The purpose of a formal debate is not to pit any one individual or organization against another. The purpose is to arrive at the truth and correct error. It is the life state of Bodhisattva to correct the evil or mistakes of another in order to help the other attain Buddhahood. This is a Bodhisattvas greatest wish.
I get corrected almost every day by the Nichiren Shu, the SGI, the Independents and the members of my own sect of Buddhism and even non-Buddhists. I also do my share of correcting. Maybe because of this I have come to see who really has my best interests at heart and the best interests of Buddhism. Likewise, through aggressive shakabuku, I am able to see clearly my own motivations, caring and lack of caring in reguards to those I am engaging. This is the benefit of shakabuku. Everything we do in Buddhism is to become aware.
Sometimes, when one is badly mistaken one has to take unbelievable steps to overcome the negative consequences of his mistake. One extroadinarily learned man, defeated by T'ien-t'ai in debate, ceased to give lectures or teach the Dharma (through speech), garnered a hundred emminent priests to listen to lectures by T'ien-t'ai, made his body into a stool so that T'ien-t'ai could ascend to a raised platform to preach and eventually, I think, after T'ien-t'ai died, committed himself to self exile.
If Greg Martin were ever able to do such in a formal debate, I would do the same. This is not going to happen because they would never have a formal debate with me.
Posted by markrogow at May 10, 2008 06:16 AMIdiot, i already said I would said I would talk to you regarding doctrine issues, and not personalities. But not here, you cannot be trusted to not delete posts. You have violated my trust, and I will never trust you again. Come to my blog, I don't care, I don't know what your bitch is, I only talk about what is in the Lotus Sutra.
Maltz
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at May 10, 2008 09:04 AMa formal debate is face to face with judges. I propose 7 judges. I propose two video setups in a hall or auditorium.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Rogow at May 10, 2008 08:16 PMAnd what is the title of the Debate? and if you lose you will quit your sect or current belief system and go to the side of the winner?
Bruce
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at May 10, 2008 10:44 PMNichiren Daishonin is the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra in Mappo and the messenger of the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. If you can disprove this, I will become your disciple.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Rogow at May 11, 2008 08:20 AMIt does not say that in the Lotus Sutra, and I don't want a disciple, I have no sect or religion, don't you read my blogs, I advocate, the Original Buddha as your teacher. You are a Bodhisattva from the Earth, the Eternal Buddha is your Original Teacher, and he transfered his merits to you, and sent you here to spread the knowledge of Ichinen Sanzen and to unite the Bodhisattvas.
Your question is like "I believe in God, prove there is no God". Since Nichiren is not, and only is because he says he is, and you believe it, I am happy for you, but there is no evidence for this in the Lotus Sutra. Nor, did the Eternal Buddha in Chapter 22 say, I send you back to the Saha world to appear to follow Jogyo and chant and make a religion, and build temples, and whatever, none of that is there.
I suggest you take a look at what I am, and am not saying, what attracted me to Kempon, was going back to the Lotus Sutra, not going back to Nichiren. Nichiren had guts and strength to propagate in Japan, but if you follow him, you can't spread the Lotus Sutra, you are just following him. Two different things.
I am not trying to destroy your beliefs, although you think I am, I am trying to separate people from the myth and what is in the Sutra. You can read Nichiren, and see clearly what he was talking about. Even the Gohonzon is the Ceremony in the Air. He was pointing to the Ceremony in the Air, so we see your Original Teacher, the Eternal Buddha, not Nichiren.
Being only human, people anger me, and I have been hit in the back so many times, I have trusted so many people and they let me down, but I too was following Nichiren, Nichiju, and not the Lotus Sutra and not seeing straight.
Having my head on straight now, I am looking you in the eyes and telling you, please read what I am writing without thinking insidious diabolical thoughts towards me. If I am wrong, or if you think I am, its good to have healthy discussion, especially fine tunning thinking about the Lotus Sutra to strengthen information, but it will never happen if all people want to do is hit each other over the head. It is time to unite everyone who was at the ceremony in the air, and have them drop their ties to false teachers (Nichiren was not a false teacher) and bring peace to our world.
I am going to post about how the sects soon in a thoughtful way, I hope you comment, with constructive thoughts.
Your Junk Friend Bruce
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at May 12, 2008 09:07 PMI have said it from the beginning Bruce, I have nothing to discuss with you except in a formal debate setting. You are wrong about those possessing the five aggregates being unable to attain Buddhahood. Your Buddha is devouid of the real world and the true meaning of the Triple Bodied Tathagata. This last comment was the last you may post on my blog.
"Having my head on straight now", is not apology enough.
Mark
Posted by: Mark rogow at May 13, 2008 11:08 AM