Holte's corner

Chris,
Spot on!

Just as Nichiren says, "The purpose of Shakyamuni Buddha's advent lies in his behavior as a human being."

I believe Nichiren says, you are of the 'same mind' as Nichiren based on your actions in propogating the daimiko of the Lotus Sutra; which is defined as both chanting nam-myoho-renge-kyo and taking action.

Patrick

Although, I am getting old and feeble minded, I think this discussion started when I questioned your approach to righting the evils of the world on the Buddhist Dialogue Forum. The basis of the argument I had with your [the entire dialogue group's] approach was that I didn't see Buddhism or the Mind of the Buddha in your solutions to the problems. You all can't say you have Buddhism or the Mind of the Buddha in your approaches because the approaches of you and Richard, for example, and Andy and Robin, for example, are diametrically opposed [more often than not]. What I'm getting at is that two diametrically opposed views, two divergent views, can not both be Buddhism or Mind of Buddha [at least in the Buddhism of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin]. No one will argue with you that body, mouth, and mind are all required for a solution to the ills of all mankind. Sorry for failing to add "action." Patrick is right, however, that the only way is to propagate the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra. Where Patrick and I differ is the nature of the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra. I will give you my perspective which I hope accords with the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin.

What is the meaning of Shakyamuni's behavior as a human being? Does the SGI exhibit the behavior of Buddha Shakyamuni or Nichiren Daishonin? Does the Kempon Hokke? Does the Nichiren Shu? Does the Independent movement? Does the Honmon Butsuryu Shu? Does Daisaku Ikeda? Does Reverend Tsuchiya? Does the Chief Priest of Minobu? Does Don Ross? Does Rev. Fujioka? Do you, do I? These are the questions that need be answered.

Mark

You are entitled to your opinion. But I'll make a suggestion. If a herd of elephants is stampeding, if one gets in the way one will get trampled. If a single elephant is rampaging, sometimes that elephant can only be stopped by killing it. The Buddha managed to stop an elephant by calming it. That had to be quite a feat. That was a political action. He protected people in the process. Politics is getting things done.

I believe in engagement. I also believe in applying the principles advocated by Nichiren's quote in the Nirvana sutra to seek wisdom. I believe that we live in a world that demands action, engaged Buddhism, and that doesn't respond to triumphalism, fantasy, nor to ravings based on literalist interpretations of figurative teachings. When you get your own mind back I'm sure you'll see what I'm talking about.

As for people with diametrically different views being incapable of both being right, you are right. They all can be very wrong. From a three dimensional view if you have a dozen blind men trying to figure out the world elephant they are all going to describe different things. But we are dealing with 3000 different views, and so there is no possible way that any two people are going to see the world exactly the same way. They just think they do with a self-projection of who their interlocutor is. My Nichiren may be a different guy than yours. Somehow he pops up as tall and blond even though I know he was short bald and stocky. He's not exactly a figment of my imagination, but he dwells in the world of imagination which contains multiple worlds too.

I love you and Patrick.

So LOL

Well, it's good to know that I have one thing in common with Nichiren (I am short, bald, and stocky)

The SGI say that in the 21st Century the people are Emperor. This is a very attractive view, wouldn't you say? However, their action belie their words, putting their mentor on a pedastal and allowing he and leaders, in their top down structured organization, to set religious policy and to a lesser extent social policy.

I neither have confidence in the people of today nor the leaders and I am too busy with work and trying to obtain Buddhahood to either be an active participant as emperor (being one of the people) or as leader being barely able to manage my household let alone the household of millions.
I think Shakyamuni and Nichiren were of the same mind.

Both their views for the correct way to govern the land and protect the people were based on the concept of an enlightened sovereign, a powerful king or emperor. I don't think their views were based on any particular time period or set of social circumstances but rather as the inviolate, universal, and exclusive way in which the religious, social and individual needs of the people could be met throughout the three periods of past, present and future.

This is the vertical transmission of the Law. The only way to realize this teaching is to convert the sovereign to the Lotus Sutra. How can this be accomplished? Two ways, through the gentle practices and through the aggressive practices depending on whether the sovereign is merely evil or actively evil in opposition to the Lotus Sutra.

In my next post, after thinking about this more, I will talk about the horizontal transmission and the plan to accomplish both the vertical and horizontal transmission of the Law, which go hand in hand.

Mark