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The Hongaku Jodo school of Buddhism encourages development of local sanghas led by Clergy, Lay or fully ordained, leaders
who otherwise tend to live ordinary lives in their communities. Hongaku Jodo is committed to providing training and assistance
for any who are called to serve a suffering world in this way.
The following quote is from the book PURE LAND PURE MIND by J. C. Cleary:
"For many Pure Land Buddhists, an important means of strengthening their faith has been membership in a group of fellow believers.
The faithful join to form Pure Land Associations, where they can meet regularly with like minded people to recite the Buddha-name
and, if they are fortunate, listen to genuine teachers expound Pure Land texts. To study and to interact as Sangha. Though
Buddha-name recitation can of course be done alone in private, many people have found group recitation very powerful in helping
them to focus their attention. Being part of a community with shared beliefs helps to reinforce the dedication of the individual
and one's belief that Pure Land is a correct application of the Dharma that really works for anyone, any time, any place.
Pure Land adepts often founded teaching centers where people could gather to recite the Buddha-name and hear Pure Land doctrine.
They enrolled believers in religious associations dedicated to Buddha-remembrance, with their own bylaws for membership, scheduled
meetings, and guidelines for practice. Though many monks and nuns practiced Buddha-name recitation, and many lay Buddhists
pursued Pure Land practice on their own, the typical institutional form of Pure Land Buddhism was the voluntary association
of lay people, sometimes, but not always, led by monks and nuns.
...In many times and places, Pure Land societies have had their own facilities and funds. Under oppressive conditions, where
the local social structure offered little security and much institutional violence and exploitation, popular religious groupings
might become the real focus of loyalty and community feeling."
While this negative condition is not the case currently in much of the world, generally, one should consider not wasting valuable
time.
HOW?
Do it. Continue your studies. Develop your Buddha Minds. Become truly ONE with the Dharma. Open your eyes and you will begin
to see the WAY.
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