Nichiren Buddhism

[Unveiled Artist]

Finally, I can talk some about my faith with some challenging talk with like minds and those that differ.

Let me ask, what do you guys feel about Nichiren Buddhism? What is your testimonies? What do you like or not like about the faith (if you are a former Buddhist?)

Basically, Who are you as a Buddhist?

For me, being a Nichiren Buddhist was like an eye opener to me. I mean, I am a pagan--I give reverence to the Earth as well as to people--I am still part of the Catholic Church, I believe we need to die to our sinful lives to live fully.... but then it hit me. We cannot be in connection with the Earth and die to our attachments et cetera if we do not know the mystic law. So, I was reading the Lotus Sutra (Buddha's primary teachings) and he says we are all Bodhisattvas of the Earth. We are all here to preach the law and to save others from their sufferings by letting them see into their true nature. We do this the same as Nichiren DIashonin (Japanese Buddhist Monk) and Shakyamuni Guatama did.

Then there is a lot of negativity with Nichiren Buddhism and in some aspects I know why and others I don't. If we as Nichiren Buddhist chant and connecting yourselves to the mystic law to better our spiritual lives, why do we disagree on what the law means. and who teaches it? Like I keep seeing SGI verses Shoshu and all that. I actually don't have a Gohonzon because of a lot of things I hear about the practice and that I don't care to pay for a sacrament.

So, I chant with friends and strangers of like minds. I also wanted to ask, how did you decide to get your Gohonzon?

Carlita
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[xkatz]

Finally, I can talk some about my faith with some challenging talk with like minds and those that differ.

Let me ask, what do you guys feel about Nichiren Buddhism? What is your testimonies? What do you like or not like about the faith (if you are a former Buddhist?)

Basically, Who are you as a Buddhist?

For me, being a Nichiren Buddhist was like an eye opener to me. I mean, I am a pagan--I give reverence to the Earth as well as to people--I am still part of the Catholic Church, I believe we need to die to our sinful lives to live fully.... but then it hit me. We cannot be in connection with the Earth and die to our attachments et cetera if we do not know the mystic law. So, I was reading the Lotus Sutra (Buddha's primary teachings) and he says we are all Bodhisattvas of the Earth. We are all here to preach the law and to save others from their sufferings by letting them see into their true nature. We do this the same as Nichiren DIashonin (Japanese Buddhist Monk) and Shakyamuni Guatama did.

Then there is a lot of negativity with Nichiren Buddhism and in some aspects I know why and others I don't. If we as Nichiren Buddhist chant and connecting yourselves to the mystic law to better our spiritual lives, why do we disagree on what the law means. and who teaches it? Like I keep seeing SGI verses Shoshu and all that. I actually don't have a Gohonzon because of a lot of things I hear about the practice and that I don't care to pay for a sacrament.

So, I chant with friends and strangers of like minds. I also wanted to ask, how did you decide to get your Gohonzon?

Carlita
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Hey Carlita,

I myself am not a Nichiren practitioner currently, but I have practiced before and I admittedly still have a soft spot from Nichiren Buddhism and occasionally do think about practicing it again.

Compared to other Buddhist philosophers, I find Nichiren uplifting and refreshing as he was certainly not a coward and he is quite critical when he see's it necessarily. I think while many Buddhist find Nichiren kind of alien, I see his thoughts as very dharmic in sense (especially with his ideas on Buddha-nature). For that I admire Nichiren a lot still.

As for the SGI vs Shoshu thing, I would be very cautious of getting involved in it. I was once VERY briefly involved in a local Shoshu temple back in my home town, but I disliked it as it felt very cultish. I would ultimately steer clear of the conflict as it's wasteful and harmful.

As for the Gohonzon, I know that there are independent practitioners that say it's alright to print your own Gohonzon as long as you show it proper respect.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Thank you. Yes, I did print one off line and framed it. It helps when I read the Lotus and the Gosho as well to get full knowledge of the foreign language printed on the scroll. When I went to a Shoshu temple, they were very pushy with what I should and shouldn't do. They didn't let off of my waiting to receive the Gohonzon and was persistent on my receiving Gojokai. SGI isn't that forceful, but I do like having a religious structure to my faith and that's one thing I liked about Shoshu is because it reminded me of Mass (the priests, sacraments, etc). SGI doesn't have that.

But, yeah, I can see why you'd say they are kinda cultish. Sometimes I don't know the border. With Shoshu it was almost immediately feeling of a no-no. With SGI, I can't tell.

It's good you have a soft spot for Nichiren Buddhism. Are you a Buddhist still? or different faith?

 

[xkatz]

Thank you. Yes, I did print one off line and framed it. It helps when I read the Lotus and the Gosho as well to get full knowledge of the foreign language printed on the scroll. When I went to a Shoshu temple, they were very pushy with what I should and shouldn't do. They didn't let off of my waiting to receive the Gohonzon and was persistent on my receiving Gojokai. SGI isn't that forceful, but I do like having a religious structure to my faith and that's one thing I liked about Shoshu is because it reminded me of Mass (the priests, sacraments, etc). SGI doesn't have that.

But, yeah, I can see why you'd say they are kinda cultish. Sometimes I don't know the border. With Shoshu it was almost immediately feeling of a no-no. With SGI, I can't tell.

It's good you have a soft spot for Nichiren Buddhism. Are you a Buddhist still? or different faith?

Your experience sounds a lot like mine when I went. Shoshu is very pushy as they want you to practice properly and thoroughly but I think they are too controlling. I've heard SGI is even more cultish but I've never encountered them so I can't really say.

As for your question, I am Jewish, but I am kind of a drifter in a sense.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I think a lot of people are drifters in a sense. As long as ya stay in the field, I think you'll be fine.

A lot of people tell me when they went to SGI they felt a cultish feeling. I had that when I first went to their district meeting. It's a huge meeting where people from different counties or city areas promote world peace and ask for donations so that people who receive the Gohonozon and chant will have anything they want. They describe that that fulfillment of their wants is their enlightenment. We have differences of opinion; but everyone is different. The people are nice and the motives are genuine, its the organization that bothers me.

Other than that, I'm pretty much trying to get off this computer and get some sleep. When I found this site, I was hooked.

 

[von bek]

I practice Theravada Buddhism; but, I do have an intense interest in Japanese forms of Buddhism due to my background in East Asian Studies from university. I especially find the Kamakura period intriguing, as well as the major Japanese Buddhist figures of that time such as Nichiren, Shinran, and Dogen. Personally, I like Shinran the best as he truly comes across as a champion of the lower classes. Nichiren is an interesting guy too, though. I used to associate him with Japanese nationalism but I recently read an excellent book on Japanese Buddhism written by a Japanese scholar that has shifted my perspective on this matter a little. The writer made the point that Nichiren wanted a Japan that was truly a Buddhist nation, ruled by Buddhist laws in every aspect. The vision he had was completely at odds with the traditional Japanese state. There is a reason he got in trouble with higher authorities and was exiled a time or two...

 

[xkatz]

I practice Theravada Buddhism; but, I do have an intense interest in Japanese forms of Buddhism due to my background in East Asian Studies from university. I especially find the Kamakura period intriguing, as well as the major Japanese Buddhist figures of that time such as Nichiren, Shinran, and Dogen. Personally, I like Shinran the best as he truly comes across as a champion of the lower classes. Nichiren is an interesting guy too, though. I used to associate him with Japanese nationalism but I recently read an excellent book on Japanese Buddhism written by a Japanese scholar that has shifted my perspective on this matter a little. The writer made the point that Nichiren wanted a Japan that was truly a Buddhist nation, ruled by Buddhist laws in every aspect. The vision he had was completely at odds with the traditional Japanese state. There is a reason he got in trouble with higher authorities and was exiled a time or two...

The Kamakura period is definitely interesting, reminds me a lot of the 1500s Reformation in Europe.

However, that said, I am not a fan of Shinran whatsoever

 

[von bek]

The Kamakura period is definitely interesting, reminds me a lot of the 1500s Reformation in Europe.

However, that said, I am not a fan of Shinran whatsoever

I would ask why you are not a fan of Shinran but that is a digression from the OP. Consider me curious...

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Yeah

I practice Theravada Buddhism; but, I do have an intense interest in Japanese forms of Buddhism due to my background in East Asian Studies from university. I especially find the Kamakura period intriguing, as well as the major Japanese Buddhist figures of that time such as Nichiren, Shinran, and Dogen. Personally, I like Shinran the best as he truly comes across as a champion of the lower classes. Nichiren is an interesting guy too, though. I used to associate him with Japanese nationalism but I recently read an excellent book on Japanese Buddhism written by a Japanese scholar that has shifted my perspective on this matter a little. The writer made the point that Nichiren wanted a Japan that was truly a Buddhist nation, ruled by Buddhist laws in every aspect. The vision he had was completely at odds with the traditional Japanese state. There is a reason he got in trouble with higher authorities and was exiled a time or two...

Yeah, that's true. I read Nichiren's letters to his disciples and he is very blunt in what he wants his neighboring "non-Buddhist" people to practice. The country was at war and he felt that his interpretation of Buddhism, the chanting Daimoku, would bring peace. He felt the Theravada traditions and even the Mahayana traditions were out of date. What I liked most was how he summarized and described the Buddha's teachings to where I understood what I read from His-Shakyamuni-Sutra. I don't know too much about Japanese history, if any.

But you right, Nichiren did get in trouble. He was imprisoned, I think three times and was sent to the death penalty. But whoever planed to take his life something happened, an accident or something and they transferred him elsewhere so he lived longer. I used to practice Zen for a year or so. Japanese Buddhism is a bit new compared to those in China and the other country hugging India. Burma? (my geography is off at 1am) I went to a Vietnamese temple, Theravada I think. That was nice. I don't speak a word of Vietnamese, my friend translated. However, that felt natural to pray in front of the Buddha.

I wish I can keep up with you on your studies. That would lead to a good conversation. I'm heading off now... I think I'm hooked on this think, so I wish you goodnight (or morning?)

Take care,

Carlita

 

[von bek]

Burma does not border India, it is a Theravada nation though. Sri Lanka and Thailand are the other two countries where Theravada predominates. Vietnam is actually a Mahayana nation. The reason for this is that traditionally Vietnam was culturally closer to China than India so therefore Chinese traditions of Buddhism flowed into Vietnam.

 

[von bek]

Of course, while Vietnam is majority Mahayana, it would not be surprising to find the Theravada tradition represented there.