I'm getting ready to go on vacation so I don't really have time to write a long detailed blog entry right now. Suffice it to say it is springtime. Life is moving with all its ups and downs. I still find myself interested in Nichiren Buddhism though not the same way I once was. I guess the closest I can get to a real posting is to steal something from a discussion group:
"Is the Lotus Sutra Self Sufficient"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SokaGakkaiInternational/message/64045
An anonymous interlocutor writes:
> Any one who reads the Gosho will plainly see. I don't have to
> argue, and yes I'm right and I'm surprised at you trying to say the
> gosho says other than it does. Provide any where in the gosho where
> he says something else is necessary or essential. In fact deny what
> I'm saying and you negate Nichiren entirely. Ridiculous to call
your
> self a follower then. As for great minds and much time, it seems
> they have missed the point. Show me one scholar of standing who
> presents your interpretation, it can't be done.
Generally before trying to prove a negative I'll do my own research.
It's easy now adays because the SGI thoughtfully put the Gosho on the
web. Nichiren talks affirmatively about the Lotus Sutra. He
says "even a word or a phrase." He doesn't say "close discard ignore"
and he criticizes Honen for doing so. I can't prove that he says
anything else is essential or necessary because his point is that the
Lotus Sutra is necessary and essential, not that the other sutras
should be discarded. I can't prove a negative, but then I never have
really been interested in doing so. To me this would be an absurd
conversation except the question drives me back to reading up on the
subject.
Do a keyword search on any words or combination of words and you'll
get reading materials that can edify you for hours. Try this one:
http://sgi-usa.org/cgi-bin/displaymultiword.cgi?search=LOTUS+SUTRA
The Gosho "The Teaching, Capacity, Time, and Country" is something
that we all should study again and again, and it has something to say
about this subject. Though I doubt its going to satisfy anyone
seeking absolutist answers.
http://sgi-usa.org/cgi-bin/pagecontext.cgi?page=48
He writes first about the category of "teaching:"
"The contents of these sutras, rules of monastic discipline, and
treatises can be divided into the categories of Hinayana and Mahayana
teachings, provisional and true sutras, and exoteric and eso-teric
sutras, and one should carefully distinguish between them."
Then Capacity:
"Second is the matter of capacity. One who attempts to propagate the
teachings of Buddhism must under-stand the capacity and basic nature
of the persons one is addressing. The Venerable Shariputra attempted
to instruct a blacksmith by teaching him to meditate on the vileness
of the body, and to instruct a washerman by teaching him to conduct
breath-counting meditation. Even though these disciples spent over
ninety days in their respective meditations, they did not gain the
slightest understanding of the Buddha's teachings."
These stories don't say that people can't learn and profit from
studying Buddhism, but that we have to tailor the teachings so that
the people receiving them can benefit from them. Nichiren goes on to
say:
"The Buddha, on the other hand, instructed the blacksmith in breath-
counting meditation, and the washer-man in the meditation on the
vileness of the body, and as a result both obtained understanding in
no time at all. If even Shariputra, the foremost in wisdom among the
disciples of the Buddha, failed to understand people's capacity, then
how much more difficult must it be for ordinary teachers today, in
the Latter Day of the Law, to have such an understanding! Ordinary
teachers who lack an understanding of people's capacity should teach
only the Lotus Sutra to those who are under their instruction."
Which is pretty good advice. A blacksmith has to know how to
breathe, while a washerman is familiar with the analogy of washing
out vileness. We common mortals of this later day, aren't going to
do a very good job instructing people in Buddhism unless we draw
wisdom from practicing the Lotus Sutra ourselves. So it is best that
we do everything we can to teach it. This is also the Gosho where
Nichiren talks about the Poison drum relationship. He figures that if
people don't get it, they'll still have a relationship with the Lotus
that will eventually lead to them getting it. It may take several
lifetimes of suffering first, but eventually it will sink in that
say "Oh this is what he means by cause and effect!" or "This is what
he meant by looking in the mirror and seeing ones true face!" "I
should have chanted." Or perhaps, "Oh what a joy it is to say those
words."
And of course the entire Fuje-Fuse (don't give don't receive)
doctrine is based on the following, which is part of a discussion of
the "considerations of the land" part of this principle:
"However, whether in the Former, the Middle, or the Latter Day of the
Law, one should never in any of these three periods give alms to
those who slander the Lotus Sutra, whether they keep the precepts,
break the precepts, or do not receive them at all. If alms are given
to those who slander the Lotus Sutra, then the land will invariably
be visited by the three calamities and seven disasters, and the
persons who give such alms will surely fall into the great citadel of
the hell of incessant suffering."
Of course none of this says "don't study the other sutras." but it
doesn't say "do study them." It says study the Lotus Sutra first and
formost -- and nearly everyone on this discussion group probably
agrees with that or they wouldn't bother to come here.
The last principle sheds some light on what he's talking about:
"If the Hinayana and provisional Ma-hayana teachings have already
spread, then one should by all means propagate the true Mahayana
teaching. But if the true Mahayana teaching has already spread, then
one must not propagate the Hinayana or provisional Mahayana
teachings. One throws aside shards and rubble in order to pick up
gold and gems, but one must not throw aside gold and gems in order to
pick up shards and rubble."
He really believed that it was time to propagate the true Mahayana
(Lotus Sutra). That's not saying don't collect and read those sutras,
just that the essential and most important thing to spread is the
Lotus Sutra. As he says on that page also:
"To understand that the Lotus Sutra is the king of sutras, the
foremost among them all, is to have a correct understanding of the
teaching."
In many Buddhist countries the sequence of propagation has actually
gone backwards. Folks threw out Mahayana and went back to Theravada
in several Southeast Asia countries for instance. The calamity of
foreign invasion indeed followed, and some of those countries are now
Moslem. Maybe Nichiren's propagation of Buddhism spared Japan
invasion by Moslems or Catholics. Who knows?
I really believe that this passage is the heart of the Nichiren
school's logic:
"If there are none who read the Lotus Sutra, there will be none who
can act as a teacher to the nation. If there is no one to act as a
teacher to the nation, then everyone within the nation will be
confused as to the distinctions within the body of sutras, such as
those between the Hinayana and the Mahayana, the provisional and the
true, and the exoteric and the eso-teric sutras. Not a single person
will be able to escape the sufferings of birth and death, and in the
end they will all become slanderers of the Law."
The Tendai sect had decided that the Esoteric sutras were superior to
the Lotus Sutra. The Shingon Sect had taught them this. Ritsu wanted
to start out all over again with precepts, while the monks were
actually practicing Shingon among themselves. The five older schools
had basically become Shingon, Zen or Nembutsu refuges, and many
Tendai Schools were also Nembutsu schools. The origin teachings of
the Lotus Sutra really are the "King" and the "source" of all the
other teachings. Why would one want to go backwards or get confused.
Yet monks and intellectuals get bored and find the stories and
psychology of esotericism fascinating, whether that esotericism is
Kaballah, Sufism, Rosicrucian or Masonic. When they do this they
forget their duty to learn innumerable sutras, to save others from
suffering, and to reach complete and comprehensive enlightenment, and
like Kobo Daishi presume themselves to be masters and enlightened
beings when all they've mastered is a partial enlightenment to
psychological insights within their own minds. Only the Lotus Sutra
can teach and edify the teachers so they can stay on track. I wish I
could get that point across better. It is essential to understand
the essential messages of the Lotus Sutra in order to propagate it as
widely as possible. The rest becomes easier once one enters the
treasure tower and wakes up to what Shakyamuni and Nichiren were
talking about.
But this sort of enlightenment is not complete and final
enlightenment, just an awakening that there is a road, it does lead
somewhere and that one should follow it. The hard part is to continue.
Chris
Quote:
"If the Hinayana and provisional Ma-hayana teachings have already
spread, then one should by all means propagate the true Mahayana
teaching. But if the true Mahayana teaching has already spread, then
one must not propagate the Hinayana or provisional Mahayana
teachings. One throws aside shards and rubble in order to pick up
gold and gems, but one must not throw aside gold and gems in order to
pick up shards and rubble."
He really believed that it was time to propagate the true Mahayana
(Lotus Sutra). That's not saying don't collect and read those sutras,
just that the essential and most important thing to spread is the
Lotus Sutra.
This is just the problem with most of what you wrote It dosen't apply to the question. And far from sticking to what things say there is quite a bit of projection of your own interpretatioons and biases. At bottom line you will find that Nichiren taught the sole efficacy of the daimoku in almost any scholarly sketch of his life and teachings and will be the conclusion if you carefully read the gosho. It's not in serious dispute,anywhere. I left the group where I posted that because I came to the conclusion that feelings about me aside, everyone there either had an axe to grind about SGI and would take anything as an excuse to point out defects both real and imagined, and I felt they had no understanding of SGI, but when I realized that they did not understand the most basic thing about Nichiren (or more likely prefered to act ignorant)and instead say I was being arrogant which of course is a basic character trait, I figured any further discussion was useless.
And I suppose my arrogance continues if you don't know that Nichiren taught this then you don't know what Nichiren taught. If someone keeps insisting 2+2=3, and you try to show them the answer is 4 and they won't listen after awhile you must conclude that either they are not good at arithmetic or they can't be bothered. You will not likely start to think that 3 might be the right answer. Of course you can say that this is more complicated. So as Chris suggests do some research. And I will arrogantly state that if you do so, your results will be as I have said.
And in this context I'd like to qoute this
http://tinyurl.com/p6xjo
Without Namu Myoho Renge Kyo as the aim and as the reality there is no practice and no realization. With it, all things are practiced and realized. Outside of it there is nothing whatsoever, within it there is everything that can not be sought or grasped or given or taken. To realize this is to realize the sole efficacy of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei from
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/SoleEfficacy.html
clown hidden
The Odaimoku
The Sacred Title of the "Lotus Flower Sutra"
The Perfect Sound of the Sacred Title (Odaimoku) of the Myoho Renge Kyo - the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma, can only be described as a mystery whose mystical nature transcends, yet also interpenetrates the world in which we live.
Some have written volumes describing the meaning of this "Ancient Rhythm," and still, because of language, have failed miserably in conveying the essence. It is truth, not fiction that the only way to acquire the essential understanding of Odaimoku is to chant this Rhythmic Title for yourself.
(see towards the end of this page a 'sound file'
for the recitation of the Sacred Title.)
With this understanding, let us attempt to convey the Gist
of the Sacred Title.
A few loose interpretations are:
"Devotion to the Mystic Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sutra"
"Adoration to the Wonderful Law of the Lotus Sutra"
"We Reverently Bow to the Undivided Dharma of the Cause & Effect Scripture of the Eternal Buddha"
Sanskrit - "Namas Saddharma Pundarika Sutra"
'Namas' from Namaste - "Bowing to this Divinity within"; 'Sad' - "Perfection, representing 'Six" the perfect number in Indian Societies. 'Dharma' - the Law, the Way, the Path, the Innumerable Teachings of the Eternal Buddha; 'Punda' - a variety of Sacred White Lotus representing the true mystery of simultaneous cause-effect. 'Rika' - flower or flowering of The Way in time and space, past, present and Future, as well as 'no-time'; 'Sutra' - the recorded words of Sakyamuni as a historical personage, as well as the intent of undifferentiated 'divinity' that He represents (each of us are neither separate nor in possession of this same "un-dividedness," but posses an ability to perceive all-that-it-is.) "Sutra" also denotes a 'wrap' of cloth representing the infinite threads of dharma that are interwoven in conventional reality as well as Nirvana.
Chinese - "Maio-Fa-Lien-Hua-Ching"
Odaimoku can also be described as the way to enlightenment within this the latter day of the buddha-dharma (mappo). It is in fact the true practice for achieving anuttara-samyak-sambodhi - the Supreme Wisdom of a Buddha.
What may be astounding to some or even unbelievable to others is that this little phrase can do so much when embraced with sincerity and integrity. Some will say, "Don't I need to join a monastery or practice severe austerities for many years to reach enlightenment?" "Is not the meditation discipline and knowledge of the Buddha Scripture more important than chanting a title of a Scripture?" To these questions we say "all that is really required in this age of Mappo is the steady practice of Odaimoku chanting; with this alone you can reach enlightenment."
But do balance your practice also with study, good deeds, meditation, or whatever else fills the need of the spirit, but always put Odaimoku first. In fact, Odaimoku IS meditation, study, good deeds, and good work, if the heart is radiant and sharing the joy of this practice.
In the Lotus Sutra it says "keep, read, recite, copy and expound this sutra, even if but a phrase and the merits that you will receive are immeasurable." What a promise, and it is a firm promise based upon the Law of Myoho Renge Kyo.
Chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo with all of your hearts and you will know what is promised is truth.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo
Namu Myohorengekyo
Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo
-from a lecture by Kanai Shonin
Odaimoku PROCLAMATION
by Kanai Shonin
Nichiren Shonin revealed the Odaimoku, "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo," for us 744 years ago.
On the dawn of April 28, 1253, there was a priest standing on the peak of Mt. Kiyosumi, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As the sun rose from the eastern sky in its first golden brilliance, he recited "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" for the first time and founded the Nichiren Sect. It was the result of his twenty year study on Buddhism in Kamakura, Kyoto, and Hiei.
"Why are there so many Buddhist sects even though only one Buddha existed in history?" "Why were the emperors of Japan exiled?" "Why did the emperors' servants take the position of the ruler of Japan?" "Why are the people of Japan suffering from severe earthquakes, famine, drought, and other natural disasters?" "What is the real salvation for humankind?" These questions that Nichiren had for many years were finally answered for him in the Lotus Sutra.
For most people, it is hard to read and to understand the Lotus Sutra because this sutra is the highest teaching among all Buddhist scriptures. Consequently, Nichiren Shonin simplified the practice of the Lotus Sutra in the form of chanting the title of the Lotus Sutra or "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" in Japanese. This is also known as the Odaimoku.
There was no one who chanted the Sacred Title except Nichiren, before he revealed the simplest form of Buddhist practice. But one after another, people started to chant the Odaimoku. Now thousands and millions of people are chanting it throughout the world.
Fire has the nature to burn things. Water has the character to wash things. Milk has the power to nourish people and animals. The Odaimoku, "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo," has the power to protect the chanters from various sufferings and from many mishaps.
If Nichiren Shu priests and ministers hold these views it cannot be claimed they are the errors of Nichiren ShoShu and SGI but are mainstream as far as Nichiren buddhists are concerned.Mainstream buddhists may dispute the claims but it would be admitting ignorance to say that Nichiren never made them. The claims are in the Gosho not a later interpretation and there is nothing in the Gosho which taken in context refutes them. Nichiren's bottom line is that daimoku is all in all and everything else only has value in support of that.
Of course when you get back I'm sure you'll come up with some convincing argument that Nichiren never said that daimoku is self sufficient or if he did he only meant it narrowly and it is no longer true. That will be unique, and I lookforward to it. I see Robin's making the argument that Nichiren had nothing bad to say about zen, there were just a few bad guys back then.
clown hidden
Posted by: clown hidden at May 7, 2006 11:45 PMClown,
I wonder if perhaps you are being misunderstood. If you are saying that we should chant Odaimoku and then eschew study, ethics, and other forms of self-cultivation as somehow a hindrance to the practice of Odaimoku, then I can see why people are disagreeing with you. In fact, I disagree with that position myself.
But if you mean that one should practice Odaimoku as the primary and essential practice that embraces the benefits of all other practices and therefore does not require any necessary supplements, but which nevertheless still embraces and helps empower us to do all manner of healthy and beneficial actions and forms of cultivation (like study, meditation, yoga, excercise, a healthy diet, charitable works, etc...) then I have no argument with that and I would think no other Nichiren Buddhist would either. This is the view that I intended in my "Sole Efficacy of the Odaimoku" article, and it seem to me that Bishop Kanai is trying to say the same thing as well.
Now, Nichiren did say that Buddhism is faith, practice, and study. My understanding of this is that Odaimoku is our verbal expression of faith but also it is an indicator of the true spirit of our faith; practice is primarily Odaimoku but is inclusive of the supplementary practices Nichiren lauded like reciting the Lotus Sutra and also all the efforts Nichiren and his followers made to uphold and propagate its true spirit and teachings in their lives; and finally study is for the purpose of deepening our understanding and appreciation of what Odaimoku is and how it impacts our lives and the lives of others and this study should have its basis in the Lotus Sutra and the commentary of Nichiren and the authentic T'ien-t'ai teachings but may very well extend into all branches of Buddha Dharma insfoar as they help clarify and are in turn clarified by the Lotus Sutra.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
actually what I have seen is this progression. In the beggining I think everyone is told that daimoku is essential and contains everything within it's practice. Then they realize that other practices are not forbidden as you say. After adopting other practices in addition to daimoku and finding them helpful they then decide that the benefit of these practices is not contained within the practice of daimoku, and that these other practices must be cultivated to get their result. Their view may even advance to the point where daimoku is almost abandoned in faver of what could be supporting practices but by leading away from daimoku actually are more of a hinderance than a help. I have already said that the practice of daimoku consists of faith,practice and study. And of course I've not said it excuses unethical behaivior. This was originally a discussion at the SGI yahoo group until I left there in disgust. I haven't tried to bring all the points here. This maybe even more unclear.
clown hidden
Hi Clown,
I can't speak for others but I think your comment here is clarifying.
I also share the concern that you have. In particular it bugs me when certain people read something like Ekhart Tolle's Power of Now or some other treatise on mindfulness and non-dualism and then act as though this was something they never would have come upon in Nichiren Buddhism and therefore Nichiren Buddhism must be discarded. I think this is nonsense. They didn't come upon it in Nichiren Buddhism not because it isn't there, but because they either were not taught properly or they weren't paying attention.
They also do not see that any religious tradition, including Nichiren Buddhism, is organic. It has roots that go back, and it continually takes in new nourishment and puts out new brances. Nichiren, in his particular time and place, had certain fish to fry - and he put other things on the back burner. That doesn't mean we have to eat the same fish over and over again. Now there is core to Nichiren Buddhism that makes it what it is - and that core is the Three Great Hidden Dharmas. But different approaches to that might need to be brought out at different times. There were times when public witness needed to be stressed and there are times when bringing the true spirit of Odaimoku into daily life needs to be stressed. There are times when the gap between the real and the ideal needs to be examined and addressed, and times when non-dual realization is needed to restore the balance. I think it is unfortunate when people do not see that the core of Nichiren Buddhism is a dynamic core that accomodates all this, and instead mistakenly believe that Nichiren Buddhism is some kind of one-trick pony simply because they gullibly swallowed whatever misinformation was on hand and never bothered to delve more deeply for themselves before heading out to what they believed were greener pastures. Very sad.
BTW, Chris, none of this is directed at you at all. I think that you explorations of various teachings and your own heritage has been very deep and sincere. So even though I am making these comments in response to Clown on your blog, none of this is intended as a critique of your writings or positions.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
Ryuei wrote:
In particular it bugs me when certain people read something like Ekhart Tolle's Power of Now or some other treatise on mindfulness and non-dualism and then act as though this was something they never would have come upon in Nichiren Buddhism and therefore Nichiren Buddhism must be discarded. I think this is nonsense. They didn't come upon it in Nichiren Buddhism not because it isn't there, but because they either were not taught properly or they weren't paying attention.
VW: Reading your comment Ryuei made me realize that I’ve been looking for Ekhart Tolle’s ‘Power of Now’ non-dualism message in Nichiren Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra. Why am I bothering? I have ‘Power of Now’ right on the bookshelf.
VW
I have not read "Power of Now" so I can't compare and contrast it with the Lotus Sutra.
For my part, Mahayana Buddhism is an extremely rich and deep heritage, it is a living tradition that has benefited not from just one or two "great books" but from a plethora of men and women of great insight and compassion who have conducted a 2,000 + year experiment in what does or does not work insofar as achieving rarified states of awakening, compassion, and community building. For my part, I have chosen to avail myself of this rich heritage and the Lotus Sutra and the gosho were my entrance gate and now act as my touchstone.
To put this in a Christian context - why bother reading the Bible if it all boils down to "love God and love your neighbor"? It is true that it all boils down to that (Jesus and Rabbi Hillel both said so), but you miss so much if you then just cast away the Bible or never bother with other Christians because afterall there is nothing more they can say or teach.
Now I am not saying to run out and read the Bible and join a Church. That was just an example. I am not even saying you have to read the Buddhist canon and pick a Sangha. But what I am saying is that a religious tradition is more than just some insightful essays - it is a rich heritage of literature, poetry, myth, art, ceremony, and most importantly community. It is a whole culture in other words - and a culture that ideally exists to foster selfless compassion and caring peaceful communities. They all fall short because the ten worlds are everywhere and people will corrupt anything, and there is no system so perfect that people no longer have to take personal responsibility and cultivate themselves. Nevertheless, these cultures are the imperfect basis of civilized life, the expression of not just or individual but our collective human nature. Since we are all in this together - it is good to find a way to be part of these cultures and benefit from them and help them move forward and become less dysfuntional and more functional for the sake of present and future generations. I don't think you can get all of that from just reading a self-help book. That is my view at this time.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
I will never go so far as to say what someone can gety out of something because I feel ultimately it is completely dependent on what they put in. I'm not going to say you can't wake up to the reality of nam-myoho-renge-kyo by chewing on cornflakes, because it is the most natural thing in the world and is in all times at all places. However if you are searching for nam-myoho-renge-kyo you can eat a chiliochosum of cornflakes and only gain weight, where as the light speed to the highest understanding is daimoku. When you find the truth by whatever name you call it the reality of nam-myoho-renge-kyo will be there at the heart regardless of what wrapping paper may be covering it.
clown hidden
Well, I was on vacation during all of this or I might have joined in. Clown is right when it comes to this point:
"He really believed that it was time to propagate the true Mahayana (Lotus Sutra). That's not saying don't collect and read those sutras, just that the essential and most important thing to spread is the Lotus Sutra."
Context is everything to me, and at this point I no longer think of Nichiren as a final and authoritative master, but as an authoritative master with a particular enlightenment -- to the Lotus Sutra. Clown is accusing me of reading into those points my own biases, but he has to read into them his own biases in order to make that accusation -- but i'm beyond worrying about that.
Both Clown and I have biases. Can't let that stop us from examining present issues and finding ways to make sense of them. The fun is in the discussion not always the arrival. I'll take up this subject more later. I have to freeze this post because otherwise spammers will load it with invites to blackjacks, so we can take this up later.