Field work in Kumamoto

Lately I've been gathering information on the Jodo shinshu sect 浄土真宗, or Pure Land Buddhism, in Kumamoto for a paper I'm working on. Kumamoto has a rich history of Pure Land Buddhism, presently holding 470 temples throughout the prefecture (compared to a handful of Zen temples).

Like other Japanese Buddhist sects during the Pacific war period, Jodo shinshu was a strong advocator of the war. Some of this war-time support can be attributed to its subordinate position to Shinto, the state religion at the time. Looking back a bit farther in history, Buddhist priests across the country were persecuted and temples levelled at the beginning of the Meiji era (late 1860's) in a wave of anti-Buddhist sentiment. Then in 1911 amidst escalating nationalism, a number of Buddhist priests who were outspoken war critics were given executions and life sentences by the government. The official position was clear: go against the war and serious consequences will follow.

In that atmosphere, Jodo Shinshu became a major proponent of the war campaign, going as far as deleting suspect lines from their founder's writings (Shinran, twelth century). Much of this information has been exposed through historical research in the last fifteen years (see Brian Victoria, Zen at War). My present interest is to look back into local responses to the war among the temples of Kumamoto at the time. While the institutional stance of Jodo shinshu was transparent throughout the war period, I've begun finding through interviews at temples that local reaction was more ambiguous.

The one-day monk.

Journal entry: Daijizenji 大慈禅寺 September 23rd, 2006

I came here with the intent of getting a taste of Soto Zen as well as some work done on my grad apps. Its been hard to escape the zen though.

Its now close to 7am, but I've been up since 4am. First, washed up and waited in my room. (In this brief 20 minute period, I was reprimanded for brushing my teeth while walking and sitting on my folded futon.) Practiced zazen for about 45 minutes. Chants in the main hall. Chants in two successive halls and a another closing chant by the entrance. At the end, everyone yelled in unison at the top of their lungs, "Ohayo Gozaimasu!". The dog ran from the room.

I've received many scoldings while here. Don't speak during the meal (食べながら、しゃべりません。食べた後に、しゃべります。）, sit seiza, go to sleep at 9. At first, I thought it was a personal vendetta. I'm learning though it's simply a strict discipline, and to the temple's credit, its still living up to standards set in place by its founder, Dogen, in the 12th century.

I've only been here since 6pm yesterday, and it hasn't been a relaxing retreat, per se. But it has been interesting. Part of me (an improvement from a few hours ago) wants to return for another go at some point.