I still have some work to do...but BuddhaJones is back online.
I've talked to a handful of you out there -- you, the people who are likely to visit this site. Most of you call yourselves Nichiren Buddhists. Welcome.
Not that BuddhaJones aims to be just another Nichiren site. Most online discussion about Nichiren Buddhism centers on disputes among factions and endless politics within organizations.
It's as if the same five online cliques have been saying the same five things for the past five years. Meantime, thousands of people have grown tremendously in their practice of and thinking about Buddhism.
How will this site be different?
Many of us have had some degree of involvement with an organized Nichiren-related group. Many of us have grown beyond what these groups have to offer. Others haven't. These topics are worth examining.
However.
I don't want this site to devolve into a support group for people who have been burned by a sect. I don't want it to be a "dueling organizations" site obsessed with doctrinal minutiae.
I also don't want it to be another cheerleading site where everyone congratulates everyone else for being a buddha. Ugh. There's enough simplistic smugness online already.
How's this? You don't care to join a Buddhist club or self-help group. Still, you enjoy chanting, meditating or discussing Buddhism with others. Paradoxes intrigue you. You're interested in current events and thoughtful commentary. You can recognize sarcasm.
If this sounds like you, you're the target audience for BuddhaJones.
BuddhaJones is powered by SoapBlox software. This platform allows unlimited users to comment on, write, rate, recommend and subscribe to blog posts.
I'm still trying to get the hang of it, so please forgive any technical hiccups.
Thanks for dropping in.
17 comments
Hiya, Burl - this is Byrd (pronounced "Burd").One of the things I liked best about the old BJ site was that it had interviews and articles. Are you going to be doing anything like this here, or will it just be blogs? Or are you maybe going to link or re-publish some of the archives? I think the articles and humor stuff worked really well for people who were just dropping in for a quick laugh or read and didn't want to have to sift through a lot of blogs or materials. Glad you're here. I promise not to get tribal or sectarian.Stay well and happy, Byrd Ehlmann in Los Angeles
I think we Nichiren Buddhists tend to take ourselves too seriously. BuddhaJones never hesitated to poke fun at sacred cows.I'll be interested to see how this new site takes shape and develops. Michele in Palmdale
Comments and suggestions are most welcome.Byrd, I do hope this site will offer high-quality content. Some of the people who wrote for BuddhaJones in the past will be posting their work. Also, I do have a copy of the old BuddhaJones archive. I hadn't thought of posting flashbacks, but that's a great idea.Sometimes, bloggers feel pressure to post just anything to "feed the blog." Since this is a group blog -- where users can contribute when they feel they have something to say -- I hope there's not a lot of pressure to post regularly. Quality trumps quantity.I think there's a current of wisdom, experience and humor in the Nichiren Buddhist community (for lack of a better label.) I will do my best to make this site a place where this irreverent but thoughtful vibe can dwell. I will need all the help I can get, so I'm glad you're here.P.S. for those who have asked offline, Lisa owns this domain name but has given me the keys, so to speak. She would rather not be discussed, though, so thanks for understanding.
Hello, Beryl and all,I am a former SGI member and am still considered a chapter WD leader, I suppose, and just heard a phone conference with Linda Johnson that SGI-USA is in decline everywhere. Is this the sort of topic you wouldnot be interested in? Such as in why this mightbe the case so we don't fall into the same trap?Also, I am interested in what people consider as thoughts/intents/practices that work particularly well in ND Buddhism and what to do when we get stuckor depressed or life ain't workin' out. Without sectarian nonsense and hierarchical bullshit and CERTAINLY without the "MD relationship" which makes me ill, frankly.However, I am interested in discussions with people aboutthings relating to C&E or whatever, Buddhist or non- that they find interesting and helpful. Is this somethingyour site is interested in as well?I am basically wondering about what people think really*works, and, maybe, what doesn't, in making life a happier proposition. Does this fall into your purview?Just wondering...Armchair
Hi, Beryl - is there any way we can set our own passwords at this site - I have a standard password I use, and then I have what I got from you, which is sort of hard for me to remember. I can write it down and put it in my purse, but then it runs the risk of getting lost among the grocery and dry-cleaning receipts.Help! Thanks, Byrd in LA
Actually, Armchair, if this was in fact discussed recently by a National leader, I think it would be a great topic for the Soka Gakkai Unofficial Board at Yahoo Groups - do you belong there? And not to sound thick, but....what's C&E?Talk to you all later, Byrd in LA
Hello, Byrd,Yes, I do belong to that group and have experienced suchunbelievable rudeness there I do not care to contribute.C&E? "Cause and Effect", something that is ALWAYS on mymind. And in my words and actions, mindfully, to thebest of my ability. Is this important to you, too?Thanks,Armchair
Your PageProfileDisplay PrefsPasswordTook me a bunch of tries to get the security code right. :)
actually, skip display prefs; just your page / profile / password
it is so simple Armchair. Chant Namu Myoho renge kyo no matter what, believe in the correct Three Treasures and Three Great Secret Laws, support a true priest (Nichiren), and spread the teachings according to one's ability. We should follow these guidelines whether our life is up, down, or sideways. Sometimes I think, like Nichiren did, this is a bitter yet unavoidable existence and other times I think it is most special to be alive and chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo. I would have no purpose in life if I weren't doing what I am doing and plan on doing it for many more years.As far as the SGI in decline, there is no decline or ascendency. There is only correct and incorrect. The SGI was mistaken before and remains mistaken. SGI is void, it is thus.What is the SGI mistaken about? The Three Great Secret Laws; the Three Treasures; Nichikan; the MD relationship; the nature of the Lotus Sutra in this age; the role of priests; Kosen Rufu based on something other than the Lotus Sutra; unity based on someting other than the Lotus Sutra; mechanically chanting the Daimoku; slander of the orthodox teachings and sects; shoju instead of shakabuku; interfaith dialogue with the Christians, Muslims, and Hindus instead of with their brothers and sisters of the orthodox sects; hierarchical teachings; the nature of guidance; the meaning of the teachings, capacity, land and time; the nature of benefit; the nature of punishment; the politicization of Buddhism other than to remonstrate with the government... just to name a few things.Nichijew
Dear Nichijew,You begin, "it is so simple Armchair." Are you being sarcastic, Nichijew? There is nothing simpleabout the subject and you continue with an extremely complexpost from a non-SGI viewpoint, in which, btw, I am quite interested.Let's start at the beginning. What do you mean by "believein the correct Three Treasures"? I am now in my 39thyear of assiduous practice and what has been taught byNSA/SGI over those decades has varied widely. "Belief", it was originally taught us, was not necessary, per se, only practice, as you espouse, as ND's Buddhism is absolutein its enlightened sense, considering zuiho bini, whichyou touch upon later, several times.There is nothing condescending in what you say, Nichijew,is there? As that would be animality, would it not, andI would suppose you would be familiar with the TenWorlds, right, as the basic mindset of a practitionerof ND's Buddhism?If you have time, I would be interested to hear whatbranch of ND's Buddhism you may be associated with, soI could know you and your concepts better, as that is a primary interest of mine as I find Buddhist grenadethrowing over any walls to be non-zuiho bini as youalso say you do.The rest of your message is so interesting, but alsoso complex, that, should you care to, perhaps we candiscuss as the occasion presents itself.Best regards,Armchair
and already I'm seeing a full-tilt jargonfest with sect acronyms and claims of correctness. Oh brother.What will it take for you to get over it?
I am not being facetious. Just chant the Daimoku, support the Priest that knows the heart of the Lotus Sutra and propagate the Lotus Sutra to the best of your ability. Certainly that is a simple practice.The Three Treasures of Lotus Sutra Buddhism in Mappo:The Law: Namu Myoho renge kyoThe Buddha: The Original Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus SutraThe Sangha(Led by Nichiren Daishonin)Condescending? Yes, disdainful of the cowardly SGI leaders who will neither enter into a formal debate nor into an actual proof challenge. Animality? Yes, the animality of Bodhisattvahood or Buddhahood. I know after 39 years you are not denying Ichinen Sanzen! I am a Kempon Hokke believer and disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin and Nichiju Shonin.Nichijew
My Dear deardenver:I imagine you are addressing me so I will take the time to respond. I don't know what you presuppose I haven't gotten over. Could you please instruct me (not that I take instruction from other than the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren but lets presuppose)?Anyway, I will instruct you. Nichiren Daishonin writes: Even if one does a great good deed, even if one reads andcopies the entire Lotus Sðtra a thousand or ten thousand times,or even if one succeeds in the contemplation path of threethousand worlds in a single thought-moment, should one failto denounce the enemies of the Lotus Sðtra, one will not beable to attain the Way. (STN 1: 321)Then Nichiren Shonin gives an example:"For example, if a court official who may have served ten or twenty years, upon knowing that an enemy of the Ruler is in the vicinity, does not report such a one nor feels personal enmity toward such, the merits gained in those years of service will not only be erased, the official will even be held liable for crime."(STN 1: 321-22)So, if you really want to understand where I am coming from (which I don't really think interests you in the slightest), you need to strengthen your faith more and more and read the Lotus Sutra and Gosho ever more fervently.Wishing you the best my dear deardenver,Nichijew
What, no avatars? You can't have a message board without avatars. It's heresy!
Hi, Armchair - I'm sorry about your experience at the Unofficial Board. Things tend to go in waves over there, and some of the contributors are hard to digest.Having said that, I am genuinely surprised that the sort of announcement to which you referred (i.e., "in decline everywhere") was made by a national level leader. I've never known Santa Monica to admit to anything other than bold and victorious advancement. Of course I believe in cause and effect! It is very important to me, too! Talk to you later, Byrd Ehlmann in LA
There are many places online where you can post gossip about organizations and the people in them. I hope participants won't do that here.