Word: shofukuji
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...they begged alms last week in the Japanese city of Kobe, Zen Buddhist monks from the great temple of Shofukuji (Good Omen) met an unusual reception. Instead of showing reverence, people cracked seemingly typical Zen koans (problem riddles). "You look like the one who was admiring nude pictures," giggled one housewife, slamming the door in a novice priest's face. Snapped another tart-tongued woman: "Wash out your mind before I fill your bowl...
...where enthusiasm for Zen's ego-smashing techniques has become a semi-religious phenomenon (TIME, Feb. 4, 1957 et seg.). Tsuchiya expected to find the temple's 30 pate-shaven novices undergoing the most Spartan life imaginable, for Zen is the harshest branch of Buddhism, and Shofukuji itself has a reputation as one of Zen's most austere temples...
| 1 |