Love this video from Rev. Koyo S. Kubose of the Bright Dawn Institute for American Buddhism — on the meaning of one of Japan’s most pervasive (and cool) Dharma-Burgers, the Daruma (or Bodhidharma, or Damo) doll. In his series of videos — some are just for young kids, all are playful — the camera is static, but the good reverend makes up for that by being so animated himself.
More videos from Rev. Koyo here.
Via AFP:
The Ryohoji temple, built in the late 16th century in a Tokyo suburb, erected a colourful manga-inspired sign at its entrance in June and has since seen visitor numbers perk up — especially young men.
But it went a step further at the weekend, setting up tents and opening up a temporary cafe staffed by bonnet-wearing girls sporting classic frills, one of the recent popular themes among fans of anime and costume role-playing. [...]
it seemed to work, the temple drawing hundreds of visitors on Saturday as the event coincided with a local autumn festival in Hachioji, on the western outskirts of Tokyo.
But it’s kinda awesome.
Reminds me of those good days when I served as as chantleader for the then-just-getting-under-way Boundless Way Zen community. (Which is growing and growing in numbers and wonderfulness, by the way…)
The coming film, Rebirth of Buddha, is apparently based on the “Happy Science” teachings of Japanese religious (cult? …some say so) leader Ryuho Okawa. As one YouTube commenter said about the film’s trailer, it looks like an “anime counterpart to the Left Behind series.”
The Anime News Network has some details with video, and Cartoon Leap has an update from today; apparently some people just ain’t buyin’ what this film is sellin.’
Here’s a little video now for a taste.
Ya gotta love everything about this Japanese video depicting a Buddhist statue made of 20,000 insects — the concept; the dramatic music; the canned, disgusted screaming in the background.
And you gotta love the intention. Talk about recycling.
Via JapanProbe, with thanks.
Yup. Via. ReportingAsia.com.
Via ABC News Australia:
A Japanese company has agreed to withdraw from sale a figurine of Buddha with a bulge between its legs.
The plastic figurine of the seated, grinning Buddha had upset monks from an eighth century temple in the ancient capital of Nara.
They complained that the statuette had an inappropriately large bulge between its legs.
The manufacturer has agreed to pull the figurine from sale.
A marketing official has told the AFP newsagency that the company normally approves all Buddha designs unless they are extraordinarily strange.
Thanks to reader/commenter Johan for a link to this silly-ass thing.
This might just be an example of an okay Dharma-Burger. We’ll have to see… Via CNET.uk:
MP3 playback? Check. Two cameras? Check. Built-in mobile Buddhist altar? Che… Wait, WTF?!
You read correctly. The Odin 99 has landed on the streets of Japan, and a single tap of the phone‘s dedicated lotus-leaf button will load a private, customisable, animated altar.
The idea is to allow Buddhists to perform their dedications and rituals conveniently when away from home. You can simulate incense burning, purification rites and play music to help you meditate wherever you happen to be.
For photos, go here.
I can’t wait to see this thing. Details over at Shambhala SunSpace.
