[Buddha-l] query about a term in Japanese zen, translated as "soul" in one text.

[sjziobro at cs.com]

Joanna,

I am not responding to your informative post, but responding to the original inquiry, presuming that it has yet to be answered.  The term translated as "soul" was most likely "tamashii" (魂).  This terms refers to the animating principle of a living being.  It can also connote the psyche or the spirit.  Since the advent of Christianity to Japan in the mid-sixteenth century A.D. a Sino-Japanese composite has also been used, "reikon" (霊魂).  This term connotes what 霊魂 connotes, and it can be used to translate "jiva."  "Rei" (霊) by itself can connote numen, spirit (pneuma).  I'll check some of my specifically Japanese Buddhist dictionaries for these terms.

Regards,

Stan Ziobro



-----Original Message-----
From: Jo <jkirk at spro.net>
To: 'Buddhist discussion forum' <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
Sent: Sun, Jan 15, 2012 11:51 am
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] query about a term in Japanese zen, translated as "soul" in one text.


In my comments here I’m not referring to E. Asian Buddhists but to what we think 
r someone thinks the Buddha thought.