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

From the Founder of EverLife

In the Lotus Sutra (appx. 500 B.C.) the Declarer of the Truth of Everlasting Life (Eternal Buddha) prophesied that in the apocalyptic Era of the Decayed Reality (Mappo), in which we now live, legions of Selfless Volunteers of Eternal Origin (bodhisattva-mahasattvas) will be born. Their mission: to repel the forces of insanity and dysfunction that are unleashed on Earth, and to transform this planet into a place of enlightened peace and joy.

With the success of Nichiren's Buddhism in post-war Japan and its exportation to the United States and other countries, the healing invocation of the Lotus Sutra has gained an increasingly larger audience. Still, taking into account the major belief systems on this planet, the Enlightened Teachings of the Eternal Lotus are relatively small and obscure.

On the worldwide stage, however, the reappearance of the Lotus Sutra teachings coincides with the struggling emergence of a more enlightened human consciousness as to the fundamental value of life. This growing consciousness of goodness throughout the world has manifested in the expansion of freedom and democracy, and the expression of a muffled sentiment for a world where peace reigns supreme -- individually and collectively. From the standpoint of the Lotus Sutra this "desire for awakening" signals the emergence of the Selfless Volunteers in this world, in all walks of life, throughout the human fabric.

According to the Lotus Sutra, the Selfless Volunteers must face the evil poison inherent in the mortal state of being (fear of death). Their enemy is this fundamental cause of all suffering, which has always gripped mortality and can only be cured by the elixir of eternal life.

As suggested in the sutras, in this present era the disturbing forces that will arise from the "poison of mortal madness" will attack all of Buddhism both from the inside and outside. Look around. All the major religions have been pulled in to it -- Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Yes, Buddhism is in it, too. While the Buddhists of the world are pacifists, compassionate, ever resilient and stoic people in their commitment to the enlightened oneness of humankind, and are seemingly untouched by the storms of human conflict, look below the surface and you may see Buddhism's role at the center of it. While the world is well aware of the exile of the Lama Buddhists from Tibet and the recent destruction of the 1,500 year-old stone Buddha images in Afghanistan, what they have not seen is are the ruins of Nichiren Buddhism caused by the entry of the "poison" into the organizations of sincere believers through the vehicle of schism and arrogance.

While many Nichiren Buddhism priests said it was "only a building," the demolition of the Grand Main Temple (Sho-Hondo/Taisekiji) in 1998 represented the escalation of the attack on Buddhism by the virulent "inner" forces. The destruction of the sacred temple symbolized a declaration of war unleashed upon the world. It was an external manifestation of the explosion of the dormant "poison" arising from the essential karma of mortality. From an eternal perspective, it is not a matter of who is responsible or who must be punished. The true enemy is not a person but a mind... it is an ancient negative mind challenged by and reacting to the arrival of the "Selfless Volunteers -- the countervailing inner forces of enlightenment arising from within the eternal core within the mortal being.

In an attempt to make a small contribution in support of Nichiren's effort to transform this world, the EverLife Foundation dead link went on line in 1998 to herald his message of everlasting life's healing power. Our goal has been to be a lighthouse for those who are lost on the sea of life, to shine Nichiren's beacon into the pervasive darkness with the hope that a few wayward volunteers might find their way to an awakened state.

Personally, I did not realize at the time we founded EverLife that the Sho-Hondo was being demolished at the same time. Neither did I understand how powerful and dangerous is the force that resists enlightened wisdom -- even though the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren's writings make that point crystal clear. When in that year I learned that my daughter Lani's heart had been penetrated by an undiagnosable microbe, I still did not understand. And even when Lani died, I did not understand. But I did sense that she was a fallen hero who fought side by side with me on the eternal battlefield. Then when I learned that her illness and death occurred simultaneously with the demolition and destruction of the Sho-Hondo, I understood just how powerful these forces are. EverLife, and me personally have been under siege in one way or another ever since that time. I've heard from many others in the past three years and learned that unusually difficult struggles have descended on good people at every turn. Such are these times and our challenges. Nevertheless, there is no viable choice other than resistance and perseverance.

EverLife began when I was living in the New York City -- where I also worked professionally on projects on behalf of the World Trade Center -- so I carry a personal connection with that place and its people. Regrettably I must acknowledge that the terrorist attack on the WTC has signaled yet another escalation of the war between the forces of mortal darkness and eternal light.

There are no words to express the depth of suffering felt by the children, spouses and families who lost their parents and loved ones in that attack. They are all heroes who have lost their life on the battlefield for the transformation of this planet to an enlightened place...may the departed and the living be united again within the Perfectly Endowed Reality of Everlasting Life [Myoho-Renge-Kyo]. Bless them, bless you and thank you for being here,
Harvey Kraft
http://www.everlife.org dead link

Karmic Links

Dear Buddha Jones,
I'm George Sol Producer and host of an internet pctv series on WABN (www.wabn.net) called Spiritual Playhouse 22. I visited your site and enjoy the layout and information. I put your url on my favorite links page at www.wabn.net/NEWSPH22links.html dead link and would hope that you would add my show url to your links page. The address is www.wabn.net/NEWSPH22episodelist.html dead link
peace and unconditional love,
George Sol

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I wish I could put rose pedals at your feet to make your journey soft sweet.
But I Can't
I wish I could shower you with dollars of large amounts.
But I Can't
So I'll chant for you.
I wish I could find happiness in large jars for you.
But I Can't
So all I can do is Chant NAM-MYOHO-RENGE-KYO for you and all the above will come true for you.

Spooner Gateway group Cape Cod,Ma.

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I would like to see a gameshow for Buddhists called, "Whose Karma Is It?" We've all played this game and are playing it now with regard to the terrorist attacks and counterattacks. "It's your karma to be attacked!" "Yes, but it's your karma to carry out such horrible attacks, making more bad karma!"

Whose karma got us into this mess? Whose karma will get us out? It's *your* karma -- no, it's *my* karma!

This would be a boring gameshow in the long run because in each episode the Buddhists would argue amongst themselves trying to assign karmic responsibility for everything. Meanwhile, insane religious fundamentalists would take over the world.

Ha ha.

Thomas S.

Counterattack

Like Mr. Hillcrest, I support the counterattacks unavailable. Bin Laden is a shitball. We should be more concerned tho that we don't become shitballs ourselves in dealing with this man and threat his followers pose.
DH

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It is discouraging that a fellow Buddhist has abandoned his principles as Ben has done. It's easy to be a Buddhist and a pacifist when everything is hunkydory. In wartime it is much harder. Please do not be tempted to "forget the promises made" at the time when we all vowed to serve the Buddha.
pat

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Ben: you're not the only Buddhist who supports the counterattack.

But I can't go far enough as to agree with the idea that waging war on anybody is in keeping with Buddhist teaching.

We've fallen into a very tricky duality if we accept the axiom that the ONLY possible way to counter Osama bin Laden, or any other terrorists, with bombs, bloodshed and global war. War or "passivity" as my ONLY two options? I can't accept that that's all there is.

Hate will never end hate; violence will never end violence.

We've got to start thinking about alternatives to war that aren't just the "wimpy passivity" you seem to be on about, and as thinking Buddhists the onus is on *us* to to find solutions that fit within Buddhist ethics.

We might start by refusing to accept the dictates of this war as given: bin Laden isn't "evil", and he isn't the "enemy of freedom" as the conventional wisdom would have me believe. He's *seriously* dangerous, and he's pursuing a course of action that can only bring lots of sufferring to lots of people, but some of the responsibility for the attacks on Sept. 11 has to come back to *ourselves*. When shit happens that I don't like, my first, best option is to start looking at my own prior actions that led me to where I've ended up.

It's all karma, and in a deeper sense, not a one of us are innocent victims of anything that happens in life. My life happens as it does as a direct result of my very own actions; my karma is the ground upon which I stand.

There hasn't been a single "holy war" fought in the name of Buddhism in twenty-five centuries. Now isn't the time to break that tradition, no matter how many Buddhas the Taliban have blown up.
metta,
- Ward --
Ward Chanley
http://home.earthlink.net/~wardc dead link
Closets are for clothes.

General Encouragement

Just a note to say thanks for the great stuff you do. I still can't access a good portion of it but love what I've seen. Since the sad, sad events here [NYC] on the 11th - well, nevermind all that's been going on w/me but for our discussion meeting last night, I was asked to explain Nam myoho renge kyo and the Gohonzon.

Because of the importance of the time, it seems to me finally that these explanations are extremely important to get across at a meeting - guests or not. So I usurped practically all of your 'A Perspective on Chanting NMRK unavailable' and a lot of Pat Allwright's (Basics Of Buddhism) Gohonzon explanation for our meeting (couldn't access any of your Gohonzon articles).

There were close to 40 people there, twice what we usually have for a district meeting. Anyway, it was incredible; the feedback was completely positive, the guests 'got' it - everyone loved it. Long-term members remarked they'd never heard an explanation quite as good. Of course, I gave credit to you (and Pat).

Take care, I hope all's well and thanks a million for helping out at our meeting.
Mary

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Your website is the most encouraging thing I have seen in a very very long time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Allan

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Hello, This is my first visit to this site. I practiced Buddhism for twenty-five years. I have lived in Germany for sixteen years and have not had contact with the German or American SGI groups since 1996.

I have always felt that the "rah-rah" and the "personality cult" attitudes were over the top. I dedicated a lot of time but due to my basic hatred of authority, I wasn't "beloved." So, I never attained a position of high leadership -- thank goodness!

I, however, am not the the subject here. YOU are very funny and creative -- much like the "Betty Bowers " web site. After I discovered -- just last week -- that the Shohondo was torn down, I looked on the web for info. All I can say is that this is shocking and that things have really changed in the last sixteen years!!!

But the the real reason I'm writing this note is that I saw a poem by Lee Wolfson. Lee and I knew each other since the early seventies in Pittsburgh Pa. Hi Lee....great poem! Lisa, I'm adding your site to my "favorites."
Best Regards,
Roseann (Gladis)Iles/Heidelberg, Germany

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dear lisa,
i'm writing to tell you how much i love buddhajones.com! it is sooo comfortable...a real relief actually. i have linked to buddhajones instead of sgi as a reference for buddhism. i have a small page that many people visit to read about my unassisted childbirth experience. (and who am i kidding...they go to look at the kick ass pictures of the happy woman giving birth) the story of this birth includes a powerful spiritual experience. for me it was the most vivid example of the power of faith... anyway, you are welcome to go to check out the link and read the story if you'd like to see what a normal birth can look like when it's not made in to an illness.
http://pagina.de/nacimiento dead link
very kind and sincere regards,
josephine joyner
omaha, nebraska
btw, what happened to the mugs and tee shirts you once sold?

Please click here for Consumer Products of Dubious Value unavailable(mugs and t-shirts)

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This is the first time I've visited your website, but not the last! In fact, it will be part of my daily readings from now on. What you do here is great perspective for those of us who attempt to practice Buddhism - or become Buddhas in your words. I belong to Rissho Kosei Kai in Oklahoma City. Yes, we're alive and well here in the buckle of the bible belt, and we just dedicated a new dharma center in July. We're a small group, but we're growing. Thanks again to whoever y'all are who put this together and keep it going. You have some fans here!
Ann Rinehard

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Just a quick hello...
BuddhaJones is becoming a daily stop for me...
I've played and replayed Human Revolution unavailable about a gazillion times (is that anything like chanting a million daimoku? Hmm.)
I have lots of bookmarks that make me giggle.
I have lots of other bookmarks that make me think.
I just have a few that make me do both. :-)
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Ward Chanley
http://home.earthlink.net/~wardc dead link
Closets are for clothes.

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been an SGI member for 12 years... wish I could have "Miss Guidance unavailable" around all the time! keep it up. what fun!
c.

Miss Guidance's Struggle with Homophobia

Dear Lisa,
I read the following paragraphs in the subject article unavailable By Coco Kuroshio on Buddajones.com. Is it a homophobic sarcasm? Pls. clearify.
Thanks, Edward Qi (chi)

Thanks for asking, Edward. Miss Guidance has come a long way. Like most old-time SGI leaders who gave bad advice to gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender members, she's horrified by the homophobic attitude she used to have. So, yeah, I think it's sarcasm.

Exhibiting Poor Taste

Not only is your site unfunny, you have crossed the line into poor taste by mocking President Ikeda with your exhibit satire unavailable. Shame.
Rick

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Now you've done it! You've aimed your pen at the most sacred cow of all! No, not the larger-than-life religious leader. The most sacred cow is Uncritical Hero-Worship. See you in hell.
John E.

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Hi, Lisa--
I know you have an eclectic selection of thoughts on your site, and I appreciate that. I just wanted to comment that your Kennedy-Lennon-Ikeda Exhibit piece gives me a bad feeling. I understand the premise, but the intent seems to be wrong. Didn't Morehouse College set up the Gandhi-King-Ikeda Community Builders Award? I don't know who wrote this K-L-I piece, and for whatever reason(s), but why are you trivializing President Ikeda by publishing this? You make the SGI sound like a dog and pony show. I guess people have every right to think like that, but is this going to further "the change we wish to see"?
Beth

Hi, Beth.
You're right. The exhibit, "Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building Peace," is sponsored by Morehouse College. It has been promoted in the SGI-USA publications and through a video presentation at SGI-USA meetings. The exhibit is currently at Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo.
Lisa

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Thanks for staying on the cutting edge of things with this latest proposal for a Kennedy-Lennon-Ikeda exhibit. Many folks around the country (and probably the world) continue to rely on BuddhaJones.com to lead the way, and this proposal is right at the vanguard of where we need to go. Keep up the good work! As a follow up idea, I would like to propose Shakyamuni-Nichiren-Ikeda exhibit. The parallels should speak for themselves.
Best regards,
H. Milton

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You will no doubt receive letters protesting the K-L-I exhibit article on your site. I am still trying to decide how I feel about it. On one hand, and I'm sure you agree, President Ikeda has made inestimable contributions to humanity, and deserves recognition. On the other hand, honors and awards are ultimately meaningless, so why pursue and publicize them, as SGI-USA does? I would group Makiguchi, Toda, Ikeda. Why isn't there an exhibit about them?
Karen

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The movie unavailable says it all. "Don't worship me. Surpass me!" We are desperate for a hero or a god-man because we believe in our own inferiority. We boost one man up only because we feel it is our place to be never as great as the great ones. Pat a man on the back. Shake his hand. But don't for a moment put him on a pedestal like a statue. To do so degrades both him and you.
T. Jackson

Dr. Obo's Lecture

I read the Dr. Obo articles unavailable and am asking What's the big deal? Isn't it obvious that if you are an "Ocean" person you will love this guidance, but it you are a "Village" person you will hate it? The people who need to read this, won't.
Tammy

Technical Difficulties

BuddhaJones got lots of e-mail in August. Unfortunately, we've been plagued with computer problems. Almost all correspondence has been lost. If you sent us a letter or article that never got posted to the site, we would be very happy if you would consider re-sending it to us.

Thank you for your continued readership!