Reader letters to BuddhaJones.com. Letters are separated by blank lines or bold headings.

Algebraic Ponderings about the Gohonzon

Very well put! Math was my major a hundred and two years ago in college. But my love for math began in 9th grade when my Algebra teacher, who was famous/notorious for a traditional homework assignment she gave every year -- one that I loved so much and still to this day recall it and its effect on me. The assignment was to write an essay describing all the math functions and theories that Lewis Carroll used in his story of Alice in Wonderland. Reading your article unavailable took me back to those days and that assignment that I loved and caused me to realize my love of and ability for math. Thank you so very very much!!!! Sincerely,
George Jeffus
Charlotte, NC

Prayer Gohonzon

I do not have a Prayer Gohonzon, but I know many folks who do, and I've heard all sorts of versions of "the story" about it. Your article unavailable is the fairest and clearest presentation of the facts of the matter and the issues involved that I have seen. You are to be congratulated for your thorough and honest journalism. Too much of this discussion has been based on emotionalism, sectarianism and prejudice. Your piece is a great "just the facts" offering, and should be read by all who have been discussing this matter. Thank you.
Andy Hanlen

Saxophone

Lisa, I love your article on the saxophone unavailable. I have always told people that we have to be able to separate the seaweed (Japanese formalities) from Buddhism. I am an American and intend to remain so. Also questions are always good to alleviate blind allegiance to anything we are involved with or questioning the practices of such. Keep up the excellent humor. Laughter is always good for all.
Rickey J.

Favorite Buddhist Joke

This is a great site. Don't see a place for my favorite Buddhist joke. I've been saying it for so long I can't remember if I wrote it or I heard it.
How many Buddhists does it take to change a lightbulb? Two, but not two.
thanks!
Sue Chan

Cute Baby

BuddhaJones, I recently visited your site and just wanted to drop you a note telling you how much I enjoyed the article about the cute baby unavailable.

That is one cute baby.

That baby could be the Mayor of CutieTown.

If cute were a convenience food, that baby would be America's number one convenience food, fruit gummies.

Dr. Cutie! Dr. Cutie! This patient needs 10 CCs of sunshine...stat!

Friend of Quinn - SJ


Reproduction of the Gohonzon

Hello, I found your site by doing a search on Nikken Shonin. Just wondered what he was up to. They are making a fuss about your dancing Gohonzons. I couldn't find these but I did see what looked very much like a Gohonzon (although not one I'd seen before) on one of your web pages. I'm sorry to sound censorious but I don't think you should reproduce a Gohonzon in this way, or indeed at all. It is a sacred mandala after all. I can't help feeling that you may be making a rather dubious cause by doing so. I am not a nutcase or a religious maniac but I am a member of the SGI and I do practice Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. I wouldn't want to tell you what to do but I do find this rather disturbing. Yours sincerely
Adam Blake

Hello again, Interestingly enough, as soon as I came out of e mailing you just now, I was immediately presented with your flashing Gohonzons. I am sure you mean well, but this is, I feel certain, a very disrespectful use of deeply sacred images. Interspersing messages such as "It's your thing" and "Do what you want to do" - or whatever - is just too frivolous, and in very poor taste. I urge you to please consider very seriously what you are doing and remove these images.
With respect
Adam Blake

Hi, Adam.
Thanks for your concern. We've gotten lots of mail about this subject. Most people like the Flash movie and many people don't. Some have expressed concerns such as the ones you shared with us. Do you know of a passage in the Gosho that supports your views? I will forward your comments to the person who designed the movie. Thanks for visiting the BuddhaJones site.
take care,
Lisa Jones

No, I don't know of a passage in the Gosho that supports my view that it's not a good idea to flash electronically generated images of different Gohonzons in a strobe-like manner, interspersed with feel-good slogans. This is almost certainly because the Goshos were written over 700 years ago, ie, before the discovery of the internet. I still feel uncomfortable about what you are doing but, of course, you must take responsibility for your own actions. If, however, what you wanted to achieve with this display was to generate controversy and attract attention, then I'm sure you must feel quite pleased about the response. I will consult with a member or two who has been practising longer than I have and canvass their views. I am sorry if you feel that I am making too much of a fuss about this but I do think it's important.
Yours sincerely
Adam Blake

Thoreau's Lotus Sutra Translation

Hello-
Your site is great, a mix of serious and funny! I have been searching for more info on Thoreau's Buddhist ties for a few months now. Where did you find the translation unavailable? I think is is so facinating to learn the extent of Buddhist influence on great Americans such as Thoreau. Also fascinating is the story of Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, who also worked at The Dial, was the first to publish Civil Disobedience, and went on to found the first Kindergarden in the US.
Keep up the good work!
Rick Weber
(an SGI-USA YMD leader from Denver)

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Love the site! Just found it and enjoyed looking through.
A new-to-Buddhism person
Arizona

Dear editor:
this has nothing to do with your site but with the gosho writings of Nichiren Daishonin. In my understanding, he says that when a country gets invaded by another country, the reason has something to do with the first country not upholding the correct teachings of Buddhism. This makes no sense to me. I think it is much more shameful for a country to aggressively invade another country. That is worse than being invaded, because killing and aggression is a terrible cause to make in terms of cause and effect.

I bring this up because I am trying to understand the Nichiren view of the Tibetan invasion by China. I have heard Nichiren practitioners say that it happened because the Tibetans do not chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and they teach incorrect Buddhism. The Dalai Lama himself has said that Tibet made the causes that resulted in the genocide there. But I hate to think of the horrible cause that the Chinese are making. What will be the effects?

I cannot believe that a Nichiren believer would say that the Chinese are more correct than the Tibetans. How is slaughter and invasion a sign of correct Buddhist belief? It is not. I do not expect you to reply.
marlee

Nichiren Buddhism is a clean blade that cuts through ages of obfuscatory crud. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. One phrase. Simple. Clear. Just say it.
DharmaDefender

More Names to Call Andy

Upon review of M. Simon's listing of appropriate things to call me ("Irreverent Humor Aimed at Andy Hanlen unavailable: New Names to Call Him") I thought I would add this, from Guy McCloskey, whom I affectionately (really!) refer to as "Boddhisattva In Your Face" (actually, he told me that's what the Japanese leaders call him). He refers to me on occasion as "Bodhisattva Ever Disparaging." Can't imagine why.
Best regards,
Andy

More on Organizational Reform

Much has been written online about reform of the Soka Gakkai in the states. I lurk on many newsgroups but I do not post. I do not want to be lumped as a reformer or a defender of the status quo. It is getting to the point where if you say "I love the SGI and Daisaku Ikeda!" some people call you a cultie. Then if you say, "I love the SGI but think it needs to change," other people call you a complainer or unity breaker.

In this climate of black-and-white categories, no one can win!

I am coming out of the closet to say that I love the SGI and Daisaku Ikeda and I think the SGI needs to grow and change!

It is heartsickening to me that there are people who will say they love SGI then turn around and condemn the organization for mistakes or engage in name-calling toward the leaders. It is like children who grow up to harbor a grudge and resent their family because they were not given a perfect childhood. (Your family did the best that they could and taught you the best truths that they had at the time!)

Now you are a grown up in faith and maybe you have better truths to share. So share them. We are all interested. Venting your resentment about the cowardice of some leaders (which I do not dispute) doesn't really help anyone.

Everyone can see that the SGI is far from perfect as an organization. The SGI is tremendous, though, because through both negative and positive (expedient!!) means it fosters people who can stand on their own with regard to faith. That is something to shout about!
terri moore

"Animated" Gohonzon

I came to see the animated Gohonzon unavailable movie. By the way it was described on the page providing the link, I feared something pornographic.

I can find nothing pornographic. It is not animated, either, since you use a rapid succession of still images. You have not altered or animated the Gohonzon. You are not offering it for the purposes of worship. I do not see the basis for complaint about your movie.

It would be pornographic to say that certain priests own the Gohonzon or that the Gohonzon does not reside in the flesh and blood of ordinary people.

How we see the Gohonzon depends on our life condition, neh? Happy to have found your site through someone's negativity. Poison into medicine.
SR

Thus I Heard

An exchange overheard at a Buddhist meeting:

Person A: "Can you explain what you mean by time without beginning?"

Person B: "I don't know where to start."

Am I the only one who finds this hilarious?
S.

My sensei says that Buddhism is not about following. It is about leading. Make this practice your own.
JMc.

Broken Symmetry

Thank you for the article by Mr. Konstanzer regarding symmetry unavailable. I do not take issue with it, but I would like to point out that symmetry is not always the rule. At times a small cause can have a large effect, for instance, something as simple as chanting a phrase can alter our karma. There is a seeming disproportion between the action and the result. Can he address this in an article? Please forward my comments to him if he would like to correspond. Thank you.
MG

Luv ta HATE

I HATE this site. Its BAD and WRONG and walks a thin line between stupid and SLANDER. I HATE it so MUCH that I read it EVERY day, sometimes TWICE to make sure NONE of the EVIL escapes my notice. It is SO WRETCHED that I sent the URL to friends and family so EVERYONE can join in a CHORUS of REBUKE. SHAME on YOU for not UPDATING your content MORE OFTEN!
ANONymous


Cracking Wise

Your references are at times obscure yet the wit on this site comes through. After lo these many (yet few) years of Nichiren's Buddhism in the U.S. we at last have people thinking and cracking wise (pun intended) in public. My one suggestion: add movie reviews.
AlexeiA


No Tyranny

please keep doing what you are doing on your web site. the passages unavailable from emerson express well: faith makes us and not we it. i keep singing that line like a song. do not capitalize me. do not subject me to the tyranny of proper punctuation. let me be free in my little ways.
ez

Disappointed

For the first time, I am disappointed with BuddhaJones. I love this site. I love the way you push the envelope. I LOVE that your critics have their panties in a wad unavailable.

BUT I am disappointed in your "coverage" of the "reform the SGI-USA" movement. Like B.W.F. and Andy Hanlen [in previous letters unavailable to the editor] I would like to see a substantive viewpoint about these efforts. I won't ask for irreverent humor, because I think the subject is too serious. It is a serious topic for me. You guys have a sharp critical sensibility so I think you should speak out. That H. Milton piece unavailable was like you are dissing the whole reform movement.
My two cents,
mikee212

Lisa Jones responds: I'm going to pull a Ben Hillcrest and say that my views on religious reform accord with Emerson's Divinity School Address unavailable. If you (or anyone else) would like to write an essay for BuddhaJones about your views on reform, please send me an e-mail.

Genius?

Brooke St. George is a genius. Her recipe unavailable for kosen-rufu is amazing. The critics of this site would be well advised to remove the sticks from their posteriors, sit down and have a big heaping helping!
DJ