Just a quick note to clarify my comment about the future of this site. I've gotten a lot of e-mail messages about it, so I guess I should elaborate.
I'm busy with family, job, book projects, friends, etc. I don't have a lot of time left over to edit article-and-letter submissions, respond adequately to the many fine people who e-mail me because of this site, build pages and code links. Sometimes I'm tempted to just let the site go for a couple of months with no updates.
But I do see the value of having an up-to-date news-and-views site where Nichiren Buddhists of all stripes can discuss stuff. With the blogs, I am trying to transition the site into something that I do not have to edit and update, or even be involved with at all. Andy, Charles, Greg and Ryuei have really stepped up and taken on a lot of work, and I appreciate that. An additional "community" blog is also in the works, and I thank all of the people who have agreed to participate. June is my goal for completing the transition to a site that -- as far as I'm concerned -- is hands-free and self-sustaining.
So, Peter D., you need not panic.
Take care,
Lisa J.
Comments
Hi Lisa,
I have been a little stunned by recent developments here. I almost don't know what to say. I almost think I shouldn't say anything. But there goes:
I certainly hope that you are able to maintain your practice and it certainly seems as though you still see the value in it even though you may be thoroughly disillusioned by SGI.
I completely understand why you view SGI as a cult. But I myself refrain from using that word because I think almost every religious group is a cult to some extent. I think the Catholic Church is a much worse cult that SGI. So I personally don't see the value in calling SGI a cult. On the other hand, I have been around enough Buddhist groups to know that the kind of divisiveness, peer pressure, defensiveness and paranoia that I have seen in SGI members towards those outside their own group is not at all common. I think a good majority of SGI members do not realize how much freer and fresher the air can be outside of their little box (except maybe in Pittsburgh which seems to play by completely different rules).
I really hope that you do not completely abandon this site. I think it is an extremely valuable resource. The blogs are great, and I am very grateful to them, but so are the other articles and the letters page. Couldn't you continue this site as a intersectarian Nichiren Buddhist online mag. If it is not out of place to say so - I would really welcome a site that concentrates less on promoting or critiquing any particular group or sect and more on humorously poking at the foibles of all Nichiren Buddhists (or Buddhists in general even) and also just trying to show that without a sense of humor there really is no enlightenment - because a sense of humor is one aspect of a sense of perspective.
I am truly sorry that there are elements of SGI (including a significant portion of its leadership apparently) that is so dysfunctional that they can't see the merit of your critiques and the value of your contributions. The same goes for some of my fellow blog-mates (ahoy mateys!) particularly Charles Atkins imo (I gave a copy of your book to my mom when she was undergoing radiation therapy). When the fantastic work of people like you and Charles gets sidelines and marginalized then something is drastically wrong in my opinion.
Anyway, with our without SGI, I hope you know in your heart that you never have to be without a Sangha. We are a Sangha even if we don't ever see one another face to face because our hearts and our visions are connecting. We may be many in body and dispersed all over the globe with only the internet to make our interdependence apparent but in our faith I believe we can be one in mind (in a good non-culty way I mean).
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
I second Mike's motion above - I, too would like to see this site continue with humor, especially -I have also really enjoyed the BuddhaLampoon group at yahoo - sometimes things just get so gol-danged serious. What's an ex-gong show contestant coordinator like me to do? I have often described this site as the Rolling Stone of the SGI, with a lot of interesting POVs and stuff you don't get in the organ press. Maybe a rotating panel of editors to keep things up and moving? Kind of like the rotating priests....oops. there I go, being blasphemous again. Bye for now, Byrd in LA
Lisa, thank you for defending me recently. I agree that continuing the site in some format would be an invaluable service to current and future practioners of Nichiren Buddhism - at least until someone else carries the torch. I understand your reluctance to expose yourself to
the constant barrage of insults and innuendos that
the truth often generates. Nichiren did not let
that stop him. Keep going. Your pal, Jan
You know, Leese,
Ryuei above says he hopes you continue to practice, and while I think that this is a nice thing to say, I would say that I wish you happiness, however you come by it.
P.
Yeah, Peter, but you just say that because you are a world class PITA. One of my favorite PITAs, as a matter of fact.
From one PITA to another, cheers!
Andy
p.s. Maybe we could start a PITA Society?
OK, Andy, I'll bite.
what do U mean by PITA?
P.
Peter -
Where I come from, PITA stands for Pain In The Ass, but I am sure Andy meant that in a good way.
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Mike has it right, including the loving way in which I meant it.
Cheers!
Andy
When I was starting in SGI, I told a member about how I didn't do the "official" gongyo, but one I was more comfortable with. (One that looks stikingly like the present form without the prayers of gratitude for Der Sensei.)
His response was "I hope you get comfortable doing the 'full' gongyo." I remember at the time thinking that he was putting the cart before the horse; the SGI intro liturature talked a lot about human happiness being the whole point of practice. If I was happy doing it my way, why change it?
I get it; my friend had connected chanting with happiness. But I don't think he was aware that that was a peresonal connection to HIM, not an empirical one.
Thus my PITAesqueish response above.
P.
Finally,
Lisa revealed her true colors
Either shit or get off the pot!
She did both!
Thank you
Lisa
Micha - I must have missed something. What true colors did Lisa reveal? It seems to me the SGI has lost another highly intelligent, incredibly creative, very talented, deeply compassionate, fierce relentless warrior for kosen rufu.
I for one am feeling blue.
Colin
Congratulations, Micha. You've reached a new low. I hope you are proud of the image you give the SGI.
Andy Hanlen
Micha:
I have carefully read your comments in these blogs. You are a disgrace to Nichiren Buddhism. You do not represent the SGI. You are vulgar, stupid, and evil minded person hiding behind the mask of orthodoxy. Your ignorance and mean spirited words are a karmic cancer and you demean the very organization you foolishly believe you defend. I pity you as a human being. I'm not Gandhi, so if I saw you in person, I might just kick your ass before I educate you on Buddhism, amd mercy.
Charles Atkins
Charles and The others,
Charles you are slowly following Lisas footsteps and I wish I could meet you so I can give you a lesson on Buddhism and kick your butt as well.
Im in Miami Florida and next time you come to the FNCC if you have the guts to come, make sure you look for me and we will see what youve got to offer.
Lisa and people like her who follow her footsteps who are feeling sorry for her are like parasites in the lions bowel or like a single crab leg which can ruin a thousand lacquer pots. who have no backbone to stand against her slanderous deception and heretical content of her writings that has nothing to do with Buddhism what-so-ever but it has a lot to do with trashing others like if it is her duty to change others karma except her own.
I have raised 5 children and every one of them has more respect to other people who embrace other religions, but I have never met a person how supposedly practicing Buddhism utters slanderous accusation to defame and belittle the very family she grew up with simply because things did not go the way she perceived to want them to go. She is a spoiled rotten and maliciously damaging for new innocent members who stumble into her web site purposely design to slander all those who work so heard to have SGI what it is today. She is a class by herself. If she were my daughter I would have kicked her butt and disowned her.
If you had lived with a woman like I did, who harassed the living shit out me for 15 years for practicing Buddhism, ripped my beads and books about Buddhism month after month without provoking her, and lied to courts upon desolation of our marriage depriving me and our children of our basic needs only to hold and control our 4 to five million dollars assets we have managed to earn together for her self only and every one of our children ran away from her for her malicious behavior, your reaction to Lisas behavior would trigger just as much resentment as I do. Thanks to the Gohonzon, SGI and My mentor president Ikedas encouragement, I persevered and won the love of my children and much more, got out of a deep bankruptcy and remarried a wonderful woman who fights with me in SGI. So for me to read the crap that she, you and Andy the slimy coward write, does more damage than standing up to your coward faade. I wish I could sit with you and shake you too since you are still proclaiming loyalty to SGI but entertain slanderous ideas that destroy the intent of your practice.
All the knowledge of Buddhism you have accumulated is useless if you protect and close your eyes to slanderous malicious actions that obviously you entertain by butt kissing Lisas malicious camouflage intents. Collin, that is the color that I see by her exposing herself in her intent, which is not to help SGI but the other way around to destroy it. And she just began. Wait until she comes out with some more thoughtful organized cunning malicious books on SGI in the future to cash on from your zealous eagerness to read.
She is truly fulfilling the Lotus Sutras prediction to appear in the time of Kosen Rufu and for that I deplore her actions and intents and that goes for Jan Tyler as well, her collaborator in defaming SGI as if SGI done her any harm.
Neither non-Buddhists nor the enemies of Buddhism can destroy the correct teaching of the Thus Come One, but the Buddha's disciples definitely can.
And dont point the finger at me because you claim to be Nichirens disciple but spear no efforts to protect the Buddhas children who get confused out of innocence stumbling to this site reading the malicious distorted accusation that are ringing in this blog.
Sincerely
Micha
Micha-
Please understand that I'm not attacking you or SGI when I say this. Try to view this as "constructive criticism".
Your behavior, and the behavior of so many other SGI members, gives the impression that SGI is a Buddhist version of fundamentalist Christianity. Your lack of compassion and hateful, spiteful words do not, in my opinion, give the impression that SGI has helped you find any amount of peace or happiness in your life. It seems it has only helped to keep old wounds wide open, with regular doses of salt rubbed into them.
Try to understand this--as a newcomer to SGI with a keen interest in Buddhism, I was shocked to hear members encouraging each other to chant for materialist purposes. When I thought about the Buddha and how he left a life of luxury and ease so he could spread his Good News, and how Nichiren suffered so terribly for trying to continue the spread of that Good News...I didn't understand the connection between their efforts and obvious examples of simplicity and compassion.
When I was told to chant for Nikken to suffer in some way so he couldn't come to New York, I was shocked. "Why," I asked, "don't we chant for Nikken to soften his heart and understand the error of his ways?" I don't remember Buddha or Nichiren encouraging anyone to wish bad things to happen to anyone.
As a newcomer who studied hard and tried even harder to develop a genuine faith in Nichiren Buddhism via SGI, it seemed what I was being told was the very opposite of what Buddhism is. Imagine how it seems to outsiders.
Nichiren Shoshu is hardly an innocent party in the mud-slinging...but think of this: Go to Yahoo! and look up Buddhism in the religion section. You'll find a link for "Opposing Views". I expected to find evangelical Christian links against Buddhism. Nope. Only two links...Soka Gakkai and Nichiren Shoshu. Nothing indicating the Tibetan Buddhists are speaking against the Zen Buddhists...or even the Nichiren Buddhists. Just two Nichiren Buddhist groups slinging mud at each other.
Why does anyone think an outsider, knowing nothing of Nichiren Buddhism or even the spat between SGI and NS, would be interested in jumping into the fray by joining up with either? How can anyone believe they can keep members in an organization, or encourage those with doubts, when they only spout impatience and accusations of slander?
Slander slander slander. Evil evil evil. It all rings hollow after a while, if it doesn't run people off first. However, genuine compassion, patience and encouragement can never fail.
It isn't just you. It's the organization as a whole. Charles and the others who you slander with your hateful words see an organization that can save this world from itself--but it's going to have to move beyond these petty spats and self-righteous behaviors if it ever hopes to become a truly important Buddhist organization.
Ask yourself...why is it that very few people even know who Daisaku Ikeda is, but most everyone knows exactly who the Dalai Lama is. More people are familiar with Thich Nhat Hahn than Ikeda. It's because these men have gone through hell for their Buddhist faith. They've been kicked out of their own countries. They emit compassion and love from the very core of their beings. Ikeda attends rallies held in his honor...organized by his own organization...and has tea socials with international dignitaries during which he says nothing controversial. It took the man weeks to come up with a vague response to the war in Iraq. He's a politician, and a smooth one at that. At least, that's how he seems to outsiders.
I'm sorry, Micha. I pray that you'll find true peace, and even though I'm through with SGI, I pray it can realize it's own potential and become what it claims to be...a true Buddhist organization.
I'm so disappointed in some of the things I've seen. I don't understand how anyone could expect to win over people with the type of behavior I've seen from you and other SGI members on the various message boards. This is the very opposite of Buddhism, whether you realize it or not.
Pardon my grammatical and spelling errors
Spear no efforts suppose to be spare no efforts at the end
Stir the ship suppose to be steer the ship and probably others.
What counts is that you got my drift!
Man Micha. It amazes me that you can apologize for bad grammar, but talk to people like they are pieces of doodoo.
I LOVE your posts. They really reinforce my opinions of the SGI.
Peter
Micha, Peter says it all. Here is a relative newcomer to Nichiren Buddhism who was brought to it through the SGI-USA, liked the Buddhism but not, so much, the organization, asked a few questions, and decided that his first instinct was correct.
You do him the favor of confirming that. Your poison and vitriol are unique. I am absolutely certain tht I care more for your organization than you do. I have done more to defend it and less to damage it than you have. In the event, rather than do it real harm, I left it. In the same event, your twisted attempts to do ...whatever you think you are doing ... do incredible damage and insure that folks who are marginal, like Peter, will certainly never commit to the SGI-USA, and persons who ARE committed, are humiliated that one such as you claims to represent their organization.
You do far more damage to your own organization than I ever could; more, indeed, than Lisa and I and all the rest on your "enemies" list ever could.
I have said, many times, that I have great affection and good feelings for the SGI-USA. I meant it when I wrote it and I mean it now. I am very sorry to see that you are one of its defenders. With defenders like you, it needs no other enemies.
Andy Hanlen
Andy I disagree with you (above). Micha's poison and vitriol are NOT unique.
:)
P.
Micha, Micha, Micha.
While I agree with the others regarding your poor behavior, I think that is great that you are honestly speaking your mind. You have created the fortune to have your errors corrected. How you choose to spend this new found wealth determines whether you win or lose. In Buddhism the goal is that everyone winsit is not a contest of personalities.
Everyone makes mistakes. It is what you do once you realize that a mistake has been made is what determines your victory or defeat as a human being.
Are you an honest person? Can you take as critical of a look at yourself with even one-half the effort that you are affording to certain others? Your proclaimed Mentor Daisaku Ikeda has told you, People live out their entire lives without questioning if the their beliefs are true or not. Herein lays the fundamental cause of all suffering.
In your recent posts at this website you have not so eloquently demonstrated the cult mentality that Lisa is addressing as you rail against her.
Your defense of the SGI is based on a single premise. This premise is that the SGI is correctly practicing and teaching Buddhism in exact accord with the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin.
This premise is demonstratively wrong. Just as a lie repeated one thousand times becomes the truth to the person that spreads it, you have co-opted the cult mentality of the absolute correctness of the teachings of your school.
I once asked an area leader, Do you realize the commentary that you just read us from the Seikyo Times (Name changed to Living Buddhism) is in direct conflict with what Nichiren wrote in the Gosho? To my amazement she answered, I dont care. Taken aback I asked, May I ask why? to which she replied, Because I have complete trust in the people who published it. I thanked her for her honesty.
Perhaps you do not realize that the SGI itself is not the one great vehiclealthough many of us have been taught that if we leave the SGI we will cut ours selves off from attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime, that we left because there was something wrong with our faith, and, because of this, we are unable to remain in the pure world of faith that is the Soka Gakkai, or, simply because we didnt have enough fortune. This is all cult mentality.
The SGI is not the source of the Buddhas teaching. The One Buddha Vehicle is found in the Lotus Sutra and is conspicuously absent in the SGI. By any standard it is conspicuously absent in your behavior here as of late. Fortunately, the Buddha wisdom is an open sourceit is not the exclusive domain of any sectarian organization. But you would not know thisyour leaders have not told you. (No, I am not addressing all SGI members with this last comment.)
So, are you an honest person? What will you do when you learn the truth that SGI does practice in exact accord with the teachings of Nichiren? Will you continue to parrot the party line?
My hope is that when you take the time to examine this claim you will be able to stay in the SGI and influence other to do the same.
Not all of us have had the same experiences with the SGI. I myself do not regret any of the time I have spent in the SGIthe good, the bad, or the ugly.
I am neither with the SGI nor am I separate from it. This is a result of living an open source reality.
Sincerely, Chikushonin, Vice General Member, SGI-usa
Daikudoshin, myokaku, myojisokukyo/
Namumyohorengemyojisokukyo
"So, are you an honest person? What will you do when you learn the truth that SGI does practice in exact accord with the teachings of Nichiren? Will you continue to parrot the party line?"
Should read, "What will you do when you learn the truth that **THE** SGI does **NOT** practice in exact accord with the teachings of Nichiren?"
Micha:
I was speaking metaphorically about bitch slapping you. Actually, I am impressed with your conviction. I'm just not sure you are putting it to the best use. Why not remonstrate with the priests. You are entitled to your opinion. What seems to be troubling people (myself included) is your glee at others suffering.You gloated when Lisa made her announcement about leaving the SGI. We all felt something and it was compassion for Lisa. That is the Buddhist way.
Andy, Dwight, Peter, and Chikushonin speak the truth. This site is about free speech. If this site was anti-SGI, Lisa would never have allowed the publication of my novel, Mokuren, with its pro-SGI anti-Nikken theme. I am for the SGI and am a disciple of president Ikeda, no matter what anyone says about him. This site allows for all kinds of views, including yours.
Peace be with you, Charles Atkins
Peter wrote:
***Your lack of compassion and hateful, spiteful words do not, in my opinion, give the impression that SGI has helped you find any amount of peace or happiness in your life. It seems it has only helped to keep old wounds wide open, with regular doses of salt rubbed into them.***
First, your impression is quite distorted Im vary happy today and my life has been going very well since the last time my beads and books were ripped on the account of my practice. To be exact it has been 14 years. I owe debt of gratitude to my X for torturing me for I have delved into the practice even stronger and deeper and understand the meaning of true victory. That is why I will stand up forever against those who slander the Buddhas children and never compromise to help them and awaken them to their actions. We are all vulnerable to get caught up in such predicament. Victory and defeat in life lies in protecting this teaching for future generations if we truly practice this teaching as Nichiren prescribed.
It is important to note what does it really means to have compassion and what does it really means to use spiteful words or harsh words in practicing Buddhism.
According to Nichiren, compassion goes hand in hand with rebuking slander, helping others to embrace the correct teaching and helping others to refrain from slandering the Law and refraining from slandering the people who are wholeheartedly practicing and spreading Buddhism without begrudging their lives.
As far as compassion is concern Nichiren wrote extensively in this regard and although he was vilified for his bold stand against slander, his words were taken quite strong in a resentful way by those who he criticized simply because they could not fathom the compassion that he is displaying by exerting every ounce of energy to help others avoid slandering the votaries of the lotus sutra to include himself.
Nichiren stated the following words in regards to compassion:
I, Nichiren, am the only person in all of Japan who understands this. But if I utter so much as a word concerning it, then parents, brothers, and teachers will surely censure me, and the ruler of the nation will take steps against me.
On the other hand, I am fully aware that if I do not speak out I will be lacking in compassion.
In another one of his letters Nichiren wrote:
Even though one may resort to harsh words, if such words help the person to whom they are addressed, then they are worthy to be regarded as truthful words and gentle words.
If practicing the true teaching was easy to demonstrate then the Buddha himself would have said so but because it is the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand the true teaching, we need each other's support, not disparagement, in order to remain on a correct path of practice if we to attain Buddhaood in this lifetime.
In another letter Nichiren wrote:
"If we use the teachings of the sutras as a mirror in which to examine our present world, we will see that it is a difficult thing to find one who does not betray the Lotus Sutra.
He continue to say:
Some people criticize me, saying, "Nichiren does not understand the capacities of the people of the time, but goes around preaching in a harsh manner -- that is why he meets with difficulties."
Lisas contempt and criticism of SGI being a cult arises because members are sticking together and doing what the lotus-sutra have declared is most difficult task to perform. So if the lotus-sutra declares that, what SGI is doing, is the most difficult to uphold, practice, recite, copy, teach others, regardless how they feel inside of being part of this difficult acts. Does that means that her observation is correct? therefore let her speak her mind without challenging her or reproaching her?
There is nothing in Nichirens writings that can support her position and opinions of SGI for her to vilify the body of believers who uphold the true teaching in accord with Nichiren intent.
Originally most and every one of those who are practicing Nichiren Buddhism today, regardless of their affiliation, at some point, have been introduced to this great teaching by the forum of a discussion meeting that held in SGI activities. That is because the appearance of SGI is not coincidence. It was predicted to unfold. So those who think they can do better on their own are fooling themselves and there is plenty of proof from Nichirens writings to ascertain this.
So calling SGI a cult is nothing but succumbing to a shallow understanding of this HUGE undertaking called kosen-rufu.
Thus the sutra states, "If this person . . . on seeing those who read, recite, copy, and uphold this sutra, should despise, hate, envy, or bear grudges against them. When his life comes to an end he will enter the Avichi hell."
Who is This Person he is talking about? The one who is sticking with SGI activities to promote and uphold Nichirens will and spread the law without begrudging his or her life? Or he is talking about a person who despises SGI in general and has plenty of derogatory labeling of its members and calls them Cult members, brainwashed?
In my humble opinion he is pointing to all of you here in this blog ignoring Lisas words and entertaining the same thoughts one way or another.
It is not because of me that some of you have a distorted view of SGI
It is because you have the lack of understanding the magnitude of the slander you succumb to by supporting and protecting Lisa with nice words which in turn will produce harsh circumstances for her and you in the long run. She can continue to call me a cult member with a cultish frame of mind all she wants, but she could never back it up through her understanding of Buddhism based on Nichirens teachings and that she is yet to challenge me. My conviction and conclusion sprout out of my understanding of Nichirens writings not my a dislike to Lisa. If her understanding can be backed up by Nichires writings to affirm her criticism thus it is in accord with Nichiren not Mr. Hassan, I will quit SGI today and follow her advise. But since she claims to uphold the teachings of Nichiren and at the same time despise those who work for the attainment of kosen-rufu by using derogatory words, her actions and words only can testify that what is written in Nichirens writings are to be heeded and the warnings are not in vain.
Nichiren stated:
The cart that overturns on the road ahead is a warning to the one behind.
Peter you wrote:
***Why does anyone think an outsider, knowing nothing of Nichiren Buddhism or even the spat between SGI and NS, would be interested in jumping into the fray by joining up with either? How can anyone believe they can keep members in an organization, or encourage those with doubts, when they only spout impatience and accusations of slander?***
It is very difficult to discern what is right and what is wrong in regards to slander. If we to take Nichirens golden word truly to heart, it is very difficult to find a true teacher who teaches Buddhism exactly as Nichiren taught and in accord with lotus-sutras intent. Superficially you are right! Why in the world someone join any group of people who sling mud at each other specially when both groups are claiming to practice the true teaching.?
My answer is please take the time to study the principles behind this issue that triggered these very differences. Again if we to uphold Nichirens golden words to discern right from wrong, slander from praise, good from bad, wisdom from ignorance, we must study the teaching with our lives just as Nichirens writings meant to be understood, otherwise this current events are nothing but a political dispute and can be perceived as if it is a power control issue. It is not!!!
In the following passage Nichiren wrote:
When an evil ruler in consort with priests of erroneous teachings tries to destroy the correct teaching and do away with a man of wisdom, those with the heart of a lion king are sure to attain Buddhahood.
That says it all. I will not go through the entire sequence of events what took place in the late 80s beginning 90s but for you and new members it is a history that you have not lived through. The same is that none of us have lived at the time of World War 2, can fathom the evilness of the German Nazis and their atrocities. It is only through study the history of what really took place that one can fathom the magnitude of these events. Luckily we have plenty of people who can attest to the current differences between SGI and NST by living through it themselves including myself.
The question is, whose words and account are you trusting? Fortunately, all that took place should be viewed first and foremost based on Nichirens teachings. There is no room for emotionalism in this issue so what we all need to do is study the teaching so diligently that we have no confusion to what was right and what was wrong. Both camps have done right and wrong. But the issue remains who is truly putting Nichirens words into actions?
Defiantly the SGI I proclaim.
If you defer with me, it is your choice but I will not sit idle when you and others use the means of discredit SGI just because that is the way you feel, Back it up with Nichirens words if you believe SGI is contradicting the teachings. Dont use your emotionalism to conclude your opinion because of my perception and my stern words.
I hope I have conveyed myself clearly
Micha
Dear Micha,
You wrote, "If you defer with me, it is your choice but I will not sit idle when you and others use the means of discredit SGI just because that is the way you feel, Back it up with Nichirens words if you believe SGI is contradicting the teachings."
I can do this for you. Will you listen to Nichiren's words or will you use the SGI's teachings to up hold validity the SGI's teachings?
Let me know.
Sincerely, Chikushonin
Daikudoshin, myokaku, myojisokukyo/
Namumyohorengemyojisokukyo
Chikushonin --
Regardless of Micha's answer, I hope you will explore on the community blog how SGI's teachings differ from Nichiren's.
http://www.buddhajones.com/blog/ unavailable
Thanks!
Lisa J.
Micha, in your post dated "March 6, 2004 09:22 PM" you attribute some quotes to me that are not mine.
P.
Chiku,
Bring it on!
Let us have an exchange.
I love exploring and compare Nichiren Shu Doctrine verses Nichiren DAI Shonins
Teachings
P.S. Lisa, the link you provided did not portray any material to prove that SGI is deferring from the teaching of Nichirens teaching.
What happened, suddenly you lost your wit in writing? You cannot address it in words and thoughts? So you resort to links.
Are you pointing about Mike Barrett becoming a Nichiren Shu member?. Is that what you pointing out? Are you showing Chiku the difference in Nichiren Shu and SGI? Or the various events that are taking place in the links you provided?
Please help me understand you if I may.
Micha
I apologize Peter
It was Dwight who wrote these words.
Micha,
Lisa was extending an invataion, which I am happy to accept. The link was being offered as the location for the discussion.
Lisa has not made any references to doctrine.
I will post there soon.
Thank you for your patience. I also have a day job.
oh..., my name means 'wisdom unifiying all people". It is not the 'Shonin' in Nichiren Daishonin, or Nikken Shonin. You don't have to avoid it. It's not a title.
Sincerely, Chikushonin
Daikudoshin, myokaku, myojisokukyo/
Namumyohorengemyojisokukyo
Micha wrote:
"If you defer with me, it is your choice but I will not sit idle when you and others use the means of discredit SGI just because that is the way you feel, Back it up with Nichirens words if you believe SGI is contradicting the teachings. Dont use your emotionalism to conclude your opinion because of my perception and my stern words."
Micha, I'm glad to see your tone has softened, and thank you for responding to my comments in a less accusatory way.
Something I have not said, and should be said, is that I had some wonderful things happen to me spiritually because of my study of Buddhism and experience with the SGI.
Before I go on, let me quote something from the January/February issue of the UUWorld, the magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association. UU Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom wrote in regards to those who leave their Christian heritage, "We turn for spiritual sustenance to Sufi poetry, Buddhist sutras, Wiccan chants, or the mysteries of chaos theory rather than to the Bible, as if Christianity were uniquely irredeemable. We are willing--even eager--to listen to the teachings of (non-Christian gurus), yet hesitant--even resistant--to open ourselves to the wisdom of the Hebrew prophets or the Christian gospels. When it comes to Christianity, many of us have not only thrown out the baby with the bathwater, but also have tossed out the tub, shut off the lights, and walked out of the house, locking the door behind us."
In an article titled "Psychological Issues of Former Members of Restrictive Religious Groups," Jim Moyers, MA, MFT, wrote, "Ex-believers often feel doubly misunderstood and isolated." He also stated, "Many ex-(believers) experience a chronic sense of dissatisfaction coupled with difficulties in finding new sources of meaning and direction." "Many former members despair in being unable to recaputure that certainty that came with unquestioning acceptance of the group's teachings."
Having said this, let me say that I grew up in a fundamentalist Pentecostal tradition. As I grew older, I became aware that I was homosexual, something my church sternly taught against. After years of dealing with this, I eventually lost faith altogether in Christianity--I couldn't believe in a God that could be as evil to create an eternal hell for His own children. Even the "passive" Christian teaching that "God doesn't send us to hell; we send ourselves there" didn't explain how God could be entirely good yet create such an evil, horrible place.
To make a long story short, I went throughout most of my young adulthood looking for a substitute for Christianity.
It wasn't until SGI, however, that I realized I was constantly ending up in other fundamentalist groups. The complication was this--on one hand, I wanted a religion that claimed to have monopoly on truth; on the other hand, my intellect could not accept fundamentalism.
Having read the above articles from Wikstrom and Moyers, I realized that there was no way I would ever find a religion that could appeal to both my spirit and intellect. Also, it was ludicrous of me to hop into the sack with foreign traditions with teachings and beliefs just as much based in the supernatural as Christianity.
What does all this mean? Well, Buddha taught his followers not to worship him, but to praise his teachings. However, over the years a grand mythology arose around Buddha--with many wonderful legends such as the Lotus Sutra--stories with hidden meanings behind wonderful magical symbolism. Perhaps, I wondered, this is what happened to Jesus?
What I'm learning is that there was no need for me to abandon my heritage. In a very short time I've realized that the Christianity the Western world knows is actually only one of many takes on Jesus and his teachings. It is entirely possible--as many modern teachers and theologians are stating--to see Jesus as a teacher rather than a savior, to abandon the supernatural and myth of the Bible, and to find an authentic spirituality based on reason and intellect.
I guess I'm starting both a new and old journey. I'm rediscovering Jesus--and it took a bout with fundamentalism, via SGI, to make me realize what I need to do to avoid living the rest of my life bitter, looking like a fool...trading one mythology for another. Not to criticize those who find comfort in the supernatural--as I said earlier--it's not easy these days to find a religion or philosophy that helps us sleep at night.
So...having said all of this...I'm rolling up my Gohonzon, packing up my books on Nichiren Buddhism and getting on with my life. This is my last post to a Buddhist group (aside from one other I must post to some wonderful friends I've made on the Independent forum).
I wish everyone reading this the best in their own journeys. May we all find our way home.
Dwight
Wow Micha. Perhaps a little daimoku is in order?
I can't even recall a distasteful Soka Spirit meeting (attended many) where an "enemy" was directly called "slimy" to his/her face.
You say to back up with the Gosho, then here you go: Read the Fourteen Slanders, and reflect on your conduct. In case you don't actually follow-through, let me list them for you:
"There are fourteen evil causes: (1) arrogance, (2) negligence, (3) arbitrary, egotistical judgment, (4) shallow, self-satisfied understanding, (5) attachment to earthly desires, (6) lack of seeking spirit, (7) not believing, (8) aversion, (9) deluded doubt, (10) vilification, (11) contempt, (12) hatred, (13) jealousy and (14) grudges."
I'd say you deftly qualify on point number 3 and 4, if not 10, 11, 12, and 13 to mention a few.
You toss out threats of physical violence, threats of spiritual doom, and direct insults to other human beings who also possess the Buddha nature. Do you understand that? Do you understand that you are slandering Buddhas? Do you have an inkling as to what that will do for your life and happiness?
These Buddhas on this board are adorned with the SAME qualities of Nichiren! Again, I refer to the gosho (Fourteen Slanders) as you have wisely requested:
"In your letter you write, "Since I took faith in this sutra [the Lotus], I have continued to recite the Junyoze and the Jigage and chant the daimoku without the slightest neglect. But how great is the difference between the blessings received when a sage chants the daimoku and the blessings received when we chant it?" To reply, one is in no way superior to the other. The gold that a fool possesses is in no way different from the gold that a wise man possesses; a fire made by a fool is the same as a fire made by a wise man."
.. and THE POINT:
"Bodhisattva Fukyo of old said that all people have the Buddha nature and that if they embrace the Lotus Sutra, they will never fail to attain Buddhahood. He further stated that to slight a person is to slight the Buddha himself. Thus, his practice was to revere all people. He revered even those who did not embrace the Lotus Sutra because they too had the Buddha nature and might someday believe in the sutra. Therefore, it is all the more natural to revere those priests and lay people who do embrace the sutra."
and from "On Attaining Buddhahood":
"If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured through eternity and attain supreme enlightenment in this lifetime, you must awaken to the mystic truth which has always been within your life. This truth is Myoho-renge-kyo. Chanting Myoho-renge-kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the mystic truth within you." ... it continues ... "Life at each moment permeates the universe and is revealed in all phenomena. One awakened to this truth himself embodies this relationship. However, even though you chant and believe in Myoho-renge-kyo, if you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the Mystic Law but some inferior teaching."
Thus the documentary proof that ALL humans ARE Buddhas, whose lives ARE Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. There is more, but I think there's a megabyte limit on this site.
So WHAT are you doing? ... TO YOURSELF?!?
If you were to spill your hate on a Christian board, for example, I'd still have the same things to say to you.
Be extra careful. You speak of doom and gloom to the honest, seeking and concerned here, but yet you are creating the very seeds of destruction you so wantonly throw about as threats like the George W. Bushies do. Nichiren Daishonin makes it incredibly clear what happens to slanderers:
"The offense of uttering even a single derogatory word against the priests or laity who believe in and preach the Lotus Sutra is even graver than that of abusing Shakyamuni Buddha to his face for an entire kalpa." The Lotus Sutra also states, "[If anyone shall see a person who embraces this sutra and try to expose the faults or evils of that person, he will in the present age be afflicted with white leprosy,] whether what he speaks is the truth or not." Take these teachings to heart, and always remember that believers in the Lotus Sutra should absolutely be the last to abuse each other. All those who keep faith in the Lotus Sutra are most certainly Buddhas, and one who slanders a Buddha commits a grave offense."
If that doesn't work, then I have a little challenge for you. Since the beaming eye of approval only comes from the SGI for you, then try printing out all your vicious posts from various sites, and next time you're at the Miami CC, walk over to Cliff Sawyer's office and ask him to read them. I think you'll find the "official SGI view" on your posts NOT what you expect it to be.
Please be careful.
David