Hi everyone. Here's another open thread. I'm impressed with all your comments related to politics and Nichiren Buddhism (and religion in general.) Please vote in the new poll after the jump.
For further reading, check out Nichiren's View of Nation and Religion (pdf) by Sato Hiroo. The introduction says:
A concern with "peace of the nation" was an integral part of Nichiren's religious vision. This paper examines Nichiren's understanding of the term "nation" (kokka), which for him pertained not so much to the political power structure, as much as to the land and the people who lived therein. His view of the Tennõ and of earthly political power can then be seen in this light, as instruments toward establishing peace in the land and among the people. For Nichiren the highest value is the Transcendent Power who is none other than Sakyamuni Buddha, before whom all human beings stand on an equal plane. Failure on the part of political rulers to achieve the goal for which they are in power, that is, "peace of the nation," results in their fall from power, and even death, or punishment in hell. This paper also surveys how this revolutionary message of Nichiren was modifed by his followers in the course of Japanese history.
Now for the poll....
14 comments
I suspect the wrong premise is at question here. Can Buddhists be political (as individuals) I'd say that's a resounding yes. Can they NOT be political? Again I believe the answer is yes. but as INDIVIDUALS who also happen to be Buddhists. As soon as you raise the banner of transient political expediency over the Law of the Universe by implying Buddhists as a collective group should march in unison (as Buddhists united) on transient matters (because they are all Buddhists?) you (in my opinion) mix food with dung. (I believe we're all familiar with the metaphor). Back to the herding cats concept again. jccampb
I think it's irresponsible for citizens to neglect politics, regardless of religious affiliation. Someone told me that Jehovah's witnesses are not allowed to vote because God, not the state, is their true master. I wonder if that argument holds any water with the IRS.In a democracy, it's your duty to pay attention and exercise your right to vote. I have run into more than a few hipster Buddhists who are too cool to be bothered with voting, or they think voting is a scam or sham. These are the same people who preach peace, love and art -- and are just "sick" about the wars we've waged and global warming and about perceived corruption in government.How special. Where were you four years ago? Where were you eight years ago? Oh, that's right. You were making fun of that priggish technocrat named Al Gore. what ever happened to that loser?If you don't vote, you can't complain.
Hi, Beryl -I am not quite sure your answers go with your question, the way I am reading them anyway.
The answers to me seem to be to a different question, namely : "Should Nichiren Buddhists consider their involvement in politics (voting and/or more) as part of their Buddhist practice?".Here are the answers I would have given to the original question had I written the poll:Yes, politics affect our lives, our livelihood, and the society we live in.No, all we need to do is chant. We can ignore all of that irrelevant stuff.Sometimes, if/when an issue directly affects us personally.Other, I will comment below.Please don't take this as criticism, the question and the answers just didn't fit together for me.My personal answer to the question is that I believe all citizens, regardless of religious belief or practice should be concerned about politics enough to at least exercise their right to vote.I firmly believe in the separation of church (temple, community center, synagogue, mosque,etc.) and state. I think that if Nichiren had ever been exposed to such a system, he would have embraced it wholeheartedly as well. I don't believe that any Buddhhist should tell any other Buddhist how to vote on an issue or who to vote for based on the fact of their shared practice, but that's my opinion. YMMV.I Do hope you didn't misunderstand me Brooke ... Not only do I vote, I've never missed an election. I was simply skating around one of our factions who owns their own political party somewhere ... thus blurring religious organization (not individuals) and political organizations (not Politically involved individuals) I worked for three sitting Presidents over the years, as well as doing liaison for the Joint Economic Committee when the late Lloyd Bentsen was Chairman on U.S. Japan relations with the old MITI organization. (We had a solar cell we couldn't get made here and were working with member companies of the EIAJ; Electronic Industries Asssociation of Japan. I actually still have a letter of thanks from Lloyd and Ted Kennedy for exposing the then Chairman of Mostek Corporation's lying to the Committee under oath about his supposed inability to sell his products in Japan.And having been a registered Democrat who often votes Independent, the only reason I'd of ever made fun of Al Gore is that I had the distinct misfortune to actually eternally listen to him in person on the Sci Tech Committee and Senate Banking Comm. and Senate Appropriations Comm., babbling on with technological buzzwords that he clearly didn't know much about, and showing that he was at best a pseudo technological groupie with the bad luck to pick lousy scientific advisers to align with and give him advice. I had one of them in my lab trying to explain how he was going to wrap Mercator project maps around a 20' tall globe and then overlay it with data. (The fella came in with a video of him with Al on his shoulder saying this is my boy here). He was unhappy when he realized he had walked into a room with three actual cartographers. Since I helped write the original specification for computer manipulation of LANDSAT data? (Before NASA EROS was privatized) I have some small familiarity with the concepts ... Al Gore does not, nor did his technical advisors.. though he constantly represented himself to the contrary. Am I to gather you also had personal contact with Brother Gore? I only had to cope with him intermittently over the course of 8 years thankfully. So individuals participating in our system (Buddhist or not) I think you'd have a hard time finding someone more involved in the process. I just think it's individuals who participate, not as a block of religious voters marching in lockstep.jccampb
I believe in consistency from beginning to end. From the least among us, to the President. I'm not even certain there is any difference, from a perspective of chanting nam myoho renge kyo, between the power of the least among us and the President. I do believe everytime anyone chants, even if their attitude is not perfect, their posture sloppy and their emotions wildly out of control, it makes a difference.For them and for the rest of us.So I believe the engaged Buddhist, the engaged Christian, and even a postive thinking atheist, power the engine of change. I do not believe it emanates from one candidate, one President, or one powerful donor. When you think about it,when has a politician really changed anyone's life?
Hi Onapath -Personally, to me there is a big difference between the separation of church and state (as a governmental concept) and separating politics and religions as applied to the individual.Maybe I wasn't clear - like JCCampb, I feel that politics should be an individual endeavor, and not engaged in by religious groups or traditions (in the USA at a minimum). My personal Buddhist practice certainly informs my personal political viewpoint; what I won't do is translate that into telling my fellow sangha members how they should vote. I don't mind telling them why I may choose to vote a certain way (if asked) but that's as far as it goes, and usually not that far. Again, these are my opinions, and your mileage may vary.
"When you think about it,when has a politician really changed anyone's life?"I think it goes without saying that politicians can and do change the lives of individuals. If we can accept that one of the most common ways for one's life to change is through the introduction, internalization, and actualization of specific ideas, one can easily point to John F. Kennedy as a very obvious recent example of a politician changing lives. We may be seeing this effect again with Barack Obama.It is also easy to invoke the names of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and others of their ilk as more negative examples of this phenomenon. There are even some current politicians I might include in this latter vein, but since they still hold office in the U.S., I'll refrain :)I think many in the Baby Boom generation would say that John Kennedy changed their lives by changing their ways of thinking, probably directly helping to fuel the whole '60's to mid '70's counter revolution. On a more practical note, if you were mentally ill when Nixon (and I believe Reagan later on) cut funding for housing and services to that population, it would be hard to deny that a politician changed your life, since you may easily have ended up on the streets. I'm not denying that a Buddhist can potentially alter or even forestall the effects of political change, both internally and externally. I just think it's unrealistic to dismiss the rhetoric and actions of politicians as having no direct effect on the lives of individuals. Ell
...were a general statement. You needn't have take them personally.But while you're at it, I'd be interested to hear more about why you think politics are separate from the ultimate reality. I was under the impression (from something Nichiren wrote) that no affairs of life or work are in any way separate from the Mystic Law.Also, I think the political mobilization of millions of Gakkai members in Japan just proves that it is a political corporation focused on the accumulation of power and wealth, not a religious organization at all. The paper that Beryl linked to above shows how the teachings of Nichiren have been exploited for political purposes in the past. The Gakkai corporation is just the latest group to hijack Nichiren.
Brooke ... I don't think they are separate at all. It's where the instigation of action comes from. Again, I think / feel that individuals who are also Nichiren Buddhists ... as individuals .... take their practice into their lives, and in the process of perceiving the true nature of reality? Then they should make their own decisions about what they should do / be involved in, in the Saha world. And you won't get any argument out of me on the Komeito ... snicker. I never have gone on an organized Tozan. Always it was in conjunction with business trips to Tokyo and Hamamatsu-shi. On one of my first trips (while still officially a member of NSA) The Senior Managing Director of our partner firm in Japan, Hamamatsu TV Ltd. Turned to me and said, John, how come you always go do things with those Soka Gakkai people when you come to our labs in Japan? That's just an organization for bored housewife's who have no life.At the time I was flabbergasted .. it took me ten years to figure it out. I marched in a lot of parades till I did snicker but ... whatever turns your crank as they say.jccampb
I have to agree, jcc. I have noticed that sometimes we Nichiren Buddhists can get caught up in notions of unity/ itai doshin and group membership so much that we forget the power of the individual. I think that Nichiren's teachings emphasize individual action more than collective action, which strikes me as remarkable for a medieval Japanese man. (Go Nichiren!)Most organized Nichiren groups ask at some point: Are more people joining? Are we growing as an organization? Naturally, this thinking takes the emphasis off the question of whether members are growing individually in their practice and understanding. As a result of mistaken focus (group trumps individual), the power of these groups eventually wanes.
Good points, Engyo. I will see about giving poll-creation permissions to your account. I know you'll come up with better questions and answers than me!Brooke, do you know how to do this? Send me e-mail pls.
JC, I've been to Hamamatsu. A friend of mine in SGI went there to teach English and wound up settling down there. I went to visit him around '93. Nice place with friendly people.
I went in and did it.Engyo, when you click on "New Diary" under "Menu" you will see a third field -- scroll past the "main text" field and the "extended text" field -- where you can create polls. Each question/answer line allows only a certain number of characters, so your questions/answers have to be sorta concise. Have fun!Anyone else want to create polls?
wow ... last time I was there was '79 (with HTV ltd.) Sometimes I'd stay in the Ryokan .. sometimes at the Hilton but you're right very, very friendly people. BEST onagi in Japan, best shoyu too. Last time I was there I went to a meeting at someone's house after having just come back (old Shinkonsin) from Fujinomia and Taho- Fuji Dainichirenge-zan Taiseki-ji ... an old geezer got up to give an experience in a tuxedo ... he looked me straight in the eye and said "I have practiced this Buddhism for 50 years" ... I resolved to meet or break his record. snicker.jccampb