Comments on: The World’s Third-Largest Belief Category http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/the-worlds-third-largest-belief-category/ Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:02:37 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sebastian http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/the-worlds-third-largest-belief-category/comment-page-1/#comment-1076 Sebastian Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:56:03 +0000 http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/?p=480#comment-1076 Leprechaun, that's such a nice story. =) Leprechaun, that’s such a nice story. =)

]]> By: leprechaun http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/the-worlds-third-largest-belief-category/comment-page-1/#comment-899 leprechaun Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:05:30 +0000 http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/?p=480#comment-899 Tetsugen, a Japanese Zen Master, decided to publish the sutras, which at that time were available only in Chinese. The books were to be printed with wood blocks in an edition of seven thousand copies, a tremendous undertaking. Tetsugen began by travelling and collecting donations for this purpose. A few sympathizers would give him a hundred pieces of gold, but most of the time he received only small coins. He thanked each donor with equal gratitude. After ten years Tetsugen had enough money to begin his task. It happened that at that time the Uji River overflowed. Famine followed. Tetsugen took the funds he had collected for the books and spent them to save others from starvation. Then he began again his work of collecting. Several years afterward an epidemic spread over the country. Tetsugen again gave away what he had collected. For a third time he started his work, and after twenty years his wish was fulfilled. The printing blocks which produced the first edition of sutras can be seen today in ?baku monastery in Kyoto. The Japanese tell their children that Tetsugen made three sets of sutras, and that the first two invisible sets surpass even the last. Tetsugen, a Japanese Zen Master, decided to publish the sutras, which at that time were available only in Chinese. The books were to be printed with wood blocks in an edition of seven thousand copies, a tremendous undertaking.

Tetsugen began by travelling and collecting donations for this purpose. A few sympathizers would give him a hundred pieces of gold, but most of the time he received only small coins. He thanked each donor with equal gratitude. After ten years Tetsugen had enough money to begin his task.

It happened that at that time the Uji River overflowed. Famine followed. Tetsugen took the funds he had collected for the books and spent them to save others from starvation. Then he began again his work of collecting.

Several years afterward an epidemic spread over the country. Tetsugen again gave away what he had collected.

For a third time he started his work, and after twenty years his wish was fulfilled. The printing blocks which produced the first edition of sutras can be seen today in ?baku monastery in Kyoto.

The Japanese tell their children that Tetsugen made three sets of sutras, and that the first two invisible sets surpass even the last.

]]> By: John Stretch http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/the-worlds-third-largest-belief-category/comment-page-1/#comment-852 John Stretch Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:37:46 +0000 http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/?p=480#comment-852 Well, I'd always assumed that most intelligent Jews were atheists anyway (after all, it's a definition which is more racial than religious) so I'm rather sorry to see that there are so few of them. Well, I’d always assumed that most intelligent Jews were atheists anyway (after all, it’s a definition which is more racial than religious) so I’m rather sorry to see that there are so few of them.

]]> By: Robert http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/the-worlds-third-largest-belief-category/comment-page-1/#comment-850 Robert Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:51:07 +0000 http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/?p=480#comment-850 Well that is good news! Brilliant piece by Polly. Well that is good news! Brilliant piece by Polly.

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