INNEN’S TRIP TO JAPAN

INNEN’S TRIP TO JAPAN

On November 20, I will be joining several other Tendai sangha leaders from the US (including New York, Washington DC, California and Hawaii), Europe (Denmark and Italy), Brazil and India to participate in a symposium examining the current state of our tradition in the world. The symposium is scheduled from November 27-29 and will be held at our spiritual centre, Mount Hiei, just north of Kyoto. I will be travelling with this group which is headed by our Dharma master, Ven. Monshin Naamon, sensei. The event, titled Emerging Tendai -Teaching Outside of Japan and its Future, marks the 40th anniversary of the overseas mission of Tendai Buddhism since it resumed its activities after World War II.
The Tendai Mission of Hawaii (Hawaii Betsuin) was established in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 25th, 1973 with the determinations of many people within and outside of Tendai Buddhism of Japan. The light of Dharma of Tendai Buddhism which was halted due to the Pacific War was lit abroad once again. Over those forty years Tendai-shu has spread to various locations in the United States and to other parts of the world, such as India, Brazil, England, Denmark, Italy, Canada and Australia, with Hawaii Betsuin and New York Betsuin as its centers. Those outside of Japan are in environments where presenting Tendai Buddhism is not an easy task. The experiences and visions of those who have been involved in Tendai Buddhism abroad, may provide insight in the future of our organization in Japan as well as in international societies in the 21st century.

I have been invited to prepare and present a short slide show describing the history of Red Maple in Canada, the growth of Tendai Canada over the past few years and the challenges we, along with other non-Japanese groups face in bringing Tendai-shu to our corners of the world. On either side of the symposium, we will have some free time to explore some of the religious and cultural sites around Tokyo and Kyoto. I look forward to sharing this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with all of my Tendai Canada friends at our December Mahasangha Brunch on Saturday, December 14 at the Old SchoolHouse in Renfrew.

For more details, see - Invitation to Tendai Symposium

Yours in the Dharma,                          
from Akashaloka,                  
Innen, doshu
om namo amida butsu