Hinduism

ryouzyusenThe Life of Buddha (Sakyamuni) as Seen in Local Photographs

（7）Fateful encounter with King　Bimbisara To the Rajagaha in Magadha Country, the first destination after Buddha's ordination

The first place Buddha went to was Rajigir of Magadha. Magadha was one of the most powerful countries in India at that time, and its capital, Rajigir, was also a cutting-edge city in terms of economy and culture, and a gathering place for many religious leaders and thinkers.

Here Buddha will have a certain fateful encounter. This article will also discuss such an encounter between Buddha and King Bimbisara.
The Life of Buddha (Sakyamuni) as Seen in Local Photographs

⑸Significance of Buddha's marriage and the birth of his son Rahula - Was Rahula really an "obstacle" to ordination?

The young Buddha, who was living a depressing life in the royal palace, also decided to take a wife. Rahula was born. The name "Rahula" is often said to mean "obstacle," but upon further investigation, I discovered that it has a completely different meaning. In this article, I will discuss the different theories of Rahula and Buddha's ordination.
Indian BuddhismThe Life of Buddha (Sakyamuni) as Seen in Local Photographs

(1) The birth of Prince Siddhartha in Lumbini, Nepal!

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.
What is ordination?Buddhism in India

Kan Sasaki, "What is an ordained priest?" - What is a priest in the first place? Recommended reference book for thinking about Japanese Buddhism and precepts.

As the title of this book suggests, "What is ordination? Some may get the impression from the introduction that this book sounds difficult, but rest assured, it is not. The narrative of Dr. Kan Sasaki is very easy to understand and read.

The book also discusses the uniqueness of such Japanese Buddhism. After all, it is only by comparing the two that we can see what we can see. The book is also very stimulating because it provides a detailed look at the actual conditions of life in early Buddhism in India and Sri Lanka.
Yukio Mishima Impressions of IndiaYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Yukio Mishima's "Impressions of India" - What did Mishima see and think during his trip to India in his later years? Strong influence on "The Sea of Fertility!

Yukio Mishima spent 15 days in India in the fall of 1967. The route was a forced march around the vast country of India.

In his later years, Mishima had a fairly strong interest in India. This is not an age when anything can be easily searched on the Internet. You cannot learn much about Hinduism without actively gathering information yourself. This strong interest in India and Buddhism seems to have greatly influenced Mishima's literature, especially "The Sea of Fertility.

There is no doubt that this interview article is an important source of information about Mishima's views on India.
From Ruins to "Sacred Sites"-Buddhist Sacred Sites Living in GlobalizationBuddhism in India

Noriko Maejima, "From Ruins to 'Sacred Sites': Buddhist Sacred Sites for Living with Globalization" - The Shocking Facts about Buddha's Sacred Site of Enlightenment, Buddhagaya

This book is a work that lets you know the shocking facts about Bodh Gaya, a sacred Buddhist site in India.

Bodh Gaya is a world-famous holy site where the Buddha attained enlightenment.

But what if this sacred place has been forgotten for a long time and was only recently discovered?

Frankly, what is written in this book may be quite shocking to Japanese people.

I believe that it is never a waste of time to know what was happening here. However inconvenient that may be to me as a Buddhist...
Sri LankaBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Teruji Ito, "Introduction to Sri Lankan Buddhist Art" - Many photos! A useful guidebook for touring Buddhist monuments in Sri Lanka!

This book will look at major Buddhist sites such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy, as well as other distinctive Buddhist sites.

This book, in any case, contains a large number of photographs, which make it easy to visualize the local situation. In addition, the explanations are written in an easy-to-understand manner for beginners, making this a very welcome introductory work.

I highly recommend this work to anyone who is going to Sri Lanka or is interested in Sri Lankan Buddhism. This book can be a guidebook for sightseeing. Why not pick up a copy?
South IndiaIndian thought, culture and history

World History Travels in South India" edited by Noboru Karashima and Teiji Sakata - Full of photos! Recommended for learning about the unique architecture and culture of Chennai and other places in India that differ from northern India!

This work, "World History Journey: South India," is a recommended guidebook for South India, which has a different culture from North India.

The most unique feature of this book is that it is full of photographs. As you look at the wonderful photographs and trace the history of South India, you will definitely want to visit the country yourself.

When we think of India, we tend to think of one India, but India is huge! (lol)

Just as the Kanto and Kansai regions have different cultures in Japan, India has its own culture in the north and south, or even in all directions.

This book will give you a feel of South India. It is a good guidebook for an introduction to South India, as it is full of photographs.
Brahmins and Hymns of Modern and Contemporary South IndiaIndian thought, culture and history

Jun Koo, "Brahmins and Hymns of Modern and Contemporary South India" - Tamils and Bhakti Faith. Recommended for learning about South Indian culture.

While there are numerous books on Indian religion and culture, a book written specifically on South Indian music is rare. This is the first time I have thought about Indian culture from this perspective, so I was able to read this book with a very fresh mind.

I myself recently heard Hindu prayer music in the holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh on the upper Ganges River.

That melody still lingers in my ears. For some reason, it was an unforgettable melody. Even I, who heard it for the first time, could not help but think how attached it must have been to the Indian people.

This book is quite geeky as it talks about the musicians of the time and their music, but it is an interesting work that gives an atmosphere unique to South India, which is different from North India.