The study exam came and went. Absolutely this was the best study activity I’ve ever participated in.
First, we had a huge turn out for my chapter. We had 15 members make it for the study review including some brand new members and even one guest to whom I had given the material only a week prior.
Since we didn’t compare scores I really don’t know how everyone actually did. As planned however an hour and a half discussion followed the test, which was the real activity.
I really took the comments on my last blog “exam time!” to heart while reviewing my study experience for this blog. The material was so much more real this year, so much more meaningful. I recall a long period during the 90’s where our individual understanding of Nichiren’s Buddhism became very fragmented. At any given meeting calling upon a members for an explanation of Buddhism could produce very unexpected results such as analogies of “mirrors to the soul” or a side track on the sole importance of lighting candles and incense on a daily basis.
Yeah, it got weird.
Our collective explanation of our Buddhism is coming back into focus now I believe, in a very real and tangible way. Though the review was very in-depth and detailed, what follows is what I’ve always believed every member should know and be prepared to explain at any meeting.
What is our Buddhism? It is the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin.
What is our Buddhism based on? It’s based on the Lotus Sutra, and the life of Nichiren’
What is the Gohonzon? The Gohonzon is the central object of worship originally inscribed by Nichiren and contains a pictorial representation of the Lotus Sutra. There are many other analogies and metaphors that describe the Gohonzon.
How do we practice Nichiren’s Buddhism in the Soka Gakkai? Through faith, practice and study.
I know there are so many more fundamental points to our Buddhism, and you’re all welcome to add them in the comments, but this is the very minimum of what every member should know in my opinion.
If you took the study exam this year, you do!
Don