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  1. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    I personally agree with your view, which seems more balanced and healthy. I have not looked into Tendai Buddhism, which is not widely propagated and has no sangha that I know of at least in my local neighborhood. But according to my source, the LS is self-praising, and the idea of the LS is...
  2. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    "Nichiren's reading seems too narrow, in my opinion." I am leaning toward thinking exactly the same... Can you find me any specific passage from the Lotus Sutra where it states that all of the Buddhist practices are valid? I would appreciate it!
  3. I

    Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the Lotus Sutra

    Nichiren quite fervently denounced Nembutsu... He said, "Whether tempted by good or threatened by evil, if one casts aside the Lotus Sutra, one destines oneself for hell. Here I will make a great vow. Though I might be offered the rulership of Japan if I would only abandon the Lotus Sutra...
  4. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    I started practicing with SGI when SGI was still NSA. I remember people always calling the Buddhism practiced in NS as "Nichiren Daishonin's True Buddhism." It sounded funny to me because it sort of implied that there must be some false Buddhism" elsewhere. I wonder why people inside NS were...
  5. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    You practiced with Nichiren Shoshu Temple, not with the SGI? How was your experience and why do you say it's one of the most dogmatic forms of Buddhism?
  6. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    I sincerely appreciate what you are sharing with me. I personally see great value in your meditation and mindfulness practice. If, however, I were to learn your way of practicing Buddhism it would certainly contradict Nichiren's admonition on discarding all pre-Lotus Sutra (provisional)...
  7. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    Thank you again for sharing the website and your personal experience with meditation and mindfulness. I have been somewhat familiar with the four noble truths. It does strike a chord with me. In Nichiren Buddhist tradition, it is considered that there must be two ways of practice, practice...
  8. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    Thank you von bek for your kindness. I think you are absolutely right about the emphasis on mappo having a lot to do with the pessimism seen in Japanese Buddhism. Why do you believe the heart of Buddhist practice lies in meditation? Is it based on any particular teaching or based on your...
  9. I

    Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the Lotus Sutra

    I really like the inclusive, ecumenical and universal approach of RKK. I think it's healthy to be that way. UU in that sense seems like a great organization. I am wondering how RKK is handling Nichiren's exclusive views regarding other Buddhist teachings and other religions... To be more...
  10. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    Sounds interesting if you could get him to participate, I would be very interested to hear an expert opinion.
  11. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    They seem to belong to Hinayana/Theraveda schools. Yes, I am familiar with Nichiren's take on these schools. I have certainly not read any of their actual teachings because of almost the matter of fact rejection of them by Nichiren... Here's what I got from the SG website. The Basic...
  12. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    I have never heard of mahavacchagotta sutta, let alone the word "sutta(I thought it was a sutra misspelled)... I am really not familiar with Buddhism outside of Nichiren tradition. In looking up on the gender issues in Buddhism, I came across this website... (I cannot post the link...
  13. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    I was reading another website in which there was a question and answer, "Q: Is Nichiren Buddhism/Lotus Sutra an inclusive or an exclusive teaching? A: Both. It is inclusive of all people and exclusive of all other religions and all other Buddhist teachings." Maybe it sums it up...
  14. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    Thank you for your input. I am sure you are right about your source on the Buddha's statement regarding the nuns and laywomen. Nichiren was a very complex thinker and he was struggling himself in his days of all the conflicting Buddhist teachings. He was trying to find the ultimate truth in...
  15. I

    Nichiren Buddhism a great contradiction?

    Lately, I have been thinking and feeling that Nichiren Buddhism is a great contradiction. There are many things I love about Nichiren Buddhism. While I find many of his writings inspiring and encouraging, I also find some of his writings not helpful especially in times of depression. The main...
  16. I

    what keeps you a Unitarian Universalist?

    I really like what I have read so far about the UU church. It seems like a very healthy organization. I think it is completely in line with my own belief about spirituality and religion in general. As I grew up in Japan in a Christian family and later became a Buddhist on my own. I always felt...
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