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Copyright@ Adrian Gheorghe Cirlea (Josho Adrian Cirlea)
ATTENTION! Those who use passages from my books and articles on this website must mention the source, and provide a link to it.
Until now in the village where Amidaji temple is located there has been no water
and sewerage system, so the inhabitants (including Amidaji) need to use the
public or private wells, and to build their own peasant style toilets in the backyard
which mainly consists of a hole in the ground with a wooden cabin on top. Some
wells had problems and dried up or became difficult to use, so the county and
local officials finally decided to make a contract with a company and recently
brought the main water pipes in the village and placed secondary ones in front
of each property. However, from this main and secondary water pipes each owner
has to pay for installing its own pipes and build its own water system through
which to bring the water inside his property and house.
Amidaji
has a few buildings on its property so I need lots of pipes and a few
professional workers to bring the water in. The total costs for the first phase
of work (pipes and other materials as well as the workers) are around 1000
euros. From this, around 600 euros is only to pay the workers and the rest is
for various materials. If I successfully raise the amount needed, I will do the
first phase and make a report with photos after which I will continue with the
second step. Any
little help is welcomed and very much needed so, if you wish to DONATE, you can
use the PayPal box and/or the Bank accounts mentioned at this link, https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html The
names of donors as well as those in whose name a donation was made will be
mentioned in a dedication list of my next book and at the end of the video
teachings posted on my YouTube channel.
Amidaji temple courtyard. The water pipes must come from the
house in the distance to the one in the top right (kitchen).
A bathroom with shower and toilet will be built between the
house in the top left (library and guest room) and the house
in the distance. In the foreground is Amidado (Hall of Amida)
My
Dharma friend Cheusa Wend (77) from USA donated this beautiful big nenju (mala/Buddhist
rosary) of around one meter and a half to Amidaji temple Romania in the name of
her late husband Koun Eb Whipple, and her parents Phyllis Latham Stoner and
William Richard Stoner. May all their obstacles be removed and may they create
indestructible connections with Amida Buddha, entrust to Him, say His Name and
wish to be born in His Pure Land!
The
nenju now adorns the hands of the statue of Amida Buddha in the Amidado (Amida
Hall) of Amidaji temple Romania until we decide where to keep it. We intend to
use it in some ceremonies, perhaps in chanting the Nembutsu in a circle, and
other liturgies to express faith in Amida Buddha and our gratitude for being
saved as we are.
It
has been a great spiritual pleasure for me that this year when we had the 850th
anniversary of Shinran Shonin’s birth in this world, and 20 years have passed since
my ordination, our Amidaji international sangha has grown in quality with
people of faith who are active in both learning and teaching. We are indeed a
genuine Sangha where faith in Amida Buddha can be received and those who don’t
have faith yet, can be guided and helped to receive it. Also,
this year has been very auspicious in the sense that I successfully examined
and ordained Rev Kosho Arana of Colombia as a Buddhist monk (priest). He and
our lay teachers, together with various lay members, are doing their best in
their respective parts of the world to promote the orthodox teaching of Amidaji
branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. I also try my best to do my duty, inspired as
I am by Amida Buddha and my fellow travelers on the Nembutsu Path. After so
many years of struggle, which I explained in my autobiography, The Path Between the Thorns, I am finally at home in a Sangha which is a reflection
of Amida’s Light in the world. I
often say that NOBODY has the monopoly on the Jodo Shinshu teaching (and ordinations), as there are people of genuine faith in all branches of Jodo
Shinshu Buddhism or without any official affiliation at all. They are
themselves reflections of Amida’s Light in the world and future Buddhas who
will, sooner or later, be able to manifest an infinite number of Nirmanakaya (accommodated)
bodies all over the samsaric universes to guide all beings, while in the same
time dwell forever in Sambhogakaya form in the Pure Land of Peace and Bliss. To
Amida Budha, to Amida Dharma, and to all people of faith from inside or outside
of Amidaji, I
bow in gratitude with my head touching the ground and worship them as the Three
Treasures.
Namo
Amida Bu Josho
Adrian Cirlea – Daisojo of Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
As
you may know, Amidaji follows the wise and compassionate
instructions of the late 23rd Monshu of Nishi Hongwanji temple, Shōnyo Shōnin
(Kosho Ohtani)[1], who encouraged non-Japanese
Nembutsu followers to organize themselves independently from Japan, and who
agreed with the first non-Japanese ordinations done in Europe by Rev Harry
Pieper (Shaku Shōgon Hōshi)[2]
and Rev Jean Earacle (Shaku Jôan)[3].
In the same spirit initiated by Shōnyo Shōnin of sincere aspiration to spread
the authentic Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teachings in a non-Japanese environment,
Amidaji affirms the right to have its own ordination platform. Thus, a
candidate for monkhood (priesthood) can receive his or her ordination from any
of the monks or nuns affiliated with Amidaji after a serious examination and
going through the ceremony of ordination that we can held at any of our temples
or dojos.
Amidado (Hall of Amida), so now I am going to tell you what I did since that time. The following information are already present on various social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc
In 2022, I arranged a new kitchen in the former accommodation place and transformed the former little Hondo (Dharma Hall) into a library and accommodation place. There I installed a cooking stove on gas and many useful things.
in Amidaji kitchen with a guest from Taiwan
In the new accommodation place I also added a good stove made of tiles which is very useful during winter. This stove is even better than that from Amidado Hall which can warm the place for the duration of a service, while the heat in the library and accommodation place lasts for many hours.
Electricity was also added to both the new kitchen and library.
In
2023 I printed and framed ten images of various Buddhas and Enlightened Bodhisattvas,
like Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, White Tara, Green Tara, Mahakala, etc, some
of them wearing Amida on the crown of their head, as well as images of Shinran
Shonin, Rennyo Shonin, the seven Patriarchs (Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, T’an Luan,
Tao’ch’o, Shantao, Genshin, Honen), Shotoku Taishi, and I placed them inside
the Amidado Hall.
Amidado (Hall of Amida) where we held religious services and Dharma talks
Amidaji temple is opened to visitors if they do not mind the
simple conditions.
Accommodation can be offered for a period of one to seven days per visitor. One can sleep in the new library, or bring one's own tent, and
attend services and Dharma talks in the Amidado (Amida Hall). A solar shower and a new winter bathroom, are available, too. I also try my best to provide vegetarian meals from the vegetables raised in the garden of Amidaji. In time, I will
be able to offer better
conditions and more accommodation facilities, but if
people are determined to listen to the Dharma and there is the possibility for them
to travel, why not pay a visit to me now?
We can spend some meaningful time
together, discuss any doubt or misunderstanding you might have, say Nembutsu,
learn the simple Amidaji liturgy, and even help me with some physical work in
the courtyard. Lay people or teachers of other Buddhist traditions who are passing through Romania and don't have a place to stay can also receive accommodation for a few days at Amidaji. This temple has a friendly attitude towards all authentic lineages of transmission.
"Honen once said: ‘The
reasons I founded the Jodo (Pure Land) school was that I might show the
ordinary man how to be born into the Buddha’s real land of compensation (hōdo).
According to the Tendai sect, the ordinary man may be born into the so-called
Pure Land, but that land is conceived of as a very inferior place. Although the
Hossō school conceived of it as indeed a very superior place, they do not allow
that the common man can be born there at all. And all the schools, though
differing in many points, all agree in not allowing that the common man can be
born into the Buddha’s land of real compensation; while according to Zendo’s (Shan-tao) commentary, which laid the foundation of the Jodo (Pure Land) school,
it was made clear that birth into that land is possible even for the common
man. But many said to me: ‘You surely can promote the Nembutsu way of attaining
Ojo (birth into the Pure Land) without establishing a new school. You are doing
this merely out of ambition, to appear superior to others. If we ordinary
people can only attain this birth, it ought to be enough to be born into the
land in which the Buddha appears in His temporary body. Why do you need to talk
of their reaching that land of real compensation that is occupied by the
Buddhas and the highest Bodhisattvas alone?’ At first sight this
seems quite plausible, but on further reflection it really misses the point.
Unless I start a separate school, the truth that the common man may be born
into the Buddha’s land of compensation will be obscured, and it will be hard to
realize the deep meaning of Amida’s Primal Vow. I, therefore, in accordance
with the interpretation given by Zendo (Shan-tao), unhesitatingly proclaim the
doctrine of the land of real compensation. This is by no means a question of
personal ambition.”[1]
Both Honen Shonin and Shinran Shonin
were ordained Tendai monks. Although they left that school, they continued to
wear their monk robes, and while Honen remained celibate, Shinran got married
and had six children. Before him and after him, many monks had secret wives and
children, but Shinran went public about his marriage and continued to wear the
monk’s robes. Also, after he and his Master Honen were banished by the Emperor,
striped of their ordination status[1]
and given secular names, they also kept their robes. At that time Shinran said
about himself that he was neither monk nor lay, but he continued to wear the
robes of a monk. Later, they were both pardoned, so their former status was restored.
Why
did Shinran marry? Because he wanted to show that the salvation offered by
Amida Buddha does not make any discrimination between those who keep the
precept of celibacy and those who are attached to their wives and children or
have various other blind passions.
Why
did he say that he was neither a monk nor lay? There are two reasons for this.
First, although the Emperor stripped him of his monkhood and was given a
secular name, he did not consider himself a lay person living a worldly life
without any religious aspirations. Second, although he was pardoned and his
status restored, he was still not able to live the life of a monk belonging to
the Right Dharma Age, while in the same time, he had more aspirations than an
ordinary lay person. Later, all his ordained disciples followed his example and
got married. Even now the clergy of Jodo Shinshu, both men and women, get marry
and have children like the rest of Japanese Buddhist monks of other schools[2].
So, it is important to realize that Shinran did
not deny his monk ordination by saying that he is “neither monk, nor lay”, but
only his spiritual capacities to be like the monks of the Right Dharma Age when
Shakyamuni and His direct disciples were in the world. By saying, “neither
monk, nor lay”, he actually meant, “neither a virtuous monk of the Right Dharma
Age, nor a lay”. Thus, there is no problem if we, his disciples of modern
times, call ourselves monks and nuns as long as we keep in mind that we are not
the virtuous monks of that long gone era, but the decadent monks of this Last Dharma
Age.
As you may probably know, in many Buddhist
temples around the world, Jodo Shinshu or not, members organize parties with
music, alcohol, and dancing. Some say it relaxes people and brings them
together. I say it is a smart trick of internal maras (one's own blind passions
and ignorance) and/or external maras or various evil spirits to make people
forget the Dharma in the exact place where they have the chance to deepen its
meaning, a subtle way of distracting them from the teaching and keeping them
focused on their worldly passions and preoccupations.
Last month I installed a stove on wood in Amidado Hall of Amidaji temple. This makes services and teaching activities easier during the cold season. Thank you very much to all who donated to make this possible.
Please continue to support Amidaji temple!
Click here if you wish to make a donation or become a patron (constant monthly supporter) as there are still many things to be done:
After
I finished the outside thermal insulation (click here to read) I painted the walls and added some
tiles on the concrete platform which help against water infiltration. You can
see in the photos bellow all the phases of the work process, including the materials I
bought.
Also, I must continue with the plan
for this year that I presented to you in my first post of 2021 (click here toread): add a stove inside Amidado and library, buy new doors and windows for
the library and accommodation place, build a gate, add water in the whole
courtyard of Amidaji, buy firewood for winter, pay some taxes and many other things that are too many to
mention.
Amidado and the other buildings of Amidaji
If you wish to help me please donate
using this PayPal box:
Here are some topics for study and examination in our Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, especially useful for those
who want to become lay teachers or monks and nuns. The candidate is required to use passages
from the sacred texts in support of his or her explanations. You can start with
any topic as the order is not important.
1) What is samsara? The illusory
nature of samsara.
2) There is no creator god, ruler
and judge of the world. The incompatibility of belief in a monotheistic god and
Buddhism. Why those
who believe in a creator god cannot have true faith in Amida Buddha? Difference
between the so-called gods of monotheistic religions and Amida Buddha.
3)
Buddhist explanations on the origin and existence of the universe.
I’ve
made some important steps forward in the construction of Amidaji since my last post on this topic, by adding the thermal insulation on the outside walls
of Amidado (Amida Hall). You can see how this hall looks now in the left photo. Bellow I am presenting you all the phases of the process. I had to pay a professional worker to do all these things because I have no technical skills.
Now
I need to add a few layers of pre-paint materials and then paint it. I also
need to add some tiles that will help against water infiltration.
There are some other technical things to do but I don't know how to explain it because I am not a professional. The worker knows
what to do and I need to buy new materials indicated by him and pay him more for the next phase. Also, I must continue with the plan for this year that I presented to you in my last post (click here to read), add a stove inside Amidado and library, buy new doors and windows for the library and accommodation place, build a gate, pay some taxes and many other things that are too many to mention.
If you wish to help me please donate using this PayPal box:
or use other methods (Bank accounts, Revolut, etc) from this link (click here). Any small help is appreciated and very much needed.
This year I had very
few funds so I haven’t been able to do anything until now, but I hope that with
your help I will resume the work at the temple. Here is what I need to do next:
1) Add thermal
insulation on the outside walls of Amidado (Hall of Amida). This is my main
priority because otherwise the walls will be damaged from rain and snow. Basically,
I need to make it look the same as the other two wooden houses in Amidaji
complex (the library and accommodation place – see the photos). The estimative
cost for the thermal insulation is around 600-700 euro
-2) Build a
gate for the temple courtyard. Presently if anybody visits Amidaji with a car
or by foot I open a section of fence so that he can enter the yard. The
estimative cost is around 500 euro
Amidado (left), library (far left) and accommodation place (right)
3) Add better doors and windows to the library and accommodation place – the same type
of door and window I added to the Amidado last year. That type of door and
window is expansive but is a better insulation for the cold season and keeps
the warm inside. The estimative cost for the two doors and windows is around 600
– 800 euro
A 4) Add a stove on wood in the Amidado so that I can make religious services during the
cold season. The estimative cost for installing a stove in Amidado is around 400
euro
-5) Add a
stove on wood in the library so that people can also study during winter. The
estimative cost for installing a stove in the library is around 300 euro.
I also have many other things to do like paying some taxes for the
buildings and land which are also urgent, repair and extend the fence (perhaps
even making a better fence), a better bathroom, repair the living house near
Amidado courtyard, etc
The list is long and I struggle every year to do something and
advance a little. However, the situation is very difficult and my funds are limited.
If anybody wishes to help me, he or she can donate by using this
PayPal box:
Other methods of donation (Bank transfer, Revolut, etc) can be
found here (click here).
The image or statue you put in the center
of the altar must be Amida Buddha because in our tradition we rely exclusively
on Amida for our birth in the Pure Land. Chose the image you like most and you
feel comfortable with. We prefer a standing Amida as you see in the photos bellow,
because this better signifies that He is an active Buddha coming to save you. The
position of the hands in the classic Amida images of Jodo Shinshu school mean
“don’t be afraid, come as you are”. The 48 rays of lights coming from Amida’s
head represent His 48 vows. Those are also oriented from Amida to you.
Everything in Amida iconography of Jodo Shinshu suggests His active and
unconditional salvation.
If you wish you can also use a scroll with Nembutsu
written in Chinese characters or in your own language.
Marriage ceremoniescan be held at Amidaji temples on the following conditions[1]:
a)Only between biologically born men and women (see the important note bellow). Amidaji temple recognizes the natural differences between biologically born men and biologically born women, as Shakyamuni Buddha himself addressed to His disciples as (biologically born) men and (biologically born) women when He gave advice to couples. He never gave advices to couples who were not (biologically born) men and (biologically born) women, which means that we too cannot recognize such people as couples to be married. This is also why any sexual or gender ideology which tends to disregard such natural and biological differences between men and women, like for example, the ideas that sexual identity is something that can be chosen without regard to one's biology (without regard to the fact that one was born a man or a woman), will not be promoted by Amidaji temple and its representatives, priests and teachers.
This was a work which required a lot of money and efforts. Thermal insulation was added on the walls built in July which were next covered with wooden plaques, so now Amidado has a double sandwich like wall filled with insulation. Here is a panoramic photo of how the Amidado looks on the inside after all the work was done:
Inside Amidado (Hall of Amida)
and here you can see the various stages of work which lead to the result above:
Do
you want a Sangha which focuses on solving “the greatest matter of afterlife”
through simple faith in Amida Buddha?
Do
you want a Sangha which is not ashamed to be religious, devotional and faith
oriented?
Do
you want a Sangha which is not affiliated to the ideological agenda of political
groups?
Do
you want a healthy Dharmic environment focused on listening deeply to the Jodo
Shinshu teaching as it was taught by Shakyamuni Buddha, Shinran Shonin and
Rennyo Shonin?
Do
you want a place without modernists and false teachers who are not capable to
accept the existence of Amida Buddha and His Pure Land?
If
your answer to the above is YES, then Amidaji International Temple might be the
right place for you! We accept members from any country and we intend to
develop a genuine Sangha of orthodox Jodo Shinshu Buddhists all over the world.
Please
read carefully the information from the above links and think deeply before
joining us.Do not hurry. Life and death
is serious business and we are looking for dedicated people.
The editorial policy of this website is to present only the orthodox teachings of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Before I link to any other website, I investigate that website to make sure that they share the same attitude. I reject any website that presents false or divergent teachings, or that links to other websites that present false or divergent teachings.