Project on Ojo and Death

The Ojo and Death Project

Its Meaning for Pure Land Buddhism,
Japanese Buddhism and Contemporary Society

Introduction

Here at the Jodo Shu Research Institute, we have projects that not only look into doctrinal issues, but ones that also involve the relationship between Buddhism and various contemporary issues. For example, we have had a long running interest in bio-ethics and have recently held public forums on the issue. Until just the past few years, these projects have been conducted in Japanese with mostly a concern for theoretical and doctrinal issues.

In this way, our International Relations Section has developed a project on “Ojo and Death: Its Meaning for Pure Land Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism and Contemporary Society” in order to enrich the whole work of the Institute by bringing in foreign experts and hosting meetings and conferences in English for international audiences.. The chief of our International Relations Section, Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu, has been actively involved in the Institute’s bio-ethics study group. Further, he teaches ethics and spirituality at the Keio University School of Medicine, and has developed his own temple as a place for bringing together the medical and spiritual worlds in dialogue.

This project seeks to bridge various divides between:

scholarly and theoretical approaches to bio-ethics & the actual practice of relieving those who suffer from the problems related to bio-ethics.
the materialistic medical system which neglects the spiritual needs of patients & the ritualistic Buddhist temple system which neglects the spiritual needs of the living.
classical Buddhist teaching and practice & its application to modern living and dying.

It is our very specific interest to bring medical and religious professionals together in a dynamic dialogue to grapple with the material and spiritual problems of Japan’s aging society.