Vairochana, the Great Sun Buddha

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on October 26, 2015.)

Vairocana Buddha at Longhua Temple, Shanghai

Longtime followers of this column may remember me saying (more than once!) that Vairochana is my "favorite Buddha," or even my "personal Buddha." Here's why.

The Monk Konghai

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on November 9, 2015.)

A statue of Konghai at Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou

The Japanese word for "Great Teacher" (大師) is spelled "Daishi" in Roman characters, and pronounced die-shee. (The Chinese spell it dashi in Hanyu Pinyin, and pronounce it da-shuh). One Great Teacher in Japan has been designated THE Daishi, since he stands out above the rest. His name was Kukai (Ch. Konghai) and his full title "Kobo Daishi" (Hongfa Dashi)--the Great Teacher who Spreads the Dharma (the Buddha's teachings).