A new blogger here has started me back thinking about the role that "rebuking slander" has in Nichiren Buddhism. Personally, I'm suffering from a bad case of battle fatigue, and don't want anything more to do with the Nichiren community's propensity for "rebuking slander of the Law."
Those of you who were unfortunate enough to live through the SGI's "divorce" from Nichiren Shoshu back in the 1990s will recall that during that time, the world wide web was awash in "e"-bukes from all corners of the Nichiren Buddhist world. I would compare it to a mud-wrestling match, except I don't think any of the participants would look particularly good in a bikini. Myself included.
And now, the "e"buke war is threatening to start up again. Bleh, I say! Bleh, bleh! Honestly, if playing one-upmanship games is what makes someone a "true" NIchiren Buddhist, then maybe those of us who are interesting in cultivating the states of mind which will lead us toward a peaceful planet simply need to seek out some other, less combative school.
Our shared fascination with "slander", and the SGI's current fascination with "fundamental darkness" remind me of the concept of "sin" I learned in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. I grew up listening to "Christians" who denounced Satan and rebuked his minions, doing the work of the Lord in claiming the world for Christ in the same way that some particularly rabid Nichiren Buddhists will denounce Nichiren Shoshu, or the SGI, or the Nichiren Shu in order to advance "the Buddha's decree" of kosen-rufu. We have to save people from themselves, and from the deceitful machinations of the evil "other". well, I'm waking up and realizing that it didn't work for me when I was a Lutheran, and it doesn't work for me now.
So, how is "slander" like "sin" ?
Well, for one thing, it causes you to go to the hell of incessant suffering.
Secondly, rebuking slander, like rebuking sin, is a duty. You can't just sort of look the other way and hum the soundtrack to "Hairspray". You have to say something about the sin or slander, otherwise you're complicitous. The net result is that you sort of become a policeman to everybody else's thoughts and speech, otherwise you'll go to hell. Yuck. Exactly what I hated about the Lutherans.
Third, there is a narrow path which steers you clear of sin and slander -- the sole way to navigate the rocky road of error. Many are called, but few are chosen, as they say. In the SGI, that narrow path is, of course, the path of Mentor and Disciple, with Daisaku Ikeda as your Mentor. That pathis what saves you from becoming a slanderer. In Nichiren Shoshu, it is the Inheritance of the Law by a Single Person (the high priest), and so on. The narrow path in Christianity is, of course, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, maybe this sin/slander thing is really just my karma, eh? Maybe it's my karma to go from one rebuking church to another. I'll tell you one thing for sure, though....I don't want to be re-born in a fundamentalist family. I don't want to be raised up in a household full of rebukers -- no way. So what's the best way for me to steer clear of that, the next time around? Maybe I should rebuke the rebukers? Huh? Maybe I should denounce the rebukers, or just ridicule the rebukers.
Or maybe I should just put it under the waterfall of my "washing daimoku" and let it show me what kind of Buddhahood lies beneath all this rebuking. Yeah...now that's an idea I can live with.
Be flexible, be open-minded, be cool.
Byrd in LA
Well Byrd, this "rebuking slander" at the cost of one's life is a very appealing "samurai" attitude towards Buddhism. Kempon Hokke was created by some folks who took this stuff so literally they were proud when they had their heads stuffed in cans or were otherwise punished. It was like Yakusa or M13 jail-time -- a badge of honor. If they survived it they'd get juice with their colleagues. It translates well among us cowboy loving Western types. We may be further from feudalism than the Japanese are, but not as much as we pretend.
As much as I love Nichiren, he was a 13th century Japanese, and 13-19th century Japanese loved these uchi-iri, Ninja, 47 Ronin, head-games. They didn't really understand that the purpose of remonstration isn't to perpetuate head-games -- it is to put a stop to them. One remonstrates against injustice, lies, dishonesty, and teachings that bypass enlightenment, good behavior and common sense for the sake of playing head games.
Thus I have to say I "remonstrate" against head games.
Chris
Posted by: Chris at March 12, 2008 02:21 PMByrd:
Thank you for this post. I spent decades refuting, rebuking, and true Buddhist puking in the name of purity. It's high and mighty, makes you puke out self-righteous invective in the name of your supposed perfect teaching, and it makes you look like an ass. In short order, as one's spittle laden diatribes grow more emphatic to drive home your correctness, your own words, attitude, and actions, begin to prove your idiocy. It doesn't take long until you're no better, no more profound than the preacher I used to see standing in downtown Waukegan, Illinois, poundijng on his Bible and shouting at the sinners about the end of days.
I must admit, I have been startled by some of the self rightesous and mean spirited words I have read at FWP recently. I don't deny someone's right to let a haymaker fly, but you will lose your audience quickly with this my sect is right and yours is wrong BS.
Just a sad thought at why Nichiren Buddhism continues to be scorned by others.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at March 12, 2008 05:05 PM
Hi Byrd,
I share your sentiments. But at the risk of showing how mean-spirited I can still be I have to get this off my chest:
I honestly think that Mark Rogow's reappearance is karmic recompense for Safwan and Patrick.
There - I've said it.
I've tried to play all nice and reasonable. I still want to play nice and reasonable because basically I aspire to being nice, reasonable, sane, and mature without the compulsion to ebuke all over everyone I meet.
And what have I gotten for my efforts: Safwan and Patrick.
And now, I can just step back. Take a break. And leave the field to Mark Rogow. Because maybe that is all SGU and some other arenas are up for.
The nice guys finish last, truly. Time to leave the field for those who enjoy playing such games.
If people want to find me - they can find me offline for some serious but also playfully real practice. They can find me on my blog if I ever have anything I need to get off my chest. And they can find me at Nichiren Shu Yahoo group where I rule with an iron fist in a velvet glove and do not permit such ebuking.
I am not promising that I will not comment on things if I see a need or that I will leave any of the forums I am in. I am just saying that I kind of feel like I was trying to hold civil dialogue but instead got turned into a punching bag/target - and now Mark Rogow is stepping in for them to deal with, so I can leave the field in his good hands with his fundamentalist and by the literal word citations and proof texting of the sutras and gosho. Let them fight it out while I continue to practice, reflect, share my practice and the teachings with others, raise my daughter, attend to my family and job, help out the Nichiren Shu with translations and other projects and so forth and so on so that a foundation of a spiritually viable and mature form of Nichiren Buddism can be established for the future.
And hey, maybe all my efforts are futile. Maybe it's Mark Rogow and the Kempon Hokke who are the true face of Nichiren Buddhism. In that case, my work will rightfully fade away as just misguided shoju-playing nice-drivel and the future of Nichiren Buddhism will be built by those who are the best at rebuking and proof-texting. Or maybe we are all deluded and Jesus will come back and give us all the "what for".
I don't know. I just know the path that I find to be sane and worthwhile and rewarding and that I find to be a good way of investing my time and energy. Sometimes I am saddened that I am one of the few who feelts that way, few care about Buddhism, fewer about Nichiren Buddhism, and even fewer seem to feel that Nichiren Buddhism can be about something more than a vehicle for glossing one's greed and aggression as Buddha Dharma. So be it, I would rather be authentic and true to what I feel is true and of value than compromise myself just to be part of some bandwagon I don't believe in.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
Ryuei,
I'm still chuckling... but it IS a sad kind of chuckle... your suggestion of the karmic backlash at SGU.
Probably the only reason I would personally chose to leave Nichiren Buddhism would be this whole "Rebuke Till They Puke" school of Nichiren Buddhism. It seems to just wind up being a game between two people trying to outshout each other.
I understand the allure there. I loved being the Righteous Crusader without cape. The ego rush is wonderful, knowing you have the corner on reality and can save the world. It's seductive.
What is more difficult, quiet, and rewarding, for me lately, is listening, and trying to understand the roots of what the other person is saying. Listening, and then trying to use the skill, wisdom and intelligence I have to communicate my view to them. And no, it doesn't always "win the game". And that is okay; I don't feel the need to join the asuras in that ring of late, at least when I choose to leave my ego out of it. I can let a person disagree, on religious topics (I'm not so sure how I'd react at gunpoint, but that would be a whole other blog topic).
There are so many people trying, generally with the best intent, to chant, to be a boddhisattva. Their definition might not be "right", but their attempt, at some juncture, is the kernel that can grow into buddhahood. Why run around trying to blowtorch all the potential there?
Also, in the USA at least, so much of the rebuking sounds like reworked soundbites of your more virulent fundamentalist groups. "You'll burn in hell if...", etc. At some juncture, a lot of Americans just learned to tune out that kind of language. If I really sincerely wanted to tell my wayward fellow practicioners I think they are going the wrong direction, and chose to resort to using skillful means like the Buddha, using the methodology of a fire-and-brimstone preacher would not be my first choice (though perhaps there might be the rare individual who might need to hear it in that form, but I certainly wouldn't resort to it in general public addresses, and would, I hope, only use it if I understood where they were coming from very, very well).
Anyway, I'm an intemperate ranter and far from perfect at being kind and respectful, but I'm looking forward to a strain of Nichiren Buddhism that doesn't come across as hateful and meanspirited.
With hope,
Kris
Michael,
too bad you do not enjoy other people that di not agree with you. I do not have any problems with you except what you say about me. I am not concerned with whether you agree with me or not, I do not have to live your life, but you are trying to live my life for me.
Under what authority do you think you posses to judge me?
I do not judge you, bit you make efforts to denigrate and ridicule me. Cause and Effect.
You just will not stop talking about me. You do not know me, but yet you attempt to belittle me. constantly. You do it here, there, everywhere.
Kindly stop!
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at March 13, 2008 05:50 AMFer cryin' out loud, Patrick! You post more comments on this blogspace than anyone else! That's tough to ignore, and even tougher to avoid remarking on! If you don't want people remarking about your input, then don't try to dominate the comments with post after post after repetitive post!
FWIW, Michael, the only reason why Patrick and Safwan are carrying the SGI flag is because the SGI won't let the staff and what scholars we have out to play, but you know that.
I like the "rebuke 'til you puke" slogan. I think I'll put that on a tee-shirt. Or maybe a coffee mug - what a nice thought to wake up to!
Bye for now, Byrd in LA
Posted by: Byrd in LA at March 13, 2008 08:18 AMRyuei;
FWP is your space to express what you want in. Please don't stop writing. In a weird sense, there is a kind of "balance to the force" with the current writing staff. FWP, in this way, can't really be ignored by anyone, even the culties of SGI. Even Patrick has a role to play in this drama.
But that only works with you here - writing. You are a pillar of FWP.
RG
Posted by: Rev. Greg at March 13, 2008 11:17 AMHi Greg,
Have no fear. I am certainly not going to stop writing here. Though I may delete comments that I think detract from the tone that I want to maintain at my own blog. I would not take it amiss if other bloggers did the same.
Hanging above my desk at work is the Desiderata (actually written by Max Ehrman in 1927 but recorded by Leonard Nemoy in the 60's as "Spock Thoughts). Part of it says:
"Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud & aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit."
So in the spirit of "Spock Thought" I am welcome comments and dialogue from the kind and clever and from the dull and ignorant. But those from the loud and aggressive I will delete when it is in my power to do so on my blog or those groups that I maintain. I should also say, those from the defensive, sectarian, paranoid and narcissistic will not be given a free ride to use my comment space or any yahoo group I moderate as a soap box either. This is not avoidance of dialogue - it is my own form of shakubuku - to boycott and deny my own space as a forum for those whose views I think are not helpful but rather abusive and dysfunctional. I will endeavor in my own practice to try to awaken more patience and kindness towards the mentally illness and/or anti-social conduct - but that does not mean that I have to welcome it, encourage it, or facilitate it.
So anyway, I am not going anywhere, but I am not going to be drawn or let others get drawn into fruitless egotistical carping and debate to the extent that I can help or prevent it.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
Byrd,
As an individual I choose to comment about SGI. I do not comment on NShu or Nshoshu, or other groups, not my group.
But, when other groups comment on SGI, I belive my response to their opinions is a normal expression oif my understanding and not refuting their school.
The leadership does not have to respond to Michael, you, Andy, Mark, etc.. They do not have to defend themselevs from or with you.
There is a difference in pointing out someone's poor opinion of another than telling someone they are ignorant of the other organization. I belive I perform the former.
My last coment on your's, Michael's, and other FWP bloggers.
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at March 14, 2008 10:48 AMCharles says.."the preacher I used to see standing in downtown Waukegan, Illinois, pounding on his Bible and shouting at the sinners about the end of days."
Charles I grew up in Waukegan, Ill, 427 Wainlow Aveenue too.
Nice to see someone from my home.
Patrick
Byrd, you wrote:
"Maybe I should denounce the rebukers, or just ridicule the rebukers."
That gets my vote. I can't settle in and be all peaceful and new-agey and "but-you-may-be-right-too" like others. I see clowns like Safwan and Rogow and they make me laugh, and I enjoy pointing out how foolish they are. Ridicule as a value creating tool is vastly underrated, in my opinion.
Cheers!
Andy
p.s. I like the "rebuke 'til you puke" T-shirt idea. I'll take a Large.
Patrick:
"I grew up in Waukegan, Ill, 427 Wainlow Aveenue too. Nice to see someone from my home."
Holy cow! Can't remember that street off the top of my head. Waukegan is/was a tough, but cultured town, and I enjoyed every minute I lived there. My daughter was even born there. A lot of people don't know that Waukegan was the home of a lot of amazing people like comedian Jack Benny, author Ray Bradbury, and many more.
I moved there in 1976, at the request of my HQ leader to be the YMD leader at Great Lakes Naval Training Center (and surrounding area). Waukegan was the backdrop of my book, Modern Buddhist Healing, when I got sick.
It's nice to hear that's your home turf. I'd love to hear your experience there and if you were practicing before you left. You know Waukegan just made the national news when a strip mall on Grand and Lewis blew up in a natural gas explosion.
Charles