Oh, after having a torrid exchange with an old Kempon member, I was reminded why I left and why I started and brought Kempon Hokke to America. My wife and I brought Kempon Hokke to America to bring a new safe place for people who wanted to learn about Nichiren's works, and we didn't want it run by leaders with agenda. Those that were around my wife and I that want to give us credit, thank you, those that want to forget and turn you head and believe lies and spun stories and lies shame on you and I personally harbor no hard feelings, but as a human being with Buddha Nature, it means showing that you are person that were at the ceremony in space, were taught by Buddha, and have Buddha Nature. Shame on all and any of you that think just because you may be in some sect, you should spin lies about people, publicly lie and make up stores that are not true and think it is all in the name of Nichiren Buddhism, and that is why I left Nichiren Buddhism. The perversion it perpetuates, the hate, the jealousy, the acting with no shame all in the name of the law.. what law? I read Mark's story about his daughter, and I was there and went through hell with him at the time, and that is what I think a Human Being with Buddha Nature does. A person in a Sect, says, yes you were there, but Fuck you because you left the sect and now i believe all the lies my priest told me. That to me, is not a teaching of the Buddha, that is why I left Nichiren Buddhism.
In 1999 I started to receive faxes from Japan that were sent to Japan by people in the United States. Then I started to receive the answers that the people in Japan were sending the people in America. Then I got the answers the people in America were sending back. Holy Shit! And no one was saying anything to me, everything was going on just like nothing was wrong, everything was ok. Rev. Kubota was coming in April for his visit, but this time his sidekick Yasuhara was not coming and there was no reason why. I knew why, but pretended I didn't know, and I knew the agenda, but of course acted as though I didn't. We had a network of people all across the United States I felt responsible for, and started chanting five hours a day. The notes up and back got worse, they were talking about me, specific plans were made, and so I felt relieved. OK, now we can get back to business as normal. NO WAY. While I was gone, my wife received a phone call from a dear friend in Japan, who regularily talks to Kubota and he wanted to alert her that Kubota wanted to have me removed because he was afraid I would become like Daisaku Ikeda, since I was responsible for the entire development of the Kempon Hokke overseas, and he had plans to hurt me, with no remorse. My friend also told her, that he was not such a nice man, and she should be very careful of him, it was a well known fact in Japan. What the hell did I get myself in to!!!
OK, I had a pretty decent relationship with Rev. Yasuhara, and even though he was telling this other American, some pretty wild stuff, I asked him for some advice not letting on that I knew what was happening. He wrote me a letter saying that I didn't need Kubota, that I did all the work, he was holding me back, I needed a priest that spoke English, that Kubota was really Pure Land and Lamont too, and Kubota was talking behind my back to other American members and that was unforgivable.
Are you as stunned as I was at this point? BTW, I was still chanting five hours a day, not the words FIVE HOURS A DAY, but chanting five long hours a day. Well the meetings came, they became a disaster, my wife walked out on a dinner with Kubota telling him to confess or she will leave his temple, and he said, "ok leave".. So, I stayed took them back to their hotel, and that was about it. The new Americans muscled in, I walked away and wanted no part of this mess and wanted only one thing. I did not want to be part of this group any more, not that I didn't like or love the people. The Sect became more important than Humans having Buddha Nature. It was more important to lie and start making up stories, and twist events than to recognize truth. There was one member in particular, Steve Polito, who had a friend that called me and said, "Steve is so great the priest gave him a book that has pictures of all Nichiren's Gohonzon", I said, "I gave that to Steve, not the priest. "Oh, I heard you got a Temple Gohonzon from Nichiren Shu? and its wrong to have a Nichiren Shu Gohonzon in Kempon Hokke". OK, the lies were in full swing, "No, i did not have temple Gohonzon, and second there no such thing as a Nichiren Shu Gohonzon and a Kempon Hokke Gohonzon, there is only a Gohonzon." and why would Steve make up those stories. And why would people like my old good friend Mark Rogow, who knew all the pains and problems I had with the Kempon, and in fact, I brought him to the Kempon now treat me with scorn as well.
They were believing in a sect, a chant, a priest, a dream, a this or that, but what exactly is this Buddhism and why is not working? How dare this 90 year old Kempon Priest make up lies about me to the Americans that I brought into his temple, what kind of world is this, what is Nichiren Buddhism?
This brings me to 2000, I saw that Nichiren as a monk was trying to figure out why there were so many sects in Japan, so began to study the Sutra, and when he came to the Lotus Sutra, he saw that only the Lotus Sutra had the answer to all life's puzzle, only the Lotus Sutra was actually preached by the Eternal Buddha Sakyamuni and all the other Buddha were his emanations, and in that sutra he saw that he was perhaps the leader of the Bodhisattva of the Earth. He saw the concept of ichinen sanzen that all life contain Buddha (NOT ORIGIONAL ENLIGHTENMENT) nature, so wrapped in all of our emotions is the life of Buddha, and in the Lotus Sutra, he saw that Buddha gave us that life in the Ceremony in Space.
Nichiren came to that conclusion without chanting, without having a Gohonzon, without going to meetings, without Lamont, without inscribing the DaiGohonzon, without Nikko, whithout the Shohondo, without Ikeda, and without any practice. Everything was concocted afterwards. In fact he concluded that everything that everyone was practicing was causing all the horrible things in Japan. My point..THERE IS NO PRACTICE.. if Nichiren came to those realizations, so can we. It means anyone can read the Lotus Sutra and understand about the Buddha, you don't have to chant, or worship anyone.
In conclusion, we are all HUMANS with BUDDHA NATURE we are not SECT people. Mark Rogow shame on you for never writing me and saying hello after a long friendship, shame on all of you for not just treating each other as HUMANS with BUDDA NATURE. There are no sects, there is no Nichiren Buddhism, he didn't start anything, he just realized a truth in the sutra.
Maltz just thinking today with Buddha Nature
Bruce:
Not being too familiar with Kempon Hokke, I have been astonished by the apparent fanaticism of this sect. Is this typical of that sect?
Second, what is your opinion as to why this and other Nichiren sects (maybe all religions and sects) lie so much? The treachery I have seen and experienced has been incredible, so I was wondering if you had some opinion as to why these people and/or so-called leaders need to lie, betray, and disgrace the Buddha's words to push their petty agendas? I don't get it, or rather, maybe I'm in denial of the apparent truth. I believe you've thought this out pretty well, so I'd like your take on this, please.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at March 30, 2008 11:14 AMCharles, there really isn't too much fanaticism in the Kempon Hokke, it is all talk. I was the only one that ever did anything in Kempon Hokke. Then everyone got jealous, wanted power, saw there was maybe something they should sink their teeth into, or an opportunity they missed, whatever. Even the Priest was an old greedy stupid man, who was fooled by his desire for money and listening to those he wanted to hear, and turning away from logic and common sense. There are certain things about my experience that remain private, and for good reason, they are just too horrible to tell, you can't imagine.
To answer your question, do crazy people join Nichiren Buddhism, or does Nichiren Buddhism make people crazy? Could be both. Some crazy people could join, but then again people who are not crazy join too, but since it's inception in 1965 in America there is probably a 99.5% dropout rate, so I think some very sincere people join, but they take a look around and trip canceled. Some get in, are dysfunctional and find a new home a new mommy and daddy, and like being abused, and build a thirst for power, and learn to lie and pretend to support the leader to make their way up the ladder. If people join to learn about Buddhism, the definitely leave.
There was actually nothing preached in the Lotus Sutra, for the Bodhisattva of the Earth, as a practice like chanting or having a mandala. There is no praying, or joing a sect or sangha, or following a leader or priest. Where in the Lotus Sutra does it say to become a Priest? Its all crazy Christian-Japanese Religion tradition with no result but the one you asked about. Human practice imitating Buddha practice, promising a life force a dynamic successful blah blah blah. But, simplistically, all the Lotus Sutra asks is that you know that you have Buddha Nature.
All religions lie, and their theology is crazy. People believe in the most crazy things. They fight over nonsense. Why would Buddhism have religion? There should be no religion at all, no Nichiren Sects, they are all phony human Buddha wanna-bees. I know the guy that guy that took over Kempon Hokke after I left thought Nichiren appeared and entered his life. Sounds like Christianity, they nailed Nichiren on a cross, he is the son of God, he died for our sins, now we are slandered for propagating the law and keeping his life alive.
In 1967 when they first started to ask donations for the Sho Hondo, they said that at the completion in October 1972, there would be World Peace. Daisaku Ikeda said that at a meeting I attended. Daisaku Ikeda also told me he is the reincarnation of Nichiren Daishonin, at a meeting I attended at the Malibu training center in 1972, and George Williams was the translator. And he handed me a carton of cigarettes, and I don't even smoke. Anyway, my point is, that all sects and religions lie, it is nothing new.
Did I answer you question?
Maltz
Bruce:
Yes, you anwsered my questions.
"Daisaku Ikeda also told me he is the reincarnation of Nichiren Daishonin, at a meeting I attended at the Malibu training center in 1972, and George Williams was the translator."
Never saw that promoted in the World Tribune or proclaimed in The (New) Human Revolution! Now there's a study in metaphysics. What a hoot. Who knows, maybe I was one of Siddhartha's concubines.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at March 30, 2008 10:52 PMI should point out that I was not alone. There were several people around me, in a little shack at the Mailibu training center that was in the process of being built. In other words, there were witnesses.
Maltz
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at March 30, 2008 11:13 PMThanks for writing this. I think I understand better where you are coming from. I'm beggining to understand your idea of no practice after contemplating it for some time as well. I want to ask you a question that people often ask me whenever I tend towards a universalism. What about the different holocausts of modern history is there no holding to account for that? I'd be intyerested to hear your ideas.
ch
After every flare-up of religiously oriented violence there is a flurry of debate regarding the role of sacred texts in fomenting, supporting, or guiding violence. Charges and counter-charges are thrown out, to be met by apologetic explanations on all sides. For every violent image or prescription in religious writings, one can easily find both a corresponding violent manifestation in another tradition and a mitigating text in one's own tradition. Even here on fraught we hear that SGI has ruined the world because of their religious text, and Kempon can save the world with religious text, and the practice of the Shoshu can save the world because they have a special wooden board.
This exchange of text and counter text is most pointed in relation to conflicts involving those religious communities that share the name of "Nichiren." In each of these traditions, written scriptures hold a central position and are used as amunition. Critics highlight "toxic texts," scriptures that seem to codify violent and destructive behavior. The assumption is that a straight line can be drawn from the text to violent behavior. As a familiar bumper sticker succinctly phrases it: "God Said It. I Believe It. That Settles It." If a text contains violent imagery or commands, those who take the text as authoritative will simply act violently, will they not? The reality is, of course, far more complex. Alongside destructive images and models there are other texts that express a different and even opposed viewpoint within the same tradition. They stress mercy, reconciliation, and peace. How does one decide which is more determinative? In any given situation, which is more likely to shape behavior and attitudes?
Each of the Nichiren traditions has a slightly different approach to understanding its sacred scriptures as authority. Within each tradition exists a wide range of possible responses to the images, world view and pronouncements within sacred letters. Although one "book", the "Lotus Sutra" occupies a central and privileged status, it is found only in the context of a complex of interpretation which includes other texts from each group, interpretative ways of thinking from each group, and structures of teaching and organization that seek to guide individuals' understanding and application of the Lotus Sutra.
To understand the role of Nichiren's Letters in shaping violent attitudes and behavior we must recognize that his letters do not "do" anything in themselves. It is only in the dynamic encounter between his letters, the sect that translated it and has now interpreted it and a specific reader, in a specific community, in a particular historical and cultural context that individuals engage, interpret, internalize and ultimately act on those texts.
This is a very complicated issue. I propose that when one reads the Lotus Sutra, or any of Sakyamuni's Sutra, they do so without having religion in mind. I can recall in 1995, I had written on the Internet that in the Buddha's former life he had killed people, and Michael McCormick who know calls himself Ryuei turned that around, spun it, did the Chubby Checker twist with no shame and reported to Japan Nichiren Shu and Kempon Hokke that I said it was ok to KILL PEOPLE WHEN YOU DO SHAKUBUKU. I had never said such a thing, I only said, that in fact, Sakyamuni did say that in a former life he admitted to killing people so they would not harm more people. In the name of Sects, and texts, and sacred letters and Sutras, such violent things are cast out into the world. I don't think Ryuei has ever thought about his miscarriage of thoughts, but I chuckle that a crack in his foundation so small that would misunderstand me, and then there are humans that follow his human advise, his human practice, his human authority, they believe his human text, and think he is actually a priest contributes to your question.
Best to you,
Maltz