Kempon Hokke

Reason Will Not Win Over a True SGI Believer

SGI [somehat] reasonable believer:

Nathan:
Thank you for speaking frankly. I know that there are people in our organization who will give advice that makes no sense or ignores the reality of a situation and will tell you to simply chant about it. The truth is that such people are slandering Buddhism when they do so, because they not only weaken your faith with careless advice, but they ignore reason and Nichiren himself states in the Gosho that "Buddhism is reason." I've known people who would chant for hours every day, but when you ask them a simple question about how to proceed with meeting or to explain the basics of faith - they have no answers. They can tell you to chant, but they cannot explain mentor and disciple in their own words or even why Nichiren Buddhism is so different from Shakyamuni's Buddhism.

As an example, I once had a leader tell me that I should graduate from college (I'm in the States, by the way,) with a bachelors in 3 years so I could graduate by 2010. Here in the states, most people know that achievement takes 4 years. I was told that I would be a loser in faith if I did not accomplish this, even though my mother is dead, my father is a fanatical Christian who refuses to help me until I become a slave to Christ, I had money, no car, no job, was living with a friend, and I pay child support for my daughter - which is when the government takes money for a child one has with a woman, and if you don't pay they incarcerate you.

This was contrary to common sense, since not only did I not have the means to attend university but it was expected that I do so in an impossible amount of time with no help. This sort of thing has been typical in my experience, and where the problem lies is this:

Many people think of chanting as magic. They do not realize that we are praying to the Law of Causality, and that in order to make things happen one must go into the world and actually ACT, not just sit on our cushions and sing to rice paper like arhats.

There is a story about a baseball game in which one of the players was injured and had to leave the game. The coach told Pr. Ikeda that they would chant to win - but instead of telling the coach what a great idea it was, Pr. Ikeda scolded the coach. Why? Because the coach was thinking and acting as if the law of NMRK was magic and did not understand the Law. But Pr. Ikeda corrected the coach, and told him and his team that they should play that game with all their strength in order to make up for the missing player.

What is the lesson? NMRK does not defy causality and nothing can. NMRK is causality and we chant so that we can change ourselves and thereby make better causes. But if we never act, nothing will ever happen. I think the reason that " non chanters" are more helpful is because they are acting to help others, and for this reason they are living the sutra with their lives.

Why do you think Pr. Ikeda is a man of action?

Response from a typical unreasonable SGI member like CL:

Hi Nathan
Are you angry with the law? With Sensei? Your words are full of sadness.
Are you happy Nathan? Chanting Nam Miojo Rengue Kyo makes your Buddhahood reveal, in every aspect of your life. then your actions will be wise and full of compassion. After chanting, our actions are full of wisdom.
You speak as if you are angry with everything and everybody
Full of judgments and regrets
If you like more being a non chanter person, just do it. Please respect our choice for being devotes of the Mystic Law.
Slandering everyone is not the solution for your problem.
Being hamble will help you.
I believe in the Law, don't follow the people, follow the Law
And Please, be more respectful to President Ikeda. If you don't like these teachings, leave them,
Thank you Nathan, and I think you'll have a great future if you pay attention to the truth of your heart.

Posted by markrogow at January 28, 2010 11:41 PM