Recent Posts

I'm glad to hear that you decided to continue your practice. Back in my day there was no other organization except Soka Gakkai. We had no clue there were any other sects, so you either practiced or not. I quit practicing for almost 20 years before I learned I could practice on my own or with another sect.

My girlfriend's mother introduced Buddhism to me in 1999, I began with SGI in 2000 and received Gohonzon on September 9th 2001.   I practiced with them until around 2003 when I got fed up with the hero worship, the talent shows on the first Sunday of every month and being asked to chant for NS temples to close (which I saw as negative).  In one meeting in particular I remember in a home meeting this little asian lady shouting "i wish i could kill Nikken" which was pretty much the last straw.  I ceased all communication with them in 2003 and my gf and I began practicing by ourselves.   I started practicing with the Kempon Hokke this year after reading Mark's post and sending a couple of emails with some questions I had.

I would also like to add to what WOI stated, in that even though we do practice, everyone slanders the LS in some way during their life. Hakuin stated that 'it is very easy to slander the LS', but as long as you continue to practice everything works out. It works out because we start to become Buddhist even though we may not have been starting out. All it takes is practice, and I can say unequivocally that it doesn't really matter what sect you are in. If you are not taking part in the slander of other practitioners of other sects then everything is alright.

I can also state unequivocally that a Gohonzon is a Gohonzon. There is no Gohonzon better than any other, and my sect is Shoshu. It doesn't matter if you think Nichiren is the True Buddha, because that is not what gets us in rhythm or keeps us in rhythm. Practice is what matters, and whether you practice alone or with the temple, or with SGI, or with Nichiren Shu. There is no difference. The only difference is what has been placed in your mind by lay people or priests that don't understand Buddhism.

I have been in rhythm, and then out, and then back in, so I know the difference. I choose now to be in rhythm with life for the rest of my life. There is no going back!

The thing is that sure, some people are slandering the Law out there, but those people will attain Bodhi also, just maybe not as fast as someone who doesn't slander. Just ensure that you are on track and not back tracking.

Items 6 and 7 clearly imply that outsiders [institutional or individual] are to be shunned even if that was not what was meant in the author's heart-of-hearts.  It would be a different story had it been stated as you did. 

But there is in the list clear disregard for reality and twisting of Buddhist principals such that it calls into question the heart that produced the manifesto.

Among other things, sects are aggregations of people who have various levels of understanding.  As such, and with respect to the Buddhist ultimate, can any be said superior in so far as any of the membership is inferior to any aggregation of 1-N elsewhere who are more adept in the ultimate. 

If we take Buddha for being the most 'adept' then according to this doctrine all of Lotus sect adherents are fully awake.  Which would be easily and observably proven false for the bulk of professed adherents were they held to the standard of item 1.

And, those who are ignorant of Dharma [or lazy in approach to Dharma even when they know better], regardless of the label under which they claim to stand, cannot be other than slanderers of Dharma.  Item 7 at face value therefor disavows association with its own.

Whether referring to only temples or not, as its presented  "It's just ludicrous."

I have to agree, but whats even more ludicrous is that Fuju Fuse was born from 'Letter To Nike' which has been labeled as a forgery! LOL.
Yeah, Fuju Fuse was born long before that Gosho was labeled a forgery, but the sects who state it is a forgery still practice the doctrine.

I agree that we shouldn't take money from the state or from non-members, but who is a non-member? Clearly we wouldn't take money from Christians, et al. However, the mis-interpretation of this one doctrine is at the heart of the secular bullshit that divides us as a community. SGI is evil, Shoshu is evil, Shu is evil, KHS is evil. Hell we're all evil!

It's no wonder that everyone is scared shitless to talk with each other. The fact is though, that we are all Hokkeko (practitioners of the Lotus Sutra). What is there to be scared of?

Fuju Fuse concerns temples and such, not individuals. It has to do with the fact that there are other Buddhist temples that take money from the government, Myanmar comes to mind, and because they take money from the state it compromises them.

My concern is that the whole concept has been mis-interpreted to the point where you must be a member of a sect, not one of the devilish ones of course, to be able to donate. It's just ludicrous.

Your explanation of the rational being to avoid chance compromise sounds good.  But if the articles are a valid presentation of the true beliefs then its hard to reconcile your statement being the true intention.  

(1) Truth in Buddhism is not determined by human judgment but by the Buddha's words alone, as recorded in the ultimately true scriptures;
(2) the Buddha Sakyamuni has a profound link to our world, while Amida, the Buddha of the Pure Land sects, does not;
(3) There are provisional and ultimate teachings within Buddhism;
(4) The Lotus sect was established not by a human teacher but by the Buddha himself;
(5) The teachings of the Lotus sect are transmittedin a double fashion, the essential transmission a direct one from Sakyamuni based on the Lotus Sutra, and an indirect, intellectual transmission based on the writings of the patriarchs of the Tendai sect;
(6) The Lotus sect is superior to all others; and
(7) The Lotus sect may not have any association with slanderers of the Dharma

Items 6 and 7 clearly imply that outsiders [institutional or individual] are to be shunned even if that was not what was meant in the author's heart-of-hearts.  It would be a different story had it been stated as you did.  

But there is in the list clear disregard for reality and twisting of Buddhist principals such that it calls into question the heart that produced the manifesto.

Among other things, sects are aggregations of people who have various levels of understanding.  As such, and with respect to the Buddhist ultimate, can any be said superior in so far as any of the membership is inferior to any aggregation of 1-N elsewhere who are more adept in the ultimate.  

If we take Buddha for being the most 'adept' then according to this doctrine all of Lotus sect adherents are fully awake.  Which would be easily and observably proven false for the bulk of professed adherents were they held to the standard of item 1.

And, those who are ignorant of Dharma [or lazy in approach to Dharma even when they know better], regardless of the label under which they claim to stand, cannot be other than slanderers of Dharma.  Item 7 at face value therefor disavows association with its own.

Whether referring to only temples or not, as its presented  "It's just ludicrous."

Fuju Fuse concerns temples and such, not individuals. It has to do with the fact that there are other Buddhist temples that take money from the government, Myanmar comes to mind, and because they take money from the state it compromises them.

My concern is that the whole concept has been mis-interpreted to the point where you must be a member of a sect, not one of the devilish ones of course, to be able to donate. It's just ludicrous.

The Daishonin never told his followers not to accept anything from non-believers.  On the contrary, he praised Shijo Kingo when his lord Ema gave him a huge fief.  The Daishonin himself accepted gifts of food and lodging while on Sado from people who had not yet become his followers.

Under the surface [beneath the rhetoric], you will find, I believe, absolutely no wish on the part of some [individuals and sects] to unite in a great unified array for Kosen Rufu. Nichiren teaches, in this backdrop, Kosen Rufu is impossible.

I agree, but then I don't see Kosen Rufu coming till 2150, the Age of Aquarius. I think it is our duty to sow the seeds of unity in this time so that the movement can grow over time.

I'm an Aquarius, so the time seems right since the Aquarian is normally a detached individual.

I understand there are those people that do this, and you can find them everywhere, in SGI, Shoshu, and even KHS. However, you cannot indict the whole sect because of individuals.

Nichiren indicts entire sects, even all non-Buddhist religions. Many maintain that this era is different than the Kamakura era. I too maintain so. Now is the Era of Nichiren Sect Disunity because of entire sects whose doctrines are in opposition to Nichiren's. You, of course, know that there are some of us who will not be silenced. We will speak out until our last breath.

PS I know you don't wish to silence us [the voices of opposition]. I also know your profound desire to be an agent of Nichiren sect unity. As things stand now, the manifest reality of our doctrinal, theoretical, and practical differences, I don't see this happening through the gentle approaches. Lets us agree to disagree.

Under the surface [beneath the rhetoric], you will find, I believe, absolutely no wish on the part of some [individuals and sects] to unite in a great unified array for Kosen Rufu. Nichiren teaches, in this backdrop, Kosen Rufu is impossible.

Buku

I understand there are those people that do this, and you can find them everywhere, in SGI, Shoshu, and even KHS. However, you cannot indict the whole sect because of individuals.