tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355923046579889657.post3481457894704360362..comments2023-07-24T17:56:40.250+09:30Comments on Japanese Ties: Eikan-dō? Yokan-dō?... In Zenren-ji, we all can do!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10245689060247741542noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355923046579889657.post-20817119980805462432010-09-23T21:48:32.727+09:302010-09-23T21:48:32.727+09:30Eikan-do is definitely a must see if you've be...Eikan-do is definitely a must see if you've been to Nanzen-ji (my next post)... as it's just down the road, and a good experience. I'd definitely put Nanzen-ji and Ginkaku-ji above it however.<br /><br />As for Buddhism being dead - I think we have to definitely separate out the Buddhism of Kyoto temples (and tourism) with the Buddhism of the everyday.<br /><br />Japan I think has always had a fairly fluid relationship with all religions... sometimes it fits, sometimes it doesn't. I guess it also says more about the people that visit the temples, than it does about the religion itself.<br /><br />Having said that - whilst I enjoy the temples and their gardens, I do feel a little sorry that it's come to this from what it used to be. Then again... the buddhists used to come down from their mountain monasteries and lay seige to the city; so I guess the past wasn't always better, and the grass always greener.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10245689060247741542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355923046579889657.post-44043750357592773762010-09-23T20:27:46.897+09:302010-09-23T20:27:46.897+09:30Wonderful write-up. I don't remember ever visi...Wonderful write-up. I don't remember ever visiting this one. I've been to Kyoto dozens of times, but my visits are the typical male unplanned kind that consist of just wandering around with the only goal of seeing cool stuff. Usually this leads me to nanzenji. Don't ask me why. <br /><br />As to your thought about temples becoming theme parks, I have a buddy who is a Buddhist scholar and swears Buddhism is dead in Japan. No idea if that's true or not, but it does seem like many of the temples I've been to are more for sightseeing (theme parks) than enlightenment.<br /><br />At any rate, I'll add this to my list of places to go next time I am there.David LaSpinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05998663995159106363noreply@blogger.com