Double Indemnity 29 May 1988

Trevor Leggett was head of the Japanese Department of the BBC.

This is one of his broadcasts to Japan

Zubari for 29 May 1988

Hello listeners!

After retiring from being Head of the BBC Japanese Service, eighteen years ago, I began to publish translations of Japanese Buddhist texts.

So, every year, I am invited to speak about Japanese Buddhism to the British Buddhist Summer Conference.  About 200 British Buddhists meet at a big conference centre in the country, for two weeks. I tell them about Zen Buddhism.

Besides Japanese, I also translate ancient texts from Sanskrit. I lived in India for three years when I was young, and learned some Sanskrit there.

I have published four translations of ancient Sanskrit texts. So, I am also invited to speak, every year, at the summer conference of the Theosophical Society. About 100 people interested in the ancient Hindu religion meet for two weeks, just like the Buddhist.

Of course, Theosophy is quite different from Buddhism. But – surprisingly – I often meet the same people at both the conferences.  They believe in Buddhism, but also in Hinduism. It seems to me rather like insuring with two insurance companies; if one does not pay, the other may.

I noticed when I was in Japan in April this year, and twice last year, that many young Japanese people are joining two or even three ‘new’ religious sects. It seems to be the same idea – reinsurance!

In Japan, it is young people who are doing this, whereas in Britain it is mostly old people.

But it is equally realistic: ‘We believe, but not too much!’

© Trevor Leggett