This travelogue has been written for the enjoyment of those who are unfamiliar with Dostoevsky.
There are many tours of places related to Dostoevsky in Russia, but it is rare to find one written specifically for Europe. In this sense, we feel that we may be of some help to those who love Dostoevsky, even if only in a small way.
The morning of my third day in Haridwar has arrived. After yesterday's visit to the Mansa Devi temple and two consecutive days of pooja, I was already at the end of my physical strength. But during my free time this morning, I decided to go for a walk.
And I was astonished by what I saw there. It was such a shock that it greatly influenced my view of Buddhism.
Yukio Mishima is said to have said before his death. There will always come a natural time for each person to go to India.
This trip to India is the end point of my "journey through religions. Having studied various religions and cultures, my final destination must be India, the birthplace of Buddhism.
Nice to meet you. My name is Takahiro Ueda, the administrator of this blog. This blog started as my attempt to look at various things in my daily life and write words with the motto of asking myself questions, as you can see in the title of the blog.
This article will give you a general guide within our blog. If you are new to our blog or wondering what to read, please read this article first.
Starting with this article, I will give a brief account of the life of Gautama Buddha (Sakyamuni Buddha) with local photographs throughout the 25-part series. I traveled to the Buddhist sites in India from February to March 2024. In this series of articles, I will explain the life of Gautama Buddha with historical background while weaving together my unique local experiences.
In this article I will share with you some of my most influential novels to date.
As the name "10 novels as my calling card" suggests, these books have had a powerful influence on the formation of my thinking. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I thought it would be better if I did not introduce these books, but I decided to write about them.
In this article, "10 Books to Recommend to Students," we will introduce books that we highly recommend to students who are about to enter the workforce.
The books presented here will surely help you. Please feel cheated and read them first.
We hope you will read and utilize these books.
This travelogue will be a record of my trip to Europe in 2022 on the theme "Shinran and Dostoevsky".
The Dostoevskys traveled to Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the Czech Republic. I have also had the opportunity to relive their journey and reflect on the fateful journey that was to change his life. This is my full-length travelogue. Please read it.
Shinran and Dostoevsky.
A monk who lived from the late Heian to Kamakura periods, and on the other hand, a great writer representing 19th century Russia.
What if two people who seem to be completely unrelated actually have a significant connection?
This summary article describes such an encounter between me and Dostoevsky and why I, as a monk, must study Dostoevsky.
I embarked on a round-the-world trip to 13 countries over a period of 80 days starting at the end of March 2019. The route is Tanzania, Turkey, Israel, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy and Vatican, Spain, USA, and Cuba. In this article I will tell you why I embarked on my round-the-world trip.
This book is not only for those who are familiar with Yoshiemi Hotta's works, but rather for those who have never read his works. You will be surprised to know that there was such a wonderful writer in Japan!
This book will make you want to read Yoshiemi Hotta's works. I intend to read it from now on as well. I highly recommend this author!
This book has not faded at all nearly 70 years after its publication. It is extremely interesting.
Not only are there deep insights into the depths of the human psyche, but there is also a sprinkling of humor that will make you chuckle. This is travel writing at its finest.
This book may invite you to "go to India" as well.
I'd like to read Dostoevsky, but where on earth should I start? Is there a recommended order?"
This is a problem that many people who want to read Dostoevsky for the first time may have trouble with.
In this article, I will discuss my recommended introduction to Dostoevsky to answer these concerns.
There is something I would love to share with you all in this article. I want to say this out loud to the whole world! I want to tell you that here in Baden-Baden, Germany, there is a masterpiece of sculpture that is among the finest in the world!
Our days in Baden-Baden were some of the most powerful impacts of the 2022 trip. It was the highlight of the trip! The sculptures were amazing, Michelangelo-grade!
The holy city of Mihintale is believed to be the place where Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka. A rocky mountain stands alone in the jungle spreading out before your eyes. I was impressed by the presence of this rock! I was also impressed by this view. What a mythical world! There is no other place where the mythical scene of the beginning of Buddhism in Sri Lanka fits so well! Personally, this is one of the best spots in Sri Lanka.
I am now heading for the Sasserwa and Awkana Buddhas, masterpieces of Sri Lanka's Buddhist art known to those in the know.
These large Buddhas are located in the jungle, far from major sacred sites such as Mihintale and Anuradhapura, and are rarely seen by the average tourist. However, I was eager to see the Buddhist art of Sri Lanka with my own eyes.
In this article we will talk about the climate in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, a tropical tropical country, has two main climatic zones. The wet zone with high rainfall and the dry zone with low rainfall exist in this small island nation, and this has greatly influenced Sri Lanka's history. And the relationship between this climate and religion will also be considered in this article.
My trip to India, which began at the end of October, has come to a successful conclusion. After visiting Khajuraho, Saanchi, Mumbai, Ajanta, and Ellora, I headed to my next destination, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is of great significance to me in considering "my own Buddhism". Please look forward to my future articles.
Sculpture by Elora. The painting is Ajanta. That's it.
For a taste of the best of Indian Buddhist art, I highly recommend seeing these two together as a set.
Ajanta was also a truly wonderful place. I will never forget the fingertips of that lotus hand bodhisattva. That ultimate point where the fingertips touch each other...! That was a miracle. It was a miracle without a doubt.
The best of our blog! The "Dostoevsky's Journey" trilogy - my full-length European travelogue!
(6) The day I was convinced that Buddhism would never spread in India - I was shocked at the Ganges bathhouse.
Travels to Buddhist Sacred Sites in India and Sri Lanka: What I felt there when I was called to India
Welcome to our website. For those of you who are visiting our blog for the first time. First of all, please click here.
(1) The birth of Prince Siddhartha in Lumbini, Nepal!
10 novels instead of business cards - I'm ashamed to say I'm such a person.
Ten books that a bookish monk would seriously recommend to students - reading is always a powerful thing!
Takahiro Ueda, "Dostoevsky and His Wife's Fateful Journey: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love" - A journey that traces a once-in-a-lifetime journey with his wife that changed the destiny of a great writer.
Why am I, a monk, reading Dostoevsky and world literature?" Articles - The Surprising Similarities Between Shinran and Dostoevsky
Round-the-World Travels - A journey through the world's religions and history - Why I, a Buddhist monk, embarked on this journey
Reading Zen'e Hotta: A Compass for Understanding the World" - Recommended introductory book by the great writer who also influenced Hayao Miyazaki.
Yoshiemi Hotta, "What I Thought in India" - India has an "oopsie face"... A masterpiece travelogue of India by one of Japan's leading writers!
What should I read Dostoevsky first? What is the recommended reading order?
Do you know the Dostoevsky statue in Baden-Baden? ~ The ultimate sculptural work that I was most impressed with in Germany!
(27) Visit to Mihintale, the sacred place where Buddhism was introduced in Sri Lanka - Impressed by a mythical world worthy of the name of a sacred place!
(26) Sasserwa Giant Buddha and Awkana Giant Buddha - Visit the masterpieces of Sri Lanka's Giant Buddha that few people know about and visit them in the mountains.
(25) How is the climate in Sri Lanka? I thought about the relationship between climate and religion. A word about Japanese Buddhism as well.
