Over the weekend of June 27-29, the SGI-affiliated Institute of Oriental Philosophy (U.K.) held a conference jointly with the Network of Buddhist Organizations (U.K.), known as NBO, at SGI-UK's Taplow Court center, on the theme of "The British Buddhist Landscape--Transplantation and Growth." The conference was originated by IOP (U.K.) Director Jamie Cresswell, who is current chair of NBO.
Around 60 people from different Buddhist groups attended, including lay practitioners, monks, nuns and academics. Speakers presented papers on Buddhism in the U.K. across a broad spectrum of topics, from Buddhism and ethnicity, Buddhist chaplaincy in hospitals and interfaith activities, to talks from four practitioners on how their Buddhist traditions have been received and interpreted in the U.K.
These presentations were on Nepalese Buddhism, Indian Ambedkarite Buddhism, Thai Buddhism and Nichiren Buddhism as practiced within SGI-UK, presented by SGI-UK Vice General Director Kazuo Fujii. In a stimulating closing talk, Dr. John Peacock, guiding teacher at the Sharpham Centre for Contemporary Buddhist Enquiry in Devon, spoke of the need for Buddhists to thoroughly engage with their own time and context.
Participants were appreciative of the warm welcome given by SGI-UK and the support provided, including the transformation of the Ikeda New Century Hall foyer into a gallery of Buddhist art.-sgiquarterly
2 comments
You can bet yer boots Nichiren Shoshu and Nichiren Shu weren't there. Let's have tea?Too bad,Armchair
The problem with this whole split from 700 years+ ago as well as the recent schism, is that people are tied to the practice of faith alone and not balancing their practice with the practice of the Dharma. T'ien-t'ai was very clear in that both practices must be in balance or the persons view of Buddhism will be shallow. The problem does not lie with Nichiren in what he taught, but with the teachers today and of the past.