BuddhaJones.org Archive Project

I still have some work to do...but BuddhaJones is back online.

Let me jump right in and see how inflammatory I can be without resorting to sectarian terminology.

Hi. I've been building pages to get more of the "old" BuddhaJones material online. Coming soon. Here's a space for you t

Christian Oaks used to write for BuddhaJones before "the big wake-up," as he calls it. I caught up with him to ask if he

There's nothing you can do. It's out of your hands. The only appropriate action is the action of being.

Retrospective studies look at a hypothesis in light of the events of the past. Prospective studies look at a hypothesis

Look, I don't wanna be a hardass. I don't wanna squelch you if you have something to say. In a comment here I explained

Shakyamuni Buddha sure is grandNichiren too is a good ole' manAnd the Lotus Sutra ain't no shamChanting Daimoku every da

I asked Cris to talk about his latest project, Conversation for Change, and how it relates to Nichiren Buddhism.

Author and long-time Nichiren Buddhist warrior Charles Atkins has launched a new training program -- theSociety of Moder

Just checked the site stats. Welcome! Lots of new users and visitors. Here's another open thread for you to say whatever

Byrd posted aninteresting pieceon her blog. I redacted the name of the group she's referring to (just to demonstrate tha

First, thanks for creating an open soapbox where people like me (unaffiliated seeker of the way) can reach a large audie

I'm borrowing your bowling club riff, Beryl. Have you seen Byrd'slatest dispatch? The bowling club has charged her with

I came to religion -- or perhaps religion came to me -- on a lovely New York City spring morning in 1967, when I was 20

A Nichiren Buddhist is one who chants the mantra Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and follows the teachings of the 13th Century monk

Chapter 3 fromNam-myoho-renge-kyo: A Personal Exploration of the Wonderful Buddhist Mantraby Cris Roman.

Is understanding Buddhist jargon; or technical knowledge in general, essential? How about understanding the differences

Chapter 4 fromNam-myoho-renge-kyo: A Personal Exploration of the Wonderful Buddhist Mantraby Cris Roman.

Many thank to those who have suggested links to what's new in the Nichiren webbosphere. Here's a summary of what's cooki

Although Nichiren advocated the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the mantra which all humans could use to actualize th

Are sects -- especially Nichiren sects -- based on belief systems rather than religious inspiration/aspiration?

I feel that Nichiren must have been continually working in his subconscious on thewhatandwhenof the Gohonzon. There is e

With these writings, I hope to give practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism a leg up on what it took me more than twenty year

According to all the Buddhist teachings, the essential nature of our own being is Buddha nature. But how can we perceive

I'm stunned. Really. This site has been online for about one month. In that short time, we've logged more than 1,200 uni

Are you a member of a group that supports your spiritual development and, in Buddhist terms, your movement toward libera

Remember how I talked about the futility of trying to figure out which one of the Ten Worlds you might be in at any give

Do we need a "mentor" -- a.k.a.master-- to teach us how to awaken to Buddha nature? It's a hot topic.

For whatever reason, I have a life where I have to deal with many beings who take it upon themselves not to be kind to m

Spiritual seekers are vulnerable. We're generally open to new ideas and experiences. When I encountered the practice of

Before I was "forced" to go on a boat trip, Robin and I were having what I thought was a very interesting discussion, th

The final "add on" to Nichiren Buddhist practice is something calledgongyo, which involves the daily recitation of the L

Heartbreaking news. A comment onByrd's blogsays she has passed away. I have not been able to confirm this. Wherever you

Byrd is dead. Writing blog posts seems so trivial and pointless right now. But then, all I ever knew of Byrd was from he

Most religions preach some variety of fear indoctrination. They fill followers with fear of error and sin as a means of

Changing karma may be the quintessential benefit of practicing Nichiren Buddhism. Karma is the flow of internal cause to

Nichiren Buddhism is not a teaching that presents itself as the only way or requires people to believe or act in a certa

Consider this an open thread. I want to try the poll feature. Cast your vote after the jump...

Some part of your mindknowsthat you should walk away from the relationship. You know it's in your own best interest to m

You may be wondering: Where are the ethics and morality in Buddhism? Where are the rules on how to live and behave towar

The hallmark ofNichiren Buddhismis the mantraNamu Myoho Renge Kyo. Nichiren Buddhists chant some version of this phrase,

The fourteen chapters that have thus far been published were all written in 1999, after I had moved to the Black Hills o

As DearDenver blogs about the DNC, I just want to jump in and say that there's no candidate who necessarily or specifica

Hi everyone. Here's another open thread. I'm impressed with all your comments related to politics and Nichiren Buddhism

In researching this issue I found some interesting things. Theravadan buddhists believe Shakyamuni said life begins at c

Let me be perfectly clear about this excerpt below.  It is a QUOTE from a book.  It does not express what I think about

Mmmm. We Nichiren Buddhists love our celebrity chanters -- from Eve Ensler to Duncan Sheik to Orlando Bloom and beyond..

Lawddy knows, I've been struggling to understand my relationship to the practice of chanting. In and out of various orga

Having spent this past week celebrating my 40th anniversary of practicing Nichiren's Buddhism, I thought it might be app

The web is bursting with Buddhist brainiacs who've read all the teachings and know all the shizz. I'm not one of them. I

Wham! Ouch. That's the sound of my investment portfolio crashing to the ground. At least Ihavean investment portfolio, w

I would like to come out of the closet as a genuinely undecided voter.

For a very interesting p.o.v. regarding why the U.S. is in such a predicament, see the remarkable Bill Moyers in his lat

Wow. The bail-out bill went down in flames. Are we headed for a New Great Depression? Too much for me to process right n

Does feeling "out of control" make people more likely to believe "weird" things? I strongly recommend listening to yeste

Many chanters say that if you chant namu-myoho-renge-kyo, it "works." Can you feel your Buddhist practice working? Does

In California, Proposition 2 on the ballot would, if passed, end "the practice of cramming farm animals into cages so sm

Continuing my thoughts about "chanting works"....

I have been meditating off and on for about a year now and have been studying Buddhism for 15 years.  My path, at this p

Check out this collection of short essays on dharma and the practice of politics from Shambhala Sun.

Charles Atkins announcednew plans for distributingwhat he's calling the Kito Mandala.

After 38 years as a leader in the bowling club, last Sunday, they busted me as a Vice WD Chapter Ch. The local WD zone c

Check out "Phoebe Snow's success comes after great sorrow" in theSan Francisco Chronicle.It's about Snow's revitalized s

Three hours. Ten hours. We called it a "toso," a full day or evening of chanting. I used to participate in "million daim

Questions, should you choose to answer them:

This jarring statement was posted yesterday by Rev. Shoryo Tarabini on Nichiren Shu Italia:

But the laughs don't stop there..Imagine Ikeda settling into a comfy chair to chat with an American journalist about Bud

I have bad news for you Nichiren Buddhists: SGI Poobah Daisaku Ikeda is 82 years old, older than John McCain. He will ha

It is my belief that chanting daimoku for healing can benefit us greatly by beginning with quiet meditation that prepare

I saw this article in theRockytoday about Carol O'Dowd, who went from a career in local government to Buddhist ministry.

Chrissie Hynde intones the mantra. Even when offered ironically, it sounds good to me.

Hatanaka was convicted of the theft on Oct. 27 and sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, according to Assistant Unit

When did The Peoples Temple become a cult? When did Jim Jones become a cult leader?

I'm collecting examples of "Dubious Daimoku," interesting or unusual utterances of or references to Nam or (Namu) Myoho

Hey, I've received a couple of requests for info on where/how to learn Nichiren gongyo, the daily recitation of portions

Great profile of Herbie Hancock in theSydney Morning Herald:

It happened last month. An arrest has been made. From a Chinese news report:

Remeber when the Soka in Soka Gakkai supposedly meant "value creation"? Well, now SOKA stands for "Spirit of Knowledge A

Suck it up, Dalai Lama. You'll get neither support nor sympathy from Soka Gakkai, whose leaders are longtime admirers an

Life is easier without sex,the Dalai Lama says:

"Soka Gakkai keeps religious, political machine humming." Short article. Some interesting bits of info:

Tanya atStart Wearing Purpleexplains why she left the SGI...and what she's doing now:

Can't get enough, right? Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerrtalks upher practice:

Stupa structures apparently don't collapse in earthquakes. Engineers are studying a Nichiren stupa to figure out why:

Engyo was kind enough to send me a photo of the Nichiren stupa being studied for its earthquake-resistant properties. Fr

Tricycle magazine has suddenly discovered Nichiren Buddhism, and they seem to like it. Now I feel a bit regretful about

Over the weekend of June 27-29, the SGI-affiliated Institute of Oriental Philosophy (U.K.) held a conference jointly wit

Hi everyone. Thought you might be interested in this story via Yahoo news:

A frequently asked question in Nichiren Buddhist circles is: How does practice contribute to one's happiness?

Uh, way to represent. No wonder people think Nichiren Buddhism is flaky hokum.

A report in today'sDenver Postsuggests that BuddhistShambhala Internationalmay have lost up to 90 percent of its wealth

Obama said the new office, which he created by executive order, would reach out to organizations that provide help "no m

TheBoston Globetravel section published an article about visiting Sado Island, where Nichiren was exiled. Today, the isl

Hi y'all. Kinda quiet around here. I know deardenver has been blogging elsewhere, and the writer (still?) known as Beryl

It's like amartyr complex, only more bossy.

This and other intriguing questions were explored in thePhilippine Daily Inquirer:

Several news items have been posted around the web about the peace walk sponsored by Nipponzan Myohoji. From the Courier

A club in Kansas City is having a hard time getting the city to issue an entertainment license so they can book bands to

While theDalai Lamais banned from South Africa and Tibetan Buddhistsresist the brutalityof China, SGI is busy bragging a

Can any significant good come out of practicing Nichiren's buddhism, or any other kind of buddhism, or any other kind of

This sounds almost too weird to be true, but for those of us who are familiar with SGI's daimoku campaigns to defeat so-

Dang!This blog postmade me homesick for a place that doesn't exist:

I have a confession. I sometimes lurk on the blogs of SGI members and people who chant, just to get a read on the state

Just like any religion, Buddhism can be distorted and misapplied by the mentally unstable. From theHouston Chronicle:

What if you could magically "forget" your neuroses, bad habits, traumatic memories. Would you be a different person? Wou

For those of you who think I have fabricated or exaggerated SGI's odious campaign to "defeat Nikken" and Nichiren Shoshu

The story goes that the monk Nichiren was set to be executed at this site but a flash of light scared off the executione

The floodgates are opening. As members leave SGI, they're turning to Nichiren Shu. One Nichiren Shu ministeris worried:

If you haven't read Waylon Lewis's post about whether Chogyam Trungpa was an alcoholic and sexually inappropriate,check

As the sun rose over the Pacific Ocean on this day in1253, Nichiren stood on Mt. Kiyosumi and proclaimedNamu Myoho Renge

The sound of chanting actuallyirritatessome people:

Hey guys. Is everyone out of town? Here's a question that keeps popping up in my sphere: Is chanting "Om Mani Padme Hum"

It's so basic, but I often forget. I sometimes find myself in a mental pattern of wanting to reject what I perceive as "

Before this one slips by me, since I have been thinking about it from the first post, here are some personal thoughts/ob

The time limit to post comments on "Tibetan mantra same as daimoku" expired right when some thought-provoking new commen

A travel blog, Brave New Traveler, names Soka Gakkai along with GATE and Knowledgism"three new religions with a modern t

Does Marijuana impede the road to Enlightenment?I am an Independent practitioner of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism and ha

Queen's University, a publicly funded institution in the U.K., spent tens of thousands of pounds to travel to Japan:

In the comments section over there I rattled off a few examples regarding the moon as mentioned in Nichiren Buddhism. Ca

A friend sent me a link tothis postabout how to chant an hour of daimoku per day:

Confronting politics in the workplace.Hello everyone,

According to news reports,Alexis Cohenwas struck by a car and died Saturday in New Jersey. She was 25. Homicide is alleg

Two cults are duking it out for power in the coming Japan election. According to this report in the Irish Times, theHapp

This discussion has cropped up numerous times over the decades I have been involved with chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.

An article in theL.A. Timesmostly talks about what he likes to do in L.A., including chanting:

According to a blurb in the Birmingham Mail a couple of Nichiren Buddhists hosted a garden party to benefit a hospice:

BuddhaJones participant Kathy Sain, known by the handle "Armchair," took her own life earlier this month.

Voters in Japan rejected the ruling coalition by a landslide, many sources are reporting. According to the Japan Times:

Just in the nick of time. More atSunSpace.

In this thread, questions have been raised about whether Kathy Sain (a.k.a. Armchair) took her own life or whether her d

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I don't go out of my way to be nice. What is niceness? Telling pe

Interesting discussion over on the Dallas Morning News ReligionBlog. The question is whether wickedness is soluble in go

Organizational blunders.... Promising to follow noble slogans but turning around and betraying those same noble words...

This link has been making the rounds...Listen to the soundof SGI-USA's frantic, militaristic rah-rah membership-recruitm

I recently tuned into the ongoing Buddhist discussion: Is there a self that reincarnates? Or is the existence of an indi

Participants on the Cult Education Forum are starting to look at SGI's vast, unaccountable wealth.Start hereand scroll t

This intriguing question was posed on theNichiren Shu board:

"He's the face of it," Johnson said of Wilson.

Last year, I began writing a series of articles about spiritual self-defense. How can one spot a con or fraud? How can o

Get baked with Bodhisattvas of the Earth in the"Chanting Growers Group" at International Cannagraphic.

In commentshere, questions have been raised about a social networking site for SGI members.

Parade coverage Monday morning ~ 6:30am CDT

I'm not sure this has anything to do with Nichiren Buddhism, but I found it interesting. I know many people -- including

Careful with those ceremonial materials, folks.

This is the first time I've heard the story of"lifesaving botamochi":

Here's a stash of "guidance in faith" that's sure to turn you into a sheep. Thisfestival of stinkois attributed to "SGI

Here's a link to keep you up to date on Hollywood celebrities and culty shenanigans. I once heard someone say that SGI c

The smoke from the joss sticks was so thick that the officers' eyes began to water.

Someone other than me, that is. The odious Gandhi, King, Ikeda exhibit has been touring the world for, what?, a decade n

When things are going bad, we Nichiren Buddhists often trot out Nichiren's maxim: "Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy

The order, headquartered in Haywood, Calif., evolved from Nichiren Buddhism study groups started by Japanese immigrants

Read the article. But it's a waste of time. I'm surprised at the article's cluelessness (and I'mnotthe only one --NellaL

Last year, deardenvercommemorated November 18th:

Another honor for which Ikeda was passed over? Video is loading sloooow right now. Patience.

For the next month or so I'm going to be around people who really push my buttons. Sometimes family members drive me up

Upon learning that I am a Nichiren Buddhist, an acquaintance asked me what I "believe." I said that I chant Namu Myoho R

In the ongoing Dharma Wars,NellaLouknocks the snot out of Tricycle magazine and corporate Buddhism.

Las Vegas City CouncilwomanLois Tarkanianpersonally endorsed Soka Gakkai. I think she should be a bit more circumspect.

...and dealing with it.Pema Chodroninthis videotalks about the value of being provoked, because it shows us what we have

Some Nichiren Buddhists have received an email message asking them to download a copy of the Kempon Hokke Gohonzon, whic

I've bookmarked lots of random stuff over the past couple of weeks.

Fox news commentator Brit Hume seems to think Buddhism is inferior to Christianity in its capacity to offer forgiveness

Interesting photos, including one of aNichiren statue.

Every time there's a natural disaster -- earthquake, flood, famine, tsunami -- I brace myself for the inevitable inrush

SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were stationed outside the teenager's dorm after he locked himself inside and refus

PresidentBarack Obamaattended the annual National Prayer Breakfast this morning. Any Buddhists in attendance? I don't th

Daimoku chanter and awesome vagina promoterEve Enslersuggests in this clip that global warming causes earthquakes. Yeah,

Barbara did anice write-upcommemorating Nichiren's birthday, which was yesterday. Happy, happy.

Is eating fish and meat wrong?I have independently been practicing Nichiren Buddhism for about 1 year and have received

In Tokyo Vice, Adelstein's source tells him the story of Japanese director Juzo Itami, whose 1992 film Minbo no onna sat

A Buddhism expert sees similarities to Nichiren's teachings in the dharma promoted by anew center in Utah:

There's a great article in theNew York TimesaboutBreaking with Scientology. Many of the quotes could have come from form

What are the major differences between Mahayana and Nichiren Buddhism?I am considering attending a Mahayana Buddhist Cen

"Most of us think we have free thinking and so we are responsible for our acts," Nick says. "This experience shows that

Hi all -- As you may know,fraughtwithperilis re-launching on a new software platform. The "fraught feeds" over in the fa

In Colorado this week, two big news stories have given local Buddhists a fiscal black eye.

I have gotten a couple questions about what the Gohonzon looks like and what daimoku sounds like. Here are two videos in

Y'know, I chant namu-myoho-renge-kyo all the time. I'm daimoku's biggest fan. But I think it's wrong to teach kids in sc

The indictment alleges that Kass and Geczy owned and operated Dharma Investment Group LLC and used the company to "solic

What are the top ten dogmatically embraced beliefs held by Nichiren Buddhists that cause the most argument and dissensio

According to legend...Nichiren first chanted Namu-myoho-renge-kyo. I choose to believe differently, however. I believe t

I'm building on auntie's great idea. What are the biggest lies that Soka Gakkai tells its members and the world about SG

As a Nichiren Buddhist who has been a member of Nichiren Shoshu, SGI and, now, unaffiliated with any school, I sure wish

I haven't posted links in a while. Dmr has a great post over at his blog offering"Practical advice regarding teachers an

I have been thinking lately about what happens to our online community when Nichiren Buddhists die. In the last couple o

CNN has an article about mentors from the secular point of view.

Nichiren Shoshu gets slapped around, predictably, by theChristian Research Institute. Read their "report"here.

"Eric Erlandson and myself shall not play guitar together again," Love said, later citing that it is for "religious purp

The Gakkai apologists over atTricycle Magazine blogwould have you believe that Soka made a "classy move" in returning th

We just added the SGI Pioneer Memorial site to the blogroll. FYIhttp://sgipioneer.blogspot.com/

We don't have avatars here. Too bad. Over on another board some people have mounted (pun intended) a campaign to get me

In a previous thread participants raised questions about what's appropriate on this website.

In observing my own practice, I see that I chant in three different ways, maybe more.

We're approaching the two-year anniversary of the death of Byrd, also known as wahzoh. I did not know her personally; I

Hi kids. Mroaks here. You didn't recognize me because I'm wearing my site admin hat. Guess what: I'm going overseas for

Hello. BuddhaJones has given me the keys to this site and I'm opening it back up. I'm not sure what I hope to accomplish

Do you have abelievers' genethat predisposes you to be interested in Buddhism?

This question has been raised time and again, but I don't feel that it has been resolved.

Have you read theNew Yorkerstoryabout Paul Haggis and Scientology? You really should take the time. It illuminates how p

Maybe you have seen the thorough expose on Soka University of America inOCWeekly: "The Aliso Viejo college was founded b

The horrific catastrophes in Japan have prompted many to pray, meditate, chant, and donate for those who are suffering.

First, there was the OC Weekly article raising serious questions about whether Soka University of America is providing l

I received a note from someone claiming that Spirit of Knowledge Academy, a taxpayer-funded charter school in Worcester,

Check out Shodai-gyo byReverend Hosho Sugawaraof the Hilo, Hawaii, Nichiren Mission (of the Nichiren Shu persuasion.)

Phoebe Snow, one of my favorite artists, has died of complications related to a brain hemorrhage that she suffered in 20

Here's an open thread to celebrate the big day. No, not the Royal Wedding. The758th Anniversaryof chanting daimoku as a

The Daimoku Anniversary thread has attracted several thoughtful comments. Markp wrote:

Hi. Here's an open thread and a few links.

Do you want to be able to do Shakubuku again without having to add a bunch of caveats about this or that organization?(I

Still unsure whether to take this seriously or not.  It's a bit long at 14:44, and can somewhat redundant and apparent i

Oh, hello. Where have I been? I've been in Italy, that's where. I found several Nichiren-related links in my inbox upon

Barbara O'Brien offers up a strong post... Idiot Compassion (Updated):

Singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse has died at the age of 27. The Los Angeles Times reports thatWinehouse was found deadin

If you think namu-myoho-renge-kyo is a magic phrase that makes you happy and is a get-out-of-death-and-suffering-free ca

After vandalizing this website,Mark Porter(markp) has removed himself from participation on BuddhaJones. Mark is the fou

Psst. Do you care about others? Do you wantwantWANT to help them?

I'd like to call your attention to the context in which Nichiren made this statement. He was responding to a woman who w

That's not wine, dine and maybe the cinema. It's the calendar, the 364 or 5 days of the year and how the same date keeps

Hey, you. Ever been in acult? Wait, let me rephrase that. Have you ever been a member of a group that uses emotional man

This is not a Gosho study, but it does address idols.

What are the crucial characteristics of a nichiren buddhist? What must one believe? What must one do? In the previous th

Via Barbara O'Brien's blog, I found the follow-up article toWhy I ditched Buddhism, which spurred discussion recently on

Perhaps several Nichirenites are Bodhisattvas Uniquely Delayed -- a moniker coined by ten2one. Or perhaps my efforts to

I've been watching from the cheap seats asKempon Hokkezealots have clusterbombedRev. RyueiofNichiren Shuover onFraught W

This is my last link roundup of 2011. I'll try to make it a good one. I'll start low and aim high with this blurb from t

According to comments posted byMark RogowonFraught With Periland on theFormer SGI Member Forumthe moderators of FWP have

Science suggests that the Dalai Lama is right. Our Selves, Other Cells byJena Pincott-- excerpted from her bookDo Chocol

People who know me think it's hyperbolic of me to say I was in a cult.A cult? Really? Isn't that too dramatic?

I think it's catchy. Can't get it out of my head.http://youtu.be/dFGl03BbZYg

Lately, I have been thinking about how, a few months before I ran across an SGI-USA member in the late 1980's, I dabbled

I created this post because I am on a personal quest and I was hoping that another buddhist could help me.  I am looking

Look, I'm not trying to make a stink; I have been trying to tone down the way I express criticism and limit my sarcasm.

In a previous thread, I said that one of the hallmarks of a cult is reliance on deception. Cults deceive potential recru

Been saving your pennies so you can give generously to the Soka Gakkai annual campaign? Your organization doesn't ever t