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Thomas Myojo Radcliffe Male London United Kingdom Online Now: Like

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Blog Posts (3)
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Dharma Stage

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Vow 22

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Multi-faith Discussion

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Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's Discussions

enlightened or bombu?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Robert McCarthy May 7, 2012. 9 Replies 0 Likes

Zen is clear that we are essentially enlightened beings. Pureland insists that we are hopelessly deluded. Both seem to me to be true. On the one hand the mind with all it's contradictions,…Continue

What should we do about the evictions at Parliament square?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Dr Param Anand Feb 2, 2012. 1 Reply 0 Likes

I think it is time that socially engaged Buddhists did something to support the protesters in Parliament square.Perhaps we should go and bow. Perhaps we could do this individually but also maybe have…Continue

Is Bombu a view of self?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Thomas Myojo Radcliffe Apr 15, 2012. 14 Replies 0 Likes

On the one hand there is our conditioning or whatever one might call the irresistible personality traits which seem to cause so much trouble - on the other there is that eternal transcendent…Continue

Beliefs, not a good thing?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Thomas Myojo Radcliffe Apr 13, 2012. 64 Replies 1 Like

I have been a buddhist now for 20 years. I used to hold the standard buddhist beliefs. Karma, enlightenment, the path etc... I felt very clever compared to 'ordinary' people or even what I thought of…Continue

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Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's Page

Latest Activity

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe replied to Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's discussion To awaken or not to awaken that is the question in the group Vow 22

"Hi Ant, Shinran said a lot more than that. He talked again and again about faith in the original vow. Just saying the Nembutsu is meaningless without faith. What is faith? How do we come to it? Shinran came to it through grueling attempts to purify…"

6 minutes ago

Ant replied to Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's discussion To awaken or not to awaken that is the question in the group Vow 22

"Just say the nembutsu to be saved by Amida Buddha - Shinran "

1 hour ago

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe left a comment for Girolamo Marri

"Hi, any questions about meditation please ask. T"

May 19

Soror Luna liked Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's discussion Beliefs, not a good thing?

Apr 24

Robert McCarthy replied to Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's discussion To awaken or not to awaken that is the question in the group Vow 22

"your words and your experience really resonate with how it has been for me too Myojo, thank you very much."

Feb 2

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe commented on Dharmavidya's blog post Not Everything is Impermanent

"I couldn't agree more Mat. I often refer to myself as Mr Bombu. When the mind is in Bombu mode then the background awareness of Buddha Nature helps it not to fall into despair and self denigration. When it is in Buddha mode then the…"

Feb 2

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe replied to Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's discussion To awaken or not to awaken that is the question in the group Vow 22

"I think this is a very crucial discussion. From my own perspective; At first the Dharma appeared as a saviour - it gave me some explanations for suffering which sounded as if they made sense. It gave me practices and companionship. I definitely felt…"

Feb 2

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe replied to Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's discussion To awaken or not to awaken that is the question in the group Vow 22

"Yes. I think your comments are absolutely valid. It seems to me that often people want a simple answer. Either there are beings or there aren't...... Either we're free or not! Either we suffer or we don't.... I don't think it is…"

Feb 2

Susthama replied to Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's discussion To awaken or not to awaken that is the question in the group Vow 22

"I think Rob answered this for me in his first paragraph. It may be that what Tom has written is true but what good is it to understand the Bodhisattva ideal in that way if our experience of the world tells us otherwise. It raises a lot of questions…"

Jan 31

Robert McCarthy replied to Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's discussion To awaken or not to awaken that is the question in the group Vow 22

"Enlightenment is a grace way beyond my understanding Myojo. I so feel we need to give our energy, our passion and our actual work to the suffering manifest before our eyes; and there are beings before our eyes and there is much suffering. We beings…"

Jan 31

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe added a discussion to the group Vow 22

To awaken or not to awaken that is the question

One understanding of the Bodhisattva vow is that the aspirant 'puts off Nirvana' in order to remain in Samsara to save beings.I suppose that this assumes that once enlightenment occurs then the game is up - there is no more action.What do people think of this?I may be fantastically wrong but I don't see this as a personal thing; there are minds and bodies - most minds and bodies think that they are minds and bodies - some realize that they are not minds and bodies but the awareness OF mind and…See More

Jan 31

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Thomas Myojo Radcliffe commented on Dharmavidya's blog post Not Everything is Impermanent

"Looking back at this thread I see that there is a justified criticism of the way in which Buddha Nature can be latched onto by some Buddhists as a sort of substitute soul concept. Likewise when the phrase 'true self' comes up this can be…"

Jan 31

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe replied to Susthama's discussion Life's koans in the group Vow 22

"Thanks Mat, great essay. Am going back to the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras for another look."

Jan 27

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe commented on Dharmavidya's blog post Not Everything is Impermanent

"At last. This is something which I have often wrestled with in conversation with 'modern' Buddhists. All CONDITIONED things are transient. All CONDITIONED things are unsatisfactory. All THINGS are not self. Ergo there is an unconditioned.…"

Jan 27

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe replied to Susthama's discussion Life's koans in the group Vow 22

"Thank you. I'll ponder."

Jan 26

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe replied to Susthama's discussion Life's koans in the group Vow 22

"Interesting Kaspalita, So.......what's not impermanent?"

Jan 26

Profile Information

About Me:: I am interested in widening my interaction with other Buddhists. I am making great friends with Shin Buddhists in Japan and am very interested in how Zen and Shin might intermingle.

Faith Background & Affiliation: Soto Zen Priest

Occupation or Primary Activity: Teacher

Involvement in Spirituality/Religion: Running dojo, retreats, personal practice.

What is your interest in Amida Trust: I remember David Brazier very well from when I worked at Watkins books. We held a very successful public talk there at the time of the publication of his book on the New Buddhism. I was more of a traditionalist then and inspite of liking David's ideas very much we didn't keep in touch. My views have changed over the years due principally to losing someone very close to me as a result of the war in Iraq. My Buddhism finally wants to engage.

How did you find this web site?: I looked for it

What country are you living in?: Mainly UK but also at a Shin Temple in Japan

What is the nearest town to where you live? If in UK, please give first half of your postcode. Thank you.: London SE14

Are you a member of an Amida group/Congregation: not at the moment

Have you visited: None of these

What can you offer to other members of this network?: A place to stay, Guide, Expertise

What other interests do you have, eg Arts, Gardening and so on.: cooking, gardening, chanting, cleaning, listening to people, trying to see what never changes as opposed to what does, Zazen, seeing what i can do for people, learning Japanese.
I also work at an acting school.
I have also worked in mental health in the past and am an experienced martial artist.

Thomas Myojo Radcliffe's Blog

Zazen group south east london

Posted on April 28, 2012 at 23:40 3 Comments 0 Likes

Does anyone want to start a Zazen group in south east london? I live in New Cross Gate. I have been running Zen groups for years but would like to have one closer to home.

Bowing in parliament square.

Posted on January 18, 2012 at 23:30 2 Comments 1 Like

I don't know what to do about the evictions from Parliament square but I do know how to bow. I shall be bowing there from 10.00 to 11.00 a.m. tomorrow. Join me if you wish.

Thomas Myojo

Urban retreat with Claude Anshin Thomas

Posted on May 17, 2011 at 22:14 1 Comment 0 Likes

Hello everyone, my name is Thomas Myojo radcliffe. I am a Soto Zen priest living and working in London.

I am organizing a two day retreat in central london 23rd-24th July, led by Claude Anshin Thomas, author of At Hell's Gate - a record of his experience as a teenage soldier in Vietnam and his gradual emergence from hell to become a Buddhist priest.

Claude travels almost permanently talking, running retreats and campaigning for peace. He lives the life of a mendicant accepting…

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