Prayer is a universally potent phenomenon. Repeating daimoku and the Lotus Sutra is the basis of Nichiren Buddhism. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has been described as the greatest happiness in this world and the only earthly memory we will have after death. But how many of us realize that all prayer, even daimoku, contains both good and evil. Have we not been encouraged to chant for the defeat and suffering of Nikken and the priesthood? How about the censure of those who supposedly slander the SGI? Wasnt Nichiren upset that the government didnt summon him to the war council and ask him to pray for the defeat of the Mongols? I find it suspicious that the Mongols were turned back and destroyed by the divine winds termed the kamakazi. I think he might have prayed for their defeat anyway but thats just an opinion. Prayer can cure and it can kill. Prayer can bring fortune and misfortune. More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones. St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
When my mom recovered from cancer, my aunt scolded me for bragging about the efficacy of my daimoku. How do know it wasnt my prayers? she asked. She was a catholic and the idea that a Christians prayers might have power was a reality that I refused to admit back then. Ideas of the impotency of others prayers that other religions had lost their power to save people from unhappiness filled my head, leaving no room for the truth which I later learned through study, listening, and deeper personal prayer. The reality is that all prayer is answered - the well intended, the curse, and the selfishly moronic. A Japanese Buddhist parable explains the irony of two warring factions praying for each others ruination.
A monk said to Kegon, The loyal army builds an altar to the Heavenly Kings, and seeks victory; the rebel army also builds an altar to the Heavenly Kings and seeks for victory; which prayer do they answer? Kegon replied, Heavens rain drops its dews, and does not choose the flourishing and declining.
In his book, Be Careful What You Pray ForYou Just May Get It, Dr. Larry Dossey describes the power of prayer to help and to harm. How does the SGI or Nichiren Shoshu member who has been taught that their practice is the one and only correct way explain the benefits of a world full of non-chanters? How does the fundamentalist Christian, the Muslim, or anyone else for that matter, reconcile the fact that the prayers of all types of faiths are answered? Some will deny that any prayers other than ones from their sect are answered. Some will explain that answered prayers for non-believers are the work of the devil. Some might say that it was karma and not the work of prayer.
It seems important that we acknowledge that all kinds of prayers can be answered. Granted, we are not talking about achieving the state of perfect enlightenment here we are talking about our individual prayers resonating with a mysterious arbitrating force of the universe that allows our hopes and desires to become reality. I suspect that we Nichiren Buddhists are somewhat ignorant of prayer, even though we talk about it and trumpet daimoku as the only way to liberation, awakening, and Buddhahood. If you were to ask an SGI member or leader how prayer works, why it works, and the reason why non-chanters and people of other traditions receive answers to their prayers and benefits, our explanation would be more cloudy than an Oregon winter. If all we know is what someone has told us, or what we have read, or our opinion is limited to personal experience only, we do not have an objective, truth seeking attitude. We are ill informed.
So where does that leave daimoku and other forms of prayer? Is one form of prayer superior and the other types inferior or even karmically dangerous? Can prayer be graded like olive oil, eggs, or tea? I found president Ikedas suggestion that there should be prayer competition between different faiths very interesting. Spindrift, a non-profit research group out of Arlington Heights, Illinois is world famous for their scientific study of prayer. On numerous occasions, I have put out challenges to the hierarchy of the SGI to have our contention that daimoku is the best medicine, put to scientific scrutiny. There are many ways to test prayer and healing and these clinical trials are being conducted at universities all over the world many with fascinating results on prayers ability to boost the immune system. The effects of meditation on the mind and emotions is also being studied at MIT and other leading universities, thanks in large part to the consideration of the Dalai Lama, who offered up his mediation masters for test subjects since 1990. Why dont we do this too? Are we afraid that science may prove something different than what weve been taught? Why dont we formulate and engage in positive prayer competitions with other religions for the betterment of the planet? There are many things we could do.
My hope for the future of Buddhism is that we share our practice with scientists in controlled studies and put our dogma, myths and claims to scrutiny. Being able to distinguish inferior, middling, and superior is a characteristic of wisdom. Im all for truth and wisdom, even if it refutes what I had been certain of for most of my life. Saying youre the best is not the same as proving it.
Comments
Charles,
You make me think of what Kierkegaard wrote, something to the effect that (& Im quoting from a twenty-five-year-old-memory ), If a savage prays with all his passion and infinite resignation to a stone, then he is praying to God, whereas if Christian prays in empty formality with an empty heart to the so-called true God, he is praying to a stone Truth is subjectivity. Another way of saying what William Blake said, The fool sees not the same tree as the wise man sees.
The efficacy of a prayer is dependent upon the passion and quality of faith of the individual doing the prayer at least as much as on the formula itself, and passion & quality of faith are impossible to measure scientifically. The power and influence of subjectivity Nichiren is exquisitely aware of in On Attaining Buddhahood in the Lifetime, and willfully blind to in other goshos, where he argues that his formula beats all others all the time. This contradiction Ill be exploring on the community blog at further length, when time permits. (Right now, unfortunately, it doesnt)
you may find this interesting;
http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/001305.html dead link
I think that "On Attaining Buddhahood is a disputed gosho, isn't it? It is certainly one of my faves, and I couldn't care less if it's a pious forgery. Anyway, I think all prayer works because we are in fact hooked up to the big whatever, and we are in fact little microcosms - therefore, when we send our vibes out, we get a vibe in return. I always had my prayers answered when I was young. I thought I had a special relationship with God - now I realize it was just fortune. Thanks for an interesting post, Charles. I also hope that the future will bring more study of how prayer works. Best for the week, Byrd in LA
Somewhere I read that "On Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime" is diputed too, but there is no dispute that it is one of everyone's faves... profound, warm, consistent in tone with the best of N's goshos...forgery or not, no ordinary mind could have come up with that one, & it doesn't seem "pious" to me. Now, Sandaihiho-sho, also found on this website -- that one I'd bet comes straight from the pious forge -- what a frigid little machination that one is! It's whole purpose seems to be to give an official sanction to a couple of docterines that would do nothing for anybody, "true" or "false" though they be... Billed as "hotly disputed", let scholars blow their hot air over it all they want, it'll never come to life for me...
Hello Charles.
It is also possible that if one prays for something bad to happen to another person, one could experience the thing he/she is praying for.
Let me tell you a story about a friend of mine who's a long time practicioner of Nichiren's Buddhism.
Before she had started her practice, my friend, Toshi (name changed to protect privacy), was married to a man who abused her physically and mentally. Upon being introduced to the Law, her seniors in faith told her she could chant for anything she wanted and her prayers would be ansewered.
Toshi, wanting to give N. Buddhism a goot try, decided to chant for her abusive husband to drop dead.
After chanting for a while, she noticed things started happening; but they were happening to her, not her husband. Toshi started to become very ill, sad, depressed. She was quite desperate.
Not knowing what to do, she called her seniors and they immediately went to her house and found her in bed crying her eyes out. Toshi then told them what was happening to her. Her friends asked her if she'd been chanting and what her prayers were for. She explained to them that she was chanting for her husband to drop dead.
Upon hearing this they told that that's why she was experiencing all these bad things. She was creating an evil cause and was therefore receiving an evil effect. Her intentions were negative and she was thereby creating negative karma and experiencing the consequences of it.
The seniors advised her to change her prayer to something positive, so Toshi started chanting for her husband's happiness. Her illness started to clear up, she got her car fixed and the insurance company paid for it, she was happy again, and her abusive husband asked for a an amicable divorce.
In essence, Toshi learned that this is a causal universe. And that we get whatever we put out there.
So, yes, it is possible to pray for bad things to happen to those you dislike. But those things could happen to you and/or the other person; but I could be that you would not like what where your life goes or the person you become as a result.
Peace & love,
Eddie
Hi Charles
Enjoy your thoughts
Your comments on Kierkegaard are so relevant for me.
I now enjoy chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is very effective for me in so many ways.
However when I was brought up many years ago in the Catholic religion I then found that praying to the virgin Mary with the "Memorare" was very effective. ( Remember O most gracious virgin Mary etc.) Later my faith got completely undermined by my intellect. The Catholic Church's arrogant attitude (We know what's right for you) with too many other issues to list here, just didn't stand up to my critical analysis.
Now after searching through a number of faiths for about half a century I am now a devoted admirer and follower of Nichiren thanks to the proselytising of SGI. (a little too pushy for me but my curiosity overcame my resistance)
I'm now happy to report that although my critical analysis of SGI has revealed flaws, again including the arrogant attitude (We know what's right for you), I'm now keen to stick to SGI and help the org to get onto the right track. I'm sure that SGI (when appropriately modified) will be the most viable vehicle to achieve world kosen-rufu. I do not like to be involved with an outfit that is led by a charismatic guru however on the other hand I must give credit for the effectiveness of his leadership (thanks so much to PI for getting the true Dharma to me - I've got the message - read between the lines and follow the Dharma not the person)
For what its worth, here's my specification of modifications required to convert SGI into an effective kosen-rufu vehicle:
(1) I can understand SGI projecting the guru image to the ten million fanatical Japanese Komeito supporters (now that's another story) but let's insist on SGI keeping the monthly graphic magazine in Japan - please! Sending this magazine with an average of 50 narcissistic images of PI per issue to the Western world is like shooting yourself in the foot - why do they do it?
(2) Having unwisely got involved with the Fuji school's deceit (by the way thanks so much to Nikken for pulling down the gross Taiseki-ji temple) let's insist on SGI 'fessing up' about the obvious, the forged transfer docs, the dodgy Dai-Gohonzon and convulated crap about Nichiren being regarded as the 'True Buddha' at Shakyamuni's expense.
(3) Let's insist on SGI concentrating on the Dharma and not the guru
(4) Let's insist on SGI concentrating their resources on DOING good rather than LOOKING good.
Regards
Ivan
Prayers cannot be used to hurt others. That is the most fundamental error of new SGI doctrine. What ever happened to praying for the happiness of people you dislike? The prayer vigils of SGI to try to elimintae NST have been fruitless. Actually, they have bore fruit, but in the form of misfortune in SGI. I challenge anybody to read the experiences in any world tribune for the past 5 years and see what sgi considers to be benefit nowadays. I find myself getting depressed when I read the sad life stories of the SGI members.
Remember the old days, when the experience used to be "My boss didn't like me and was out to fire me. So I prayed for the happiness of my boss and one day he told me he was sorry and not only did I not get fired, but I got a raise!"
Nowadays, the same experience reads "My boss always hated me, and one day when I came to work, my paycheck was on my desk with a notice I had been fired. I was crushed. Later that day I read president Ikeda's guidance "Confidence in oneself is itself Buddhism." Then it hit me- I have no self-confidence, and that's why I have failed so often. I still haven't found a job but I am happy because I have a renewed sense of self-esteem."
If SGI would focus more on it's own problems and not be so obsessed with their "neighbor's wealth" most of their problems would disappear overnight.
Joe
Ivan:
I was very impressed by your comments, especially that you have reasoned out the essential truth of the matter. Your decision to go with the SGI is one I applaud.
Your ideas for improving the SGI are thought provoking. Some other suggestions might be:
1. Downsize staff by, lets say, 70-90%. Corporate loyalty can skew your perspective - especially when your livelihood depends on it. Start at the very top. With so much ichinen and fortune, finding a new job in the private sector should pose no problem.
2. Present the whole picture of Buddhism - not just our narrow slice (which is supposed to be all encompassing). It doesn't make us look too enlightened if we can ace the Advanced Exam and have decades of practice and study under our belt but not be able to pass a university exam on Eastern religion.
3. Lets get a full accounting of finances and keep it open. For my purposes, that must begin in Japan. In particular, we must know PI's net worth. If he is one of the wealthiest people in all of Asia (as is alleged), this was made from a captive market of 12 million. No one should become wealthy like that. No One.
Charles
Joe:
Thanks so much for your insightful letter. I agree with many of your points. However, it is my contention that if prayer can do good things, it can surely harm. There is much evidence, both mythological, anecdotal and scientific (studies with bacteria and plants) to support the negative impact of prayer and curses.I for one can attest to the fact that praying for the harm of Nikken and NST will bring forth unhappiness - not good fortune - in the life of the pray-er. I will be writing a blog on this very subject soon.
Thanks for reading - thanks for the insights.
Charles
Hi Charles,
I respectfully disagree that the use of Daimoku can be used for evil purposes against others, and have the expected result. I think that cause and effect would be negated if one were to be able to create a negative cause in ones own life, and somehow get that to transfer as a negative effect in others. At least according to Buddhism, that would be akin to counting your neighbors wealth (or perhaps a reverse of that concept).
If cause and effect is not constant, and predictable as the Daishonin taught, then I guess we are all pretty much at the mercy of others who may stick pins in a voodoo doll with our name on it. I'm convinced this cannot work, and this has been evidenced very convincingly in the SGIs own prayer vigils that seem to have severely backfired on them.
I remember one specific case, when the SGI held an "emergency" session to pray for Nikkens trip to NY to fail. That very week, Ikeda was reported to be in the hospital wirth an apparently serious illness (of course nobody ever really found out exactly what that illness was, since so many were "protecting" him).
Can you give any concrete examples of what specific prayers people have prayed that have successfully caused harm to others?
Many Thanks
Joe
Joe:
You make great points. Negative prayer is as old as humanity. The Kahunas of Hawaii offer many certifiable incidents of their "death prayer." Then there is Moses blasting the Egyptians, if there's any credibility to that. Then there are my own experiences. I suggest a book mentioned in the article called "Be Careful What You Pray For...You Just Might Get It," by Dr. Larry Dossey. It might not convince you, but it is pretty persuasive.
If you are correct that negative prayer shows up as negative effect in the life of the pray-er, doesn't it stand to reason that prayer can have a negative effect. By way of extension if it can have a negative effect on the pray-er, it might also be possible to have a negative effect on its intended.
Thank you very much for the exchange. I really respect your opinion.
Charles