Exploring the important Shin Buddhist text “The Tannisho” from a Unitarian and Universalist perspective — A series of Wednesday Evening Zoom Conversations

On Wednesday 26th January 2022 I’ll be starting the new series of ZOOM Wednesday Evening Conversations exploring the important Shin Buddhist text “The Tannisho.” It begins at 7.15 for 7.30pm and runs until 9pm (link at the end of this post). The last conversation of this current series will be on Wednesday 13th July 2022. 

Full schedule and Zoom link at the end of this post.  

At the end of last year, I began to explore this text with you because I could see that it connected powerfully with the philosophy and theology of my own Unitarian and Universalist tradition and because it speaks well to many contemporary issues facing us as a liberal religious community. Since then I’ve done a lot more research and have discovered that between 1887 and 1922 a number of intimate, direct connections were made between Shin Buddhists and Unitarians and Universalists in Japan (see, for example HERE and HERE). I’ll begin the first conversation by briefly introducing you to what I have discovered. It’s an interesting story . . . We’ll then move on to the main event and, just to remind you, below is the “homework” I sent out after our last meeting. To get the most from this conversation it’s worth taking the time to get hold of and read through the texts noted below. At the end of this post, you’ll find the Zoom link and a list of future dates. I look forward to seeing some of you on a Wednesday evening soon.  

The Tannisho

https://www.themathesontrust.org/papers/fareasternreligions/Tannisho-Unno.pdf

Alfred Bloom’s commentary on The Tannisho

https://bdkamerica.org/product/a-commentary-with-the-text-of-the-tannisho-strategies-for-modern-living/

Bloom is a really important figure in the introduction of Shin Buddhism to the West so, were you really enthused to dive much deeper into this at any point (and I fully realise that you might not!), here's a link to a self-study course written by him and made freely available to one and all:

https://bschawaii.org/shindharmanet/course/

The rest of the site is also worth taking a look at should you be so minded.

Topic: Cambridge Unitarian Church Wednesday Evening Conversation

    Jan 26, 2022 19:30 - Introductory 

    Feb 9, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 1

    Feb 23, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 2

    Mar 9, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 3

    Mar 23, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 4

    Apr 6, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 5

    Apr 20, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 6

        May 18, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 7

        Jun 1, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 8

        Jun 15, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 9

        Jun 29, 2022 19:30 - Chapter 10

        Jul 13, 2022 19:30 - Summing-up sessions and what text next!?

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81957816187?pwd=Q2FMcmlnOXQvaHVtVzhac0J5b2k3dz09

Meeting ID: 819 5781 6187

Passcode: 066222