Hi. Here's an open thread and a few links.
Want to connect with other Nichiren Buddhists in your area? Try the NB Locator.
Back in April, I saw that Nipponzan Myohoji chanters were involved in a peace march in Oak Ridge, Tenn to protest nuclear weapons production:
Buddhists with Nipponzan Myohoji, a religious movement that emerged from the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism, were among those attending the rally for nuclear disarmament. They left Asheville, N.C., last Friday on their "pilgrimage" to The Secret City.
The Secret City?! What's that? It's "part of the Manhattan Project where fuel was enriched for the world's first atomic bomb." I didn't know that Oak Ridge is "The Atomic City." (link and link). More after the jump....
Remember the ex-prof suing SUA? She lost her appeal. So that confirms the glory of Soka, neh? (Um, no.)
This discussion about buying respect for Ikeda happened last year, but it's still an illuminating read.
Here's a link to someone who has combined anti-Obama outrage with suspicion about Soka Gakkai's Spirit of Knowledge Academy charter school in Massachusetts. See? If you're intensely hateful of something or someone, it's hard for others to hear you when you somehow make a good and valid point. It gets lost in the screed. (Take note, Nichirenites!)
Does anyone here speak Japanese? This video appears to be a TV ad promoting Soka Gakkai. What is this? Does it air on TV in Japan?
Question of the Hour: As Nichiren Buddhists, what unites us? We all have a pretty good idea what divides us. But where can we find common ground?
Got a link to share? Paste it below or e-mail nine@buddhajones.com.
36 comments
Well, the most obvious answer is the odaimoku, isn't it? Even though some people get hung up on one pronunciation or other, if you aren't chanting the odaimoku, what point is there in calling yourself a Nichiren Buddhist?Second would probably be a tie between the Lotus Sutra (Kumarajiva version and english translations thereof) and Nichiren's writings. There is more focus on the Lotus Sutra in some Nichiren groups than others. There are also disagreements about what constitutes the Nichiren corpus, but this would be the other point of commonality, IMHO.
Yes its an SG commercial and yes it has aired on commercial TV.Basically, narrator says, realize your full inner potential, then sums up with "your tomorrow, new" then a jingly "soka gakkai".There are a couple other cm's I saw. This was 2006-2008 when I was living there.SG is in a lot of ways Japanese LDS.
I think the NB Locator might be a good tool if it can be promoted in more places and more people register.
Yep. I signed up. We'll see.
Hey, I was just checking out new posts on the Former SGI Member Forum (for people who recognize SGI as a cult and want to get out.)Just when I start to think that, maybe, the Gakkai is OK, I hear another creepy story like this. (Direct link.)
This is just a portion. Go read the whole thing for more context.Morehouse College, home of Dr. Lawrence Carter and the dubious Gandhi King Ikeda exhibit -- an institution supposedly UNCONNECTED with SGI/Soka Gakkai -- apparently communicates with SGI on such an intimate basis that it alerts SGI to members who don't toe the party line. That is creepy, creep, CREEPY.http://youtu.be/mnNSe5XYp6E
Hey, DD -- I read your book several months ago and I thought it was really good. I was just skipping around re-reading portions of it, and I want to tell you that it's really, really good. It's Buddhist without hitting you over the head. I asked one of my colleagues -- who is a progressive christian -- to read it, and he could totally relate. So I think you've presented some religious concepts in a non-sectarian, secular way, with humor and heart, baby. Again, good job. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about: Daily Scoldings. I picked up an extra copy to give to my regional director.
I concur with your assessment. I found Daily Scoldings quite fanciful and amusing.A year (or two?) ago, I heard rumblings about an "ecumenical" book by Nichiren Buddhists for Nichiren Buddhists. As I understand it, the book collected the thoughts of practitioners in various schools (Shu, Shoshu, independent, etc.) I did not read the book, I only heard people discussing it.Does this ring a bell for anyone? Has a book like this been published?
Yes, at the most basic level, Nichiren Buddhists agree. It is frustrating that our differences have divided us for so long. I admit to having a divisive attitude myself. For example, I am critical of certain groups of Nichiren Buddhists -- but I feel as if my rejection of certain groups is due to their divisiveness. (Pot meet kettle.)A path of unity among the various schools is impossible if we can't even imagine it -- and I do have a hard time imagining it. I will work on my own attitude in this regard, and will try to think about what unites us more than what divides us.
Everywhere I find Nichiren Buddhists saying they want to end the divisiveness that has plagued our community for so long, but when someone starts to do something about it they are met with an apathy or an outright opposition that really just boggles the mind.How long is it going to take to revitalize the spirit in the Nichiren community when its practitioners are unwilling or apathetic to change?
Auntie -- this is the book project I'm working on. I will e-mail you. I would like you to contribute an essay to it. Actually, I'd like everyone to contribute an essay, but not yet. I'll post a call for submissions sometime soon. Stay tuned.
Don't get me wrong Brook, I like some of what has happened in the last 10 years, but there still remains an apathy out there. Some people are doing their best to remedy the isolation that comes from Independent practice, but it never seems to last long.Have you ever even heard of NBAA? I hadn't till this year, but they've been around since 2001. I think if you asked those folks they would echo my concern.
You know, markp, lots and lots of NBuddhists don't want to get involved with any religious organization. Some have been burned by orgs, some just aren't "joiners," some feel like they are recovering from the damaging effects of psychological certainty that comes from being part of a group that's "right."I don't believe that unity means everyone joining or belonging to the same organized structure.QQ had an interesting comment in a previous thread pointing out that if we truly rely on the Lotus Sutra, a lot of this stuff will shake itself out (sorry if I'm misquoting you, QQ.)Mainly I don't think it will work to apply an external structure of unity on people, as through a formal organization. Rather, I think we have to rely on our own lives and our own prayers to bring us into orbit with people who can help our practice, and to attract those who need our help. (I think auntie said something like this earlier.)
I didn't say to join NBAA. I asked if anyone even heard of them till today. The fact is that they have tried to create a Sangha, even though IMO all they are trying to do is recreate SGI. I have nothing against them, but I wouldn't join them either. :)
And, let's be honest, markp. You've launched your own organized sect, too, called the Independent Order of Nichiren Buddhists:http://ichinensanzen.org/forum...Why are you being coy about it?
I was wondering when someone would notice. I'm being coy about it because we are not a legal entity yet.ION is not a sect. ION (Independent Order of Nichiren Buddhism) will be, not yet, a non-profit enabler to all Nichiren sects. The only thing we want to do is to provide a community center that will allow all Nichiren Buddhists to practice in and create their own community. We will not tell people how to practice! The 'Order' part of ION indicates autonomy in the community, and everything about ION will be open to the public.You can choose to be a member for voting purposes, but even that doesn't mean you are a member of a sect of Nichiren Buddhism. You will just have a say in the governance.Now, ION is a marathon. In order to provide facilities we need money and so we will solicit donations, but none of the current Board Members are idiots. We have a Lawyer, two people with Masters that have experience with non-profits already, a Kempon Hokke member, and myself. We have a good basis and I think this idea will work. Only time will tell.
Really? Your first order of business is to solicit donations and buy a community center?Sorry, Markp, but this just makes me want to run in the other direction.As I said earlier, this is totally ass-backward and top-down.You're talking about "governance" when you don't even know the needs and nature of your community...because your community doesn't exist. It makes no sense to acquire buildings and real estate if you can't even fill your own living room on a consistent basis.
And this is the opposition that I am referring to. You got yours, but you would deny that for others!
Markp, your assumptions are really surprising. I'm much more comfortable inviting people into my home to chant -- and going to other people's homes to chant -- than going to a community center. And no one I know "worships a fat Japanese man."How is practicing with friends the same as "practicing in isolation"? I don't live in a cave, for crissakes. My significant other won't chant regardless of whether there's a community center. At least when I'm home and chanting with friends, he hears it and sometimes joins the conversation afterward.You say:
This is the crux of it, Markp. You seem to think that community is something created by bylaws and a building. I disagree. I think those things can obstruct authentic community more than they facilitate it.Everyone I know who has left SGI has created some kind community to support their practice -- whether it involves book study groups, exploring other Buddhist groups, having regular morning tosos once a week, or hosting informal discussions about buddhism in their homes. Whatever it is. People organically build the community that is right for them.You say that ION wouldn't tell people how to practice, but you're already loaded with narrow-minded judgments about what constitutes community. You think that buying a building is the answer that will solve "isolation." Well, good luck getting my neighbors in Boulder to come to your building in Texas to support your definition of community.One of my friends goes to a church that has no building -- they "borrow" space in a local church for services every sunday afternoon. They have an awesome community. Why? Because community is about people who care about each other, not real estate.Do you see the opposition now?
When one examines religious organizations that thrive in America, one must recognize that pastoral care is the key component. One can't have a religious community of any significant size (meaning, larger than a dozen people) without a skilled pastor or designated person who fulfills the role of counsellor/organizer/conductor of the liturgy. This person is usually trained in pastoral care and has some sort of certification or backing by a larger group of peers.Training and certification are necessary if one is to take one's minister/pastor seriously, and for the longterm health of the community. This is true of Christian communities as well as Buddhist communities.SGI, for example, is loaded with amateurs giving people very bad advice. At the same time, there are volunteer members who also have a knack for pastoral care, but they cannot devote themselves to it for more than a few hours a week. As SGI has rejected the tradition of priests, they have also rejected the doctrinal depth that a professional priesthood offers. Of course, SGI has always provided its own professional "priesthood lite."I think that SGI is a deficient model for a religious organization to follow because it eschews serious pastoral training and peer review.As Brooke pointed out, the key component in a community is people in leadership roles who are caring, knowledgeable, skilled and able to devote themselves to the task full time. Most often, these people have chosen ministry as a profession and are dedicated to the care of the religious community.In other words, a religious community needs qualified staff more than it needs real estate. If one truly wants to belong to an organization, far wiser than trying to start one from scratch would be to join one that can provide a context and tradition of ministry, such as Nichiren Shu.Many people are perfectly content to practice in informal groups of three or six, or however many, without a minister or a community center, and I don't see what good it does to criticize them for that. To claim that they are not contributing to the larger Nichiren Buddhist community is shockingly ignorant.
I predict that you will encounter continued opposition if you continue to insist that your way is the best and only way for others to follow. You're obviously not interested in honest criticism and feedback regarding your pet project. You just want validation and hoorays. You react like a spoiled child when you don't get them. And you wonder why we aren't all rushing to join your new club.
To defend what has no future is astounding.
ION has no problem with priests of any persuasion. In fact, we foresee the opportunity to allow priests of all sects to access our community centers. If we have the funds we will sponsor and promote these activities. I'm not criticizing what people have done in order to continue their practice. I applaud anyone who has been able to continue to practice in the current environment. If you have been able to keep a Sangha together as well, you are to be held in deep respect! That is not an easy task!To think that our goals do not contribute to the Nichiren Buddhist Community are also shockingly ignorant! SGI has been successful because they invest in a community, and if you don't understand this fact then you have no grasp on reality. The various priesthoods want there to be about 300 practicing 'Families', not members, in an area before they will even consider a Temple to be built. I can't tell you how often I have heard the line that a building doesn't make a difference, when the reality is that a building makes all the difference. Are you blind, or don't you see why SGI is so successful? There are some other reasons why SGI is successful that relate to social programming, but we would just like to address the community effect.Markp, you don't need my permission or participation to do whatever you want to do. People here have raised reasonable, legitimate questions about your plans, and pointed out areas for concern.If you want to "sell" donors on your ideas, to the tune of at least $1 Million, you need to do a better job of responding to criticism. Defensiveness, insults, and sulking won't make people open up their checkbooks. So if you're serious about your plan, you need to smarten up and start speaking like a man with a great idea, rather than a loser with a pipe dream and a bruised ego.
Why is that? Because they have experience and know how many people it takes to financially and spiritually sustain a community building? If you know better, you'd better be prepared to demonstrate the financial viability of your building to potential donors. I think you'll have a hard time making the numbers work.It's amusing that you attribute SGI's success to community buildings. They say that their success is due to household discussion meetings.Also, you seem to forget that SGI has benefit of millions of dollars and yen in need of laundering. Members are provided no accounting of the actual costs associated with buying and maintaining community centers. The buildings do not belong to and are not managed by local communities. The nationwide organization controls and pays for everything.Is your plan to recreate "the success" SGI, only with you and your friends in charge?Go build your building, Markp. Who's stopping you?We have a great Board right now, but we really need an Independent that has accounting experience. I have an accounting certification, but would rather not do two jobs, and it is a bit of a conflict of interest. So if anyone is interested go to http://ionbuddhism.org and use the contact form there.
Disclosure - I am working with Mark on this project.I assure you, its not his vanity project. He's a motivating force, but its not just him. He brings ideas to the table, and that's what you guys are seeing here, but there are other ideas being discussed.For me, ION is not a top-down thing. For me, it is an extension of virtual communities of Nichiren Lotus Buddhists I've encountered over the years, most importantly for me, the community that had formed at e-sangha, and after that crashed, at Nichiren Sangha. I've been debating Mark on those forums going back to at least 2005 (My first taste of online Nichiren was ARBN in the mid-late 90s. Yech.). In these forums, the gang that coalesced were a bunch of intelligent and sincere practitioners of varied sects who freely shared ideas and information, tried to answer each other's questions, and often, debated the finer points of doctrine - tolerating even heated exchanges in a spirit of community. Having that forum to freely explore my practice in has been invaluable for me. I am grateful to my fellows there for tolerating my intellectual flailing, lapses in judgment and decorum, and debating me and forcing me back to really deeply consider my ideas and my practice. They have all been incredible teachers to me.The idea is to bring this forum out of the virtual world and into this flesh and blood world, where we build a forum that is brick and mortar instead of just digital code. I should add, there is a local group of people that I read and study with. I see the virtual community as an extension of what I do with them. ION is in this sense organic. Its a way of connecting these local groups into larger circles of affinity.Organization - I see ION as organized around the same principles espoused in the Vinaya - community, consensus, mutual support, compassion. The purpose of the Sangha ultimately is to provide a community within which individual practice is supported. This requires the sharing of knowledge and insight, as well as a forgiving and supportive community of fellows who provide us the space as well as the safety nets which are necessary to work out enlightenment at the deepest levels.Money- Instead of a vow of poverty, ION will try to keep the corrupting influence of money at bay by being financially transparent.Brick and mortar.I think one of Mark's favorite ideas is to have community centers for use by the broad community - open for use by all sects of Nichiren Buddhists to use for their own sectarian activities, as well as more ecumenical activities. I'm on board with that idea, but I personally see that as a ways off. More immediately, I see us putting together study and practice resources. I see this growing into publications, sponsoring scholarship and translations, organizing symposiums to discuss practice and doctrine, maybe retreats where we can escape the bustle of life to meet somewhere quiet and discuss and develop practice with each other.We've talked about sponsoring minister type functionaries to help practitioners, especially independents, with the celebration of life events such as births, marriages and funerals. These would not be spiritual leaders, but merely ceremonial functionaries - like you need a notary public to sign some documents, you need officiants to make marriages official. Maybe leaders will emerge in communities, but I don't think any organization we put together would have a hand in choosing people. Leaders would have to emerge naturally, and really only have powers of persuasion, nothing executive, ie. independent power to direct organizational resources.I could go on with this. Its not the simplistic thing that it might appear to be. I'll wrap with this comment, even though I really don't want to. Its a gorilla in the room so, I'll address it. ION aint SGI. This is not Nichiren filtered through Post WWII Japanese culture. What we are trying to get at is Lotus Buddhism expressed through Western ideals of community and organization. We're trying to be the grown-up org that shoulda been. The taint of that thing (SGI) will inevitably come, but we'll deal. Part of our hardship as Nichiren Buddhists in the West is to filter out SGI's taints, and all the taints the Japanese have spun into the world of the Lotus over the centuries. It may be an experiment destined for failure. So be it. That's our lot. But we gotta try.
You pretty much got where I'm coming from. As far as I know, none of us is a fully realized triply bodied buddha. None of us has received an invitation to sit in the treasure tower with Prabhutaratna. We're all just putting the Lotus Sutra into practice and working out our enlightenment, and that common endeavor makes us fellows. If we want to organize ourselves, that's the common denominator and can be the basis of organization.All this "I chant Namu so I can't be in a club with you because you just say Nam" is... pointless. We are divided because we choose to be. We can be fellows (notice I didn't say "united") if we want to be.Hey!
I'm continuing this thread over here:http://www.buddhajones.com/dia...