In SGI, we have a daily practice of gongyo and chanting morning and evening. We are allowed, if not encouraged, to chant for stuff or personal enrichment. We are also allowed and encouraged to attend meetings with other SGI members where we discuss Nichiren's Buddhism, our daily lives and, usually, some SGI politics. This how most of us started our relationship with Nichiren Buddhism.
Thousands, if not millions, of people only know the ways of the SGI. Some SGI members know of and maybe know a little about other Nichiren groups/sects/sangas, but have found their place in the SGI.
Then something happens. A "leader" says something or does something or doesn't do something or doesn't say something and some members become discouraged. These folks can't seem to reconcile their feelings and begin to drift away from the SGI. They have a connection to Nichiren Buddhism, but believe they can go it alone or converse with like-minded people on the 'net - they don't need the SGI. In some cases, these groups/sects/sangas (g/s/s)are actually founded on how misguided the SGI is. The SGI doesn't chant the right words or study the right stuff.
Then we all come together on the web. We talk about our different beliefs and politely, or harshly, bash each others' allegiance and hold our own up as the model. Yeah, I'm a member of the SGI. Do I think it's perfect? No. Do I want to leave? No. Do I think it is the only way to practice Nichiren Buddhism? No. I like the practice of the SGI. The chanting and personal contact with other members. I don't understand many of the other groups. So enlighten me by answering some questions.
How do you refer to yourself?
Do you practice as we understand it in the SGI?
Do you meet with others in your g/s/s?
What is the foundation or basis or purpose of your g/s/s?
Tell me something I don't know.
Nancy
Hi again, Nancy -
Did my reply above go unnoticed? Or were you looking for some different response?
Just curious.......
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Posted by: Engyo Mike Barrett at April 3, 2008 07:12 PMHi, Nancy -
Here are my answers to your questions:
"How do you refer to yourself?"
Well, I call myself a Nichiren Buddhist. If you mean the group, we are members of Myoken Temple in Houston, Texas. We are incorporated in Texas as the Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Texas. We are also a member temple of the Nichiren Order of North America.
"Do you practice as we understand it in the SGI?"
Yes and no - we practice every day at home, and attend services at the Temple regularly. Daily practice can consist of a number of different things, including but not limited to reciting portions of Chapters Two and Sixteen of the Lotus Sutra in shindoku, and chanting Odaimoku before the Gohonzon. We also recite the Sutra in english; we recite others portions often and occasionally recite the entire Sutra (not in one sitting!); we practice shakyo and shabutsu (copying the sutra or the Buddha's image as a meditative practice); we practice various types of meditation in different settings; and of course we study the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren's writings.
Our Temple also supports a Nichiren sangha in the Wallace Pack unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Our minister and one or two other members visit the prison (2 hours away) almost every Friday evening. We currently have some 15 members and growing. We also have some people who joined while serving a sentence and have continued practicing after being released.
"Do you meet with others in your g/s/s?"
Yes, we have regularly scheduled services at the Temple. Some are study-based, and some are practice-based. We also participate in interfaith activities here in Houston; we occasionally hold retreats or Dharma Conferences; and this year we will host the Nichiren Order of North America Convention, where we will elect our President and Bishop for the next four years, and do lots of other boring stuff like vote on revisions to bylaws, read financial reports, and so on and so forth.
"What is the foundation or basis or purpose of your g/s/s?"
The foundation is first and foremost the Lotus Sutra, and Nichiren's teachings about how to practice it. The purpose of our practice is first to attain perfect enlightenment, and secondly to assist others in doing the same, through their practice. The Temple exists to facilitate these purposes. NONA exists to help the various Temples do things which require more resources than one Temple can field, encourage communication and fraternization between Temples, and coordinate continent-wide activities. NONA also provides a convenient point of interface with Nichiren Shu in Japan for issues affecting North America as a whole.
Are these the type of answers you are looking for?
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Posted by: Engyo Mike Barrett at March 28, 2008 10:52 AM