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Welcome from Dr. Alfred Bloom
 The
purpose and mission of this website is to share information concerning Shin
Buddhist tradition and Pure Land Buddhism as it is presently practiced and
interpreted by Shin communities in the West and Japan. I hope you will find
value in the information, resources, and research material here and I look
forward to hearing from you with questions or
comments.
In Buddhist tradition, light stands for wisdom. It is
frequently presented in sutras as a stream of light coming from the Buddha
and illuminating every aspect of the cosmos. In modern terms, it means to
see things as they really are. Because Buddha sees things as they really
are, he is able to assist all beings to enlightenment, despite their
delusions and ignorance. -- "Strategies for Modern Living," by
Alfred Bloom.
QUESTION: Do you know anything about this
Buddhist-Christian Cross?
TAKE A LOOK ...
v
In the "Writings" section! The material
is varied from a wide range of authors, providing the opportunity to read
articles and excerpts not always easy to find.
v
Also,
don't miss "Studies
in Buddhism." Rev. Dr. Bloom has
placed a selection of his writings in one spot, to help guide readers in a
progressive view of Buddhism from its earliest beginnings to Shinran ... and
beyond.
Be sure to read "Personal
Stories" of people who have come to Shin Buddhism. Sharing experiences is an
excellent way to understand the evolving tradition.
Announcing ....
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Shinran's
Gospel Of Pure Grace
by Rev. Dr. Alfred
Bloom
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Available from the Association for Asian Studies (AAS).
In its ninth printing, this book is the
best-selling volume in the AAS Monograph Series.
"...a significant contribution toward a deeper
understanding of one of the most important figures in the history of
Japanese Buddhism... Obviously, the author is at home with his
subject." -- The Japanese Christian Quarterly
Monograph 20; ISBN 0-8165-0405-9; ninth printing
1999; 97 + xiv pages; Paper: $12.00 (AAS Members: $10.00)
Order DIRECTLY from the publisher:
Ordering
Information
...
(printable)
Order FORM
(pdf)
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 GREAT
NEWS! Tricycle magazine features a
comprehensive review ("Essential and Pure," by Jeff Wilson) of Prof.
Bloom's work, in its Summer 2008 issue, Vol. 17, No. 4. Excellent
explanation of the stand-alone usefulness of "The Essential Shinran"
to any study of Shinran and Jodo Shinshu, and how it serves as an
invaluable companion and guide to unlocking the riches of Shin
Buddhism's most important reference, "The Collected Works of Shinran."
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The Essential Shinran: A Buddhist
Path of True Entrusting,
Alfred Bloom, comp. and ed., Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom Press,
2006. With glossary, bibliography, and index of
selections.
($22.95 at
World Wisdom or $15.61 at
Amazon).
"In The Essential Shinran, Dr. Alfred Bloom
makes a masterful presentation of the life and thought of Shinran. The
book is a virtual feast of prime statements carefully selected from
traditional Shinshu textual sources and thematically arranged to
illustrate key points. The main text begins with a modern overview of
Shinran's life and legacy. This is followed by over 300 selected
passages from the biographical literature and from Shinshu doctrinal
works, with insightful notes by the author. Each of the items quoted
is consecutively numbered for ease of reference, and the original
source text for each is clearly indicated.
"As a compendium of Shinran's teaching, The
Essential Shinran takes many of its quotations from the
Collected Works of Shinran (CWS). CWS was a landmark
publication that presented the complete writings of Shinran Shonin in
one volume. In a sense, The Essential Shinran is an
introduction to the CWS. It presents Shinran's thought in a way
that makes it more easily accessible. It maps out the important points
on the terrain of Shinran's thought, and brings together related
statements by theme. explaining briefly the significance of these
statements. All of these features are important for the first-time
reader who needs a guide to show them the important points of
Shinran's thought. Once this is done, there is nothing simpler to
understand. But until then, what Shinran teaches can pose a formidable
obstacle to the newcomer. Students will no doubt find The Essential
Shinran a welcome addition, and it may well become a favorite work
for university religion courses."
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Alfred Bloom’s The Promise of Boundless
Compassion: Shin Buddhism for Today, based on the Internet
course, "Shin Buddhism in Modern Culture" ...
Available from:
Honpa Hongwanji Bookstore,
1727 Pali Hwy., Honolulu, HI 96813;
ph. 808-522-9210 (information only);
Fax: 808-522-9209;
email:
hqbooks@lava.net
Cost: $25 Payment in U.S. funds only. Please add
shipping and handling ($1.84, regular mail; $5.75, Priority Mail from
anywhere on the mainland).
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Living in Amida's Universal Vow:
Essays in Shin Buddhism, edited by Dr. Bloom, World Wisdom
Books ($19.95 at
World Wisdom or $12.97 at
Amazon).
This text brings together a variety of
authors on Shin Buddhism from the Meiji period at the end of the 19th
century to the present. They view Shin and its meaning from a variety
of angles and offer many insights that will be helpful in
understanding Shinran's teaching.
"Shin, the Buddhism of the heart, is
the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan but it is still the least
known in the west. This valuable collection of previously published
articles, of interest to specialists and nonspecialists alike, will
help to establish Shin in the English speaking world." -- Roger
Corless, author: "The Vision of Buddhism: The Space Under the
Tree."
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Dewdrops of Dharma: Forty- Eight
Buddhist Viewpoints, by Rev. Koju Fujieda, Compiler; Dr.
Alfred Bloom, Editor. (2006,117 pp.)
Rev. Koju Fujieda has put together out
of his Temple experience a variety of short meditations for personal
contemplation. The volume will be helpful is focusing your reflections
on Shin Buddhism and the various conditions of life.
Rev. Fujieda is the resident minister
of the Ryokeiji Temple in Echizen city in Japan. He also has long
experience in teaching English in the Fukui Medical University and
presently at Jinai University.
The book can be ordered from the
Honpa Hongwanji Bookstore
(Fax: 808-522-9209; email:
hqbooks@lava.net).
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