“…institutional Japanese Buddhism remains even today in a state of" suspended fossilization. That is to say, it remains focused almost exclusively on the conduct of rites believed to benefit the dead, not the living. Generally unable and unwilling to critically evaluate Japanese Buddhism's past subservience to the state and its rulers, institutonial Buddhist leaders end up paying no more than lip service to the uni-versalistic doctrines and moral discipline that are so fundamental to their faith. In alleging this, I would happily be proven wrong.”