TsukuBlog
A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Gangyu-Ji (願牛寺), said to be THE FIRST Temple SHINRAN Founded in The Kanto Area- just a 30 minute drive from Tsukuba University, and a perfect place to visit in the Year of the Ox (2021)!
7 January, 2021
The serenely wooded grounds of the Gangyu-Ji Temple
November 28th, 2021 was the 760th anniversary of the death of the great Buddhist preacher Shinran (1173-1263), who tirelessly taught, based on the ideas of his own teacher Honen, that ANYONE, man or woman, rich or poor, young or old- could be saved ( by birth into the Pure Land ) through faith ( and faith alone) in Amida Buddha. A tremendously radical idea for 13th century Japan- and one which did not go over well with the established state-sponsored sects of the time ( and many were also scandalized by the fact that Shinran broke his monastic vows by eating forbidden foods, marrying, and having kids!). Despite this great opposition and resistance,