Posted on this Website in May 2003 with permission from Reverent Briones

Reverend Briones was born and raised in Mountain View, CA and worked for 28 years as a Research Biologist in the Department of Physiology at Syntex Pharmaceuticals in Stanford. He took an early retirement to enroll at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, an affiliate of the Graduate of Theology Union of Cal. Berkeley. Upon completion, he attended the "seminary" in Kyoto, Japan for three years and received ordination (Tokudo and Kyoshi) within the Buddhist School of Jodo Shinshu. He returned to the States last year in June and began orientation at Nishi Los Angeles Hongwanji Betsuin and in January of this year, joined the ministerial staff as a full time minister. Reverend Briones has two beautiful daughters still in Mountain View and a really neat 3 year old grandson. His fiancee is here tonight and is also an ordained Jodo Shinshu minister but from Higashi Hongwanji.

From: Oscar H
To: Harold C Kameya
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 04:46:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: JACL Forum

Hi Harold

Thanks for the tape from the San Fernando Valley JACL forum. Too bad that I couldn't be there since I am living in the bay area now. I watched the tape. Very good forum! I, however, would like to ask Rev Briones a few questions to clarify some issues. I think others may have the same questions as well.

Also, as I promised, I am making a transcript of that forum. It requires much more work than I had originally thought.

I would like to have an article from Rev Briones on our website because there is no article about gay religion/spirituality on our current website. In the forum, Rev Briones said repeatedly that sexuality does not matter. But he did not go into details. He briefly mentioned that homosexuality is not considered as a sexual misconduct or sin in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, also called Shin Buddhism. But why? Because Jodo Shinshu Buddhism fails to mention homosexuality in its list of sins? So is, by default, homosexuality not a sin? Or does Buddhist text specifically tolerate homosexuality? Does any Buddhist text mention homosexuality at all? Or does it simply ignore the issue? Does omission in Buddhist scriptures necessarily mean acceptance?

Rev Briones also mentioned the "Primal Vow". He said that the Vow includes everyone. But how does the Vow apply to me if I have never taken that vow? Does the Jodo Shinshu Vow work the same way as the "Covenant" in Christianity? I am not a theologian and certainly no expert in religions. But I think Covenant in Christianity is a binding agreement between God and individuals. If I have never made such a vow, how can I be included?

Thanks.

Oscar

From: William Briones
To: Oscar H
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 14:29:44 -0800
Subject: RE:

Greetings Mr. Hur,

I hope this finds you in good health as we begin the holiday season.

Just wanted to touch base with you to let you know Harold Kameya forwarded me your correspondence regarding your questions on what I said and didn't say at the FSV JACL panel discussion.

Unfortunately, I am unable to respond to your questions/comments at this time... I'm really swamped! In regards to an article, I'd have to do a little research before I find myself taking my foot out of my mouth.

In brief, our teachings are not about following some dogmatic doctrine adhering to a rigid moral set of absolutes. Buddhism is concerned primarily with personal awakening to what is True and Real. Spiritual insights do not produce right or wrong answers concerning ethical matters, i.e. if your daughter wants an abortion, if you want to pull the plug from your suffering brain dead grandfather, or if you prefer the same sex partner, as individuals we are encouraged to think for ourselves and come up with our own conclusions based upon our own spiritual insight.

However, the Vow I speak of is not a vow that we take, rather it is a Vow that the Dharmakara made many eons ago. This Cosmological story speaks universally for mankind's aspiration of someday experiencing freedom and emancipation from the hardships and suffering of everyday living.

So the story goes that the Dharmakara made 48 Vows to become a Buddha. He had to fulfill these 48 Vows or he would not become a Buddha. Of the 48 the 18th Vow is the touchstone of our Jodo Shinshu Tradition. He says that... If, when He attains Buddhahood, sentient beings in the ten directions who entrust themselves to him, and aspire to be Born into his/her land� if they're not born there then He will not become a Buddha (I really paraphrased this)...

Therefore since the Dharmakara did in fact become Buddha... then we have already have become Enlightened (One must understand that Buddhism transcends our time i.e. "clock time"), we just have to realize it.

So this Vow covers everyone... Everyone! No one is excluded.

Therefore, we regard everyone as has having the potential of becoming aware of this Enlightenment.

Our founder's teacher said... you should always live by creating the proper conditions to hear the Dharma (the Teachings), "If you can't hear as a celibate, hear it by getting married. If you can't hear by being married than be celibate." So it goes without saying� If you can't hear it if you are straight then be gay.

One more thing... as you stated in regards to Covenant... no such word in Buddhism. In Christianity God and man are dualistic in nature. Man will never be equal to God. Man will always be subservient to God... making deals. In Buddhism we become one. We can realize Buddhahood. Buddha is not some deity or some supreme creator and judge. Buddha is Universal Oneness.

I grew up in Mountain View, just up from Sunnyvale. I'll be coming home this holiday, if you're interested in chatting let me know and we can meet. By the way, I'm not proselytizing.

Thank you for your interest.

Rev. Bill

From: Oscar H
To: William Briones
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2002 03:58:10 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: JACL Forum

Hi Rev Briones

Thank you very much for your reply. I am very happy to begin a spiritual dialogue with you. Yes, I am looking forward to meet you in person in Sunnyvale or Mountain View. By the way, like you, I was also a research biochemist before converting to a semi-quasi-pseudo computer scientist. I'm doing genomics.

I, however, still have a few questions. During the JACL forum, you specifically focused on Jodo Shinshu. Jodo Shinshu ("True Pure Land") Buddhism is simply a sect of "Pure Land" Buddhism. And Pure Land School itself is also a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. Also, Pure Land School Buddhism is widely spread in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. However, the Pure Land sect of Jodo Shinshu is indigenous and uniquely Japanese. I want to know if the Vow is uniquely Jodo Shinshu. What about other branches of Mahayana Buddhism, which dominates China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam? Do they share the same Vow as well?

Also what about Theravada Buddhism, which dominates Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand? I understand that Mahayana Buddhism is more "liberal" than Theravada Buddhism. Am I correct?

I guess my question is, "Is your Jodo Shinshu Vow universal and shared by all other branches of Buddhism?"

Thank you very much.

Oscar

From: William Briones
To: Oscar H
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 18:54:16 -0800
Subject: RE: JACL Forum

Greetings Oscar,

You've asked some interesting questions... I'll try to answer them in a "nutshell".

All schools of Buddhism base their doctrines from words attributed to Shakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha). Theravada Buddhism is based on the canon of Buddhist scriptures written in Pali. Within the Mahayana tradition these are in the form of Sutras i.e. Diamond, Lotus, Heart and Pure Land Sutras.

Jodo Shinshu, as well as Jodo Shu, use the Three Pure Land Sutras as the bases of their doctrinal lineage, hence we are know as Pure Land Buddhist.

The Three Pure Land Sutras (Large, Small, and Contemplation) stresses that the Mahayana ideal of Enlightenment is for everyone. They were directed to the "regular people" vs. monks and nuns in the monastery.

Monks and Nuns are considered to have the best position to realize enlightenment in this life, because they closely follow the life of Shakyamuni Buddha by following strict practices.

Shinran was the actual founder of Jodo Shinshu (jodo = Pure Land, shin = true, shu = teaching, hence True Teaching of the Pure Land), however he never intended to establish a new school of Buddhism, he only considered himself a student of Honen (the founder of Jodo Shu).

Shinran stressed the 18th Vow of the 48 Vows that the Bodhisattva Dharmakara made, according to the Larger Pure Land Sutra (please see my last correspondence). Shinran stressed that the 18th Vow (or Primal Vow) which is true Compassion, is directed towards the "foolish being". In other words, it is directed to us, foolish beings who are unable to carry on any religious practice to its final goal of absolute freedom. Shinran makes us aware that while we are foolish beings or imperfect beings, we are never the less embraced by the Amida Buddha's Primal Vow.

So within our tradition, we say we have no practice. Because any practice that we (regular Joe Blow) do i.e. meditation, chanting, visualization, etc. is motivated by blind passion and self-centeredness. One only need to acknowledge that one is embraced in the Universal Truth of what is True and Real. To that end we recite in gratitude and appreciation the Name of Amida Buddha... in Japanese it is Namo Amida Butsu.

So how do apply this to ethical issues of our modern times? Easy... we are all "foolish beings", It is almost impossible to changes one's nature, especially to eradiate greed, hatred and delusion. However, it is through the teachings that we foster self-reflection, and new awareness of oneself and how we are inter-connected with the world.

That's it in nutshell� I hope this is what you were in search of...

Rev. B.

•  Pure Land School Buddhism (Chinese: Jingtu; Japanese: Jodo; Korean: Choto)