various places of worship in New York City that visitors of any faith might find interesting. Here is his list. Do you know of others?

1. The Islamic Cultural Center

2. The Ganesh Temple

3. The Elderidge Street Synogogue at the Museum of Elderidge Street

4. The Buddhist Association of New York. Kugel suggests a temple that is near the synogugue. Here is a link to a site that marks Chinatown’s temples.

Read Kugel’s article for descriptions of each place. This could be a do-it-yourself type tour you could take in a day. The wonderful thing about cities like New York is that there are large enough communities of the various religions that their places of worship have had time to develop.

Big in Japan: Japanese monks down pints in the name of Buddha

by Matthew Firestone on

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Zen Buddhist monks?

If you guessed raked pebble gardens, immaculately poured cups of green tea and the continual search for inner peace and enlightenment, you’re wrong!

Starting this week in Japan, a trio of Buddhist monks have secured a regular spot at the Chippie Sound Music Bar, a popular Tokyo jazz club.

Here, they seek to educate patrons about Buddha while simultaneously performing their unique shomyo (????; Japanese Buddhist chants) to an attentive crowd.

Yup – you read that correctly.

Zen Buddhist mantras and Miles Davis do in fact mix well under the limelight!

As reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the three monks took to the stage, rang a small bell to silence the crowd, and filled the bar with their hauntingly beautiful chants.

To keep reading about this utterly bizarre but fascinating event, click below.

During the second half of the show, the trio once again took to the stage, silenced the room by ringing a small bell, kneeled in their gray robes before the crowd, and began to lecture an attentative audience about their faith.

One of the monks, Hogen Natori, believes that people are more receptive to complex philosophies when they are relaxing in a bar amongst friends.

“Many Japanese don’t want to come to temple. They think Buddhism is very difficult, and deep and serious, but Buddhism is much more than that – exciting, funny even. I want to spread this kind of teaching.”

So why is it exactly that the Buddhist monks had to resort to performing in jazz bars to keep their religion thriving?

Buddhism has had an extremely strong foundation in Japan since the religion first arrived in the archipelago 1,200 years ago from mainland Asia. In fact, almost three-quarters of Japanese people are registered Buddhists, though the only time they enter a temple is on their death bed.

Furthermore, since Japan is a rapidly aging society, interest in Buddhism is virtually non-existent amongst Japanese youths who care little about religion.

As a result, the vast majority of Japan’s 75,000 temples are in serious financial trouble. Although funerals are a huge source of income, the temples will have to attract new followers if they wish to thrive beyond the immediate future.

Although their effort to raise awareness about Buddhism’s lighter side are being applauded by most, the trio of monks is being accused by others of lowering themselves to the level of commoners.

To these critics, Hogen Natori offers these simple and succinct words:

“Come and join us. We are telling people what Buddhism is, what monks are.

Only in Japan…

Japanese Buddhism is undergoing a serious face lift these days. For coverage of a recent Zen fashion show here in Tokyo, be sure to check out the article Japanese monks strut it out on the catwalk.

** All of the photos in this blog post were taken by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) **