tjn:
This is very curious. however I must say that it appears to me that Tibetan
Buddhism and Nichiren Buddhism have many similarities. I hope that saying this insults neither side and promotes better mutual understanding between the
two.
Joe:
All Buddhist and non-Buddhist teachings share similarities with the teachings of the Lotus Sutra: "All rivers run to the sea."
tjn:
First of all the principal object of worship in Nichiren Buddhism, the Gohonzon, is a mandala. True instead of representing deities on a more or less ornate field some rather nice calligraphy is used. But this is also a similarity since is is not unknown to repreent deities with their seed syllables, etc. in Tibetan Buddhist mandalas.
Joe:
The Gohonzon is both The Master of Teachings Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine and the Ceremony in the Air whereby the Eternal Original Buddha
transmits his most important teachings(Namu Myoho renge kyo) to the
Bodhisattvas of the Earth. The Buddha, posessing the entierty of the Ten
Worlds, posesses the World of Gods. Therefore, the gods as well as all beings
are present at the Ceremony in the Air.
tjn:
Secondly, the practices are rather similar. the recitation of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the recitation of mantras are no different as a form of practice.
Joe:
It should be fairly obvious from our discourse that our practices are as different as night and day. It is true that all Mantras are composed of words just as rivers and seas are composed of water. Yet they are different. The meanings are different, the import is different, the causes, effects and conditions are different.
tjn:
Furthermore, both are rather exclusively concerned with bodhisattva practice.
Joe:
No. Nichiren Buddhists dispense with the practices of the Six Perfections
except that of the Perfection of Wisdom. "Medicine King! If any bodhisattva, on
hearing this Law Flower Sutra, is startled, doubts and fears, you may know that
this is a bodhisattva neophyte." Why does the Buddha say this in the Lotus
Sutra? One reason is because the practice of the Lotus Sutra is so very
difficult. Another reason is that to read, recite, and ponder and teach others
indicates that we have served tens of quintillians of Buddhas in our past
existences.
tjn:
Thirdly, the extent of guru devotion is similar. Nichiren Buddhists are as devoted to their teachers as any TB practitioner is devoted to their root lama.
This may be true but our "root Lamas" are the "root Lamas" of all Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas, throughout the Three Existences, the Master of Teachings Lord
Shakya of the Original Doctrine and his messenger, Nichiren Daishonin.
Since our "root Lamas'', The Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni and his messenger
Nichiren Daishonin are the Original "root Lamas" of all Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas, the causes, effects and conditions of our devotion differs.
tjn:
Fourthly, both schools believe in the incarnation of Bodhisattvas in palpable human form. Nichiren believed himself and is believed by followers to be the incarnation of the Boddhisattva of Supreme Action Visistacaritra much as Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama to be the incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Supreme Compassion Avalokitesvara.
Joe:
It is impossible that the Dalai Lama is an incarnation of Bodhisattva Reguarder of the Cries of the World. When offerings are made to Bodhisattva Reguarder of the Cries of the World he defers and passes them on to Buddha Shakyamuni and Buddha Abundant Treasures. The Dalai Lama does neither. Neither does he practice reading, reciting and causing others to read and recite the Lotus Sutra. Not one person has been saved by the Dalai Lama but tens of billions of trillions of countless of beings have been saved by Bodhisattva Reguarder of the Cries of the World.
tjn:
Fifthly, it should be no surprise that there are similarities between Nichiren and Tibetan Buddhism. both are esoteric Buddhist schools.
Joe:
This is very wrong. The practice of the Lotus Sutra is an exoteric practice. The Lotus Sutra is the exoteric work of Mahayana Buddhism.
tjn:
Nichiren started in the Tendai school and learned much Vajrayana in the
Tendai school and Nichiren used Vajrayana rituals throughout his career.
Joe:
True Tendai reject Vajrayana. Here is what Nichiren says about the
Vajrayana(esoteric or Shingon rituals) rituals:
"Unless one who has grasped the essence of the Lotus Sutra conducts the eye
opening ceremony for a wooden or painted image, it will be as if a masterless
house were to be occupied by a thief or as if, upon a person's death, a demon
were to enter his body. When, in present day Japan, eye opening ceremonies for the Buddha images are conducted according to the Shingon rite, demons occupy them and deprive people of their lives, for a demon is known as a "robber of life." Moreover, devils enter those images and deprive people of benefits, and another name for a devil is a "robber of benefits." Because the people worship demons, they will bring the country to ruin in their present lifetime, and because they revere devils, they will fall into the hell of incessant suffering in their next existence." MW 4:35
tjn:
Thus one must conclude that there is no basis for saying that the practice forms are fundamentally different.
Joe:
There are many errors in your understanding of Nichiren Buddhism. However, Since you have responded to my post, I will continue to answer as best as I can in the hopes that you will at least incorporate Namu Myoho renge kyo into your
practices.