A Byrd's Eye View

Interesting stuff Byrd. I have been trying to provoke something like this in central Florida, to little avail. Alas, the Nichirenists in this area are almost all quite firmly attached to their sectarian affiliations, which is, by the way, a very Japanese thing to do.

This is why I think you've hit on an important point with your idea of "a pioneering image of American Nichiren Buddhism." I had an interesting discussion with some Nichiren Shoshu believers this weekend after gongyo and reading of a High Priest's sermon on Fukyo Bosatsu ("I will never disparage you"), which was presented as a call for sectarian propagation.

My pointing out that this should rather have been a rallying call for Nichirenist ecumenism, and further that the ongoing internecine feud between priesthood and Gakkai, nevermind other Nichirenist sects, is a violation of the principle of itai doshin, was met with incredulity.

That sort of thing is very characteristic of our Nihonjin friends, as I have begun to understand after years of bewilderment. It is why a pioneering image of American Nichiren Buddhism is the only way forward if we are to have any serious kosen rufu movement in this country, of the type that will attract and keep thoughtful and mature practitioners who are determined to realize a better life on the individual as well as social levels.

There is however always a danger of loss of focus that comes with syncretism, and I think you have alluded to and are aware of it, to your credit. There is also great difficulty in sustaining this type of movement without institutional supports. The Japanese are not entirely wrong in what appears to be their obstinacy. They simply lack what would be considered proper balance in our culture. Good luck with your efforts.

Cheers
Harry

Harry:

I travel to Spring Hill/Tampa area in Florida a few times a year and will probably moving there within six years. When the time is right, I will help get that movement going with you.

Charles

Glad you two fellows met up, here. For what it's worth, Harry, the Gathering of Friends would not have started up if it hadn't been for SGI sectarianism. As you may have read on a previous posting of mine, the Ankers had a thriving district until Bill invited someone from a traditional Nichiren group as a guest speaker. When Bill did that, his home was placed "off limits" for SGI meetings, as was the other district meeting place. Bill was removed as a district leader as well.

What ended up happening, though, was that the Ankers just went on hosting chanting meetings as they had for the prior couple of decades. Nothing really changed except that the Gathering was sort of "freed" from the SGI's governance. It was an interesting sort of replay of the Nichiren Shoshu's action against the Gakkai back in 1990, only this time with the Gakkai playing the capricious oppressor role and the Gathering doing just fine without the SGI, as the SGI has done fine without the Temple.

Many leaders in the SGI seem to be under the impression that if you're not subject to the governance of the "line", you can't be practicing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Stay well and happy, all - byrd in LA

Charles, I will look forward to it. At present there is only one other person locally who is receptive to this sort of thing, but that may change as time goes by.

Byrd, I have been following with interest the Gathering from various sites on the 'net, probably since the original events you described.

My take on SGI has evolved from slightly hostile rejection at the time I left the org, to attempting to understand it on its own terms, as far as that is possible. As Rev. Greg has suggested elsewhere at FWP, and others have observed in various settings, much of the problem can't be understood apart from the considerable cultural divide between Nihonjin and gaijin.

That will not explain all of difficulty, and it seems there are some particular quirks with SGI and NST especially that make them problematic even for Japanese, but to me it's worth trying to separate the essentials of Nichirenism from its cultural background. Those essentials I think are what would form the core of the Western Nichirenism your group is working to create.

This process is ongoing in other settings as well. Last month I met with a fledgling Buddhist group in Tampa that was struggling with exactly the same question - in looking at the traditions what should it retain and what should be set aside as culturally inappropriate.

My take on this is that it will require a reasonably long period of actual practice in order to create an American Buddhism or American Nichirenism. In other words, the process will be the outcome of real people dealing with real issues in ways that are meaningful and effective in their lives.

Up to now a lot of what I have seen is a sort of "playing at Buddhism" that is partly intellectual exercise for restless upper middle class white Americans. That is one charge that can't be laid on SGI or NST, as they are the most diverse and "down-scale" Buddhist type organizations I have seen. This to me is an aspect that will probably have to be retained in any successful American Buddhism, but it will have to happen in a way that is well adapted to our cultural setting.

Please forgive my long windedness. This topic is something dear to me. We are in the early stages of the Dharma being established in a new cuture, so we are pioneers in a sense. On the one hand it is very difficult, but on the other it affords us a freedon (and a responsibility) to be creative in adapting the practice and teachings in a way that will make sense here.

Byrd,
Thank you for the update. I am always heartened to hear about the Gathering; I think it is one manifestation of Nichiren Buddhism becoming truly American. It sounds, too, like you have a nice balance in the meetings, of reaching out, and still maintaining the Nichiren focus.

Forge on!
Kris

Hi Byrd,

Please don't overemphasize my role in all this. My understanding is that Bill was asked to step down as district leader for many reasons. While he was district leader he invited me to come to his district - this invitation was extended on the yahoo group that was then known as Soka Gakkai International (now Soka Gakkai Unofficial). This happened several years ago. I said that I would certainly be happy to go if I was ever in the LA area. By the time I did get a chance to make a guest appearance it was (I think) Jan of 2006 and Bill had long since resigned as district leader and what is now called the Gathering had already been meeting for some months. I do not know at what time Bill's place was put under some kind of informal interdiction (I don't believe it is a formal one is it?). Maybe it was after I finally did make a guest appearance - but just the fact that people were meeting in an unauthorized way would have been enough.

It would certainly flatter my ego and sense of importance to believe that people in Santa Monica are constantly wailing and gnashing their teeth over my very existence, but honestly I don't think I am that important. It is the Gathering itself, showing that successful meetings do not depend upon the imprimature of a national or international organization, that is much more threatening than a lone Nichiren Shu minister will ever be.

Alas, I cannot honestly claim to be the Beowulf who will overcome the Grendel that is the national or international leadership of a monolithic and oppressive religious group.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei

Hi, Michael - I don't think I am particularly emphasizing your role, here. The axe fell on Bill as district leader on April 28, 2005 (I remember the date because it was so ironic).

Yes, this was after he mentioned "up the line" that he had invited you, but it was also the same month that you had published a rebuttal to Eugene Hirahara's "Living Buddhism" article in regard to the "five senior priests". Check your own blog and records for the chain of events. Personally, I think there was a cause and effect relationship there. You made a rebuttal, Eugene had to go through the Rubys to say anything in reply (perhaps because of a restrictive employment contract with the SGI), and somebody somewhere decided that Bill needed to be removed from his position.

I don't think people are gnashing their teeth about you, but I do think there is a tremendous level of both ignorance and fear about Buddhist interfaith relations. You do represent that for a lot of people, whether you like it or not.

A simple "aw shucks" will do. ;)

Best, Byrd in LA

Hi Byrd,

I'm curious as to why you remain a member of SGI, as many of that group's policies and practices are so at odds with your progressive values.

Best,

Gabrielle

Hi, Gabrielle - That's a good question. I guess I am quite happy and satisfied in my district. I really love my friends in the Gakkai, and I've been chanting together with them for years. I have sort of developed a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the Chapter in regard to my online activities, and I basically just participate in the Gakkai at the only level where someone like me can participate - general member. I don't want to be a leader - it would cause too much ethical conflict for me, and I'm sure no-one is eager to appoint me, either!

I don't expect the Gakkai to be all I want it to be right now. If there's something I want to do that they don't offer (like Buddhist interfaith activities or Lotus Sutra study), I just go and do it someplace else and then write about it so that other people will also feel comfortable operating "outside the box".

I guess I just operate according to my own terms,and I'm happy doing that. I don't endorse policies I don't agree with (such as the "guidance" system), but I don't make it an issue at the District or Chapter level, either. If someone raises the issue with me, that's the only time I talk about it.

I really think there's a difference between SGI Corporate and the member-on-the-street, or district level activity. I also think there's a huge difference between areas and even countries. Here in LA, you can just go to another district and have a whole different vibe. I think that in areas which have a high population of SGI members, members need to "vote with their feet" and go to where the groups mirror their values.

Hope that answers your questions. I also hope everyone had a fab Thanksgiving. Best, Byrd in LA

Clown:

The way I remember it, our falling out was about war and the military, not doctrine. Putting your trust in human teachers is fine, to a point, as we all must learn that way, but when it comes down to unchangeable truth, the Buddha insisted that it was THE LAW, and not persons that one should follow. Furthermore, this Law of the Lotus is self-realized and cannot be taught, only pointed toward.

Charles

Yes Charles what you say is true. But I never told you how strongly I disagreed with your admiration for the gym teacher and I had that in mind as well.
ch