In the early '80's, Greg and I decided to take a vacation, but we didn't have much cash. We struck on a great idea... time share. We could spend 3 days and 2 nights for free and get $25 in cash if we sit through a 90 minute presentation. We were completely ready to say no to everything - two in body, one in mind. So we took the train from San Jose to Reno and somehow made our way to Sparks, NV. The brochure said it was just outside Reno, but it was actually way outside Reno. It was a bleak place, in the middle of nowhere and, oh yeah, it was also the middle of winter. The second day there we went in to the presentation. They showed a video of this place and some of their other time shares. They talked about how great it would be to come back to Sparks, NV the same week every year. Oh and if you want, you can trade or sell your week for big bucks. Then they separated the couples and a salesmen went at it. Greg and I listened, declined, listened, declined until the first guy was completely frustrated. Then they brought in the closer... the coked up closer who kept messing with his nose. This guy asked if we wanted to make money, what was wrong with us, this is a great money making opportunity and other lame statements until he finally called us stupid. Then he hurried us out the back door and stuffed $25 into Greg's hand. It was one of our finest moments. We broke the coked up salesman.
Last week I went to my monthly study meeting. One of the women was not a member of SGI, but in fact was searching for anything and everything. Mixing her staunch Catholicism with anything new age, old age or currently popular. She brought up a problem her boy friend was having and the meeting went from there. There was much good guidance/advice, most of it based on the gosho. She was encouraged to begin practicing by chanting consistently and she talked about the book she read and the speaker she heard and the various different "practices" she has mashed together. A little of this (affirmations), a little of that (the bible) and some of that (zen or meditation.) It was nothing new. We have all encountered these people... always searching and never committing. Then one women turned to me and asked how my practice was going. I had to decide - tell the truth or lie - I told the truth. I chant more than I used to, but not everyday. I study and support the members of my chapter. Not good enough. Why don't you chant everyday? Don't you want to be happy? Ah, there is is... the same ploy the coked up salesman used, and it worked just as well this time. I told her I have two choices, stay or leave and I have decided to stay. That actually took her by surprise. She still thinks I am a dope, but that is her problem. I told one person about my problems with a consistent practice; he laughed at me and called me deluded, so that will teach me!
Her "shakabuku" techniques are very strong and sharp. I wonder how other people take it? I know my sister-in-law avoids this woman when ever possible because of her overbearing shakabuku. If we are going to introduce other people to Nichiren Buddhism, we can't call them stupid or attack their current beliefs ot talk too much. This is a different time and a different place which calls for a different attitude. So many of us haven't introduced anyone in years and we get so excited that we won't stop talking. It is important to listen more and talk less.
Speaking of introducing new people, I attended a district discussion meeting this month. The district leader set up a computer and monitor and explored the SGI website. She did a good job. Then she moved on to "The Winning Life" a small book published by SGI to help explain Nichiren, Buddhism, SGI and our practice. It was a good meeting. Saturday that district leader called me. She had just returned from FNCC (Florida Nature Culture Center). FNCC is a SGI training center/resort where three day training conferences are offered. Many members go to these training sessions and come back energized and excited. This district leader had spent time with different members talking about growing their districts. She came back with many experiences and advice. After World Peace Prayer, we went to a coffee shop and talked about her district and her conversations at FNCC. She is having the same problems with the district that Greg had and I had when we were district leaders. The pioneer women who haven't seemed to have a single experience in 10 years. The same women who gossip about everyone in the local organization. The alienating of the newer members and stagnation of the district.
At FNCC, this district leader found out that she was not alone, that many other districts have the same problems. These leaders gave her great advice and she is ready to implement some changes. I told her about the group Greg, our friend Scott and I started in San Jose. It was called Stone Tiger Group (we didn't name it, the official group leader did.) The mission of the group was nothing is off the table and no judgment. Any one could bring up any subject and we would discuss it without judgment. At our first meeting we discussed the validity of the diagohonzon. Later a member brought up aliens and we actually talked about it without judgment. By the time we left San Jose, the group had become so large, everyone would not fit in our altar room. It was a great group. I would love to have that back. This new direction for this one district may move in that direction. We have decided the leaders (district, group and chapter) will start with regular chanting sessions with district health in mind. The first one is tonight. I am completely behind these district leaders. Maybe we can break the log-jam that is this district.
Posted by nt at September 7, 2009 02:05 PMNancy,
I introduceed a new practuioner last month. Many of the American members have not introduced anyone in years in my area in Washington DC area. I do not think it is just a Japanese Pioneer thing. I am an American Pioneer with over 45 years of practice within the SGI, and I introduce one new memeber each year, as that is my determination.
Regarding chanting Nam-Myoho_renge-Kyo, Nichiren says, "the greatest joy for humans is chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo."
I just teach people how to chant and the rest they do themselves.
Interesting comment regarding shakabuku, I find the same all around the country, many members do not introduce new people to the practice of chanting the daimoku alone, and they are not just pioneers.
I hear many American's speaking and giving guidance, but without any practical proof of their practice, others are not very convinced by their words, or direction, when they themselves do not appear to be any happier than anyone else in the room. I am sure the same is occuring various places around the counbtry, at least in the many regions and zones I have practiced within.
Actual proof speaks much louder than any guidance. Showing others how to practice and have expreience is the responsibility of all leaders. Actual proof equals true happiness. True Happiness is the characters of true self, happiness, purity, and eternity, the four virtues or the four Boddhisattva leaders.
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at September 10, 2009 12:31 PMGreat post, Nancy! A fellow who is a perpetual spiritual seeker -- at the time he was with Rissho Kosei Kai; now he is studying with a rabbi -- brought a lady to our house to chant with us a few months ago.
She was a new SGI member, who was having a difficult time with some of the hard sell techniques employed by some of the leaders. We weren't pushy about Nichiren Shu at all, and had a wonderful time chanting and discussing with her and the guy who brought her.
When I saw her next, she was at the bike club meeting, having decided to join the club, which I had casually mentioned when she chanted with us. And she told me she had decided that the SGI organization was not for her, though she likes many of the people.
It's a shame that some people don't see the effect they have on the very people they want to convince to stick with them. I admire you, that you are not intimidated.
Posted by: Michele at September 10, 2009 12:45 PMHi Nancy
Sam Weiss here...
As luck would have it, I'm actually dating a woman who lives in... Salinas. Yeah I met her at New Years at a NY party at Mike Wecker's house (yeah I still travel south for New Years). Her name is Kristy.
She's been interested in Buddhism since I've told her about it when we met, but she went to Burning Man with me just 2 weeks ago, and chanted with us every day! [I've now created a Buddhist Camp at Burning Man. W00T]. So now she really wants to chant. She's also now a burner... really enjoyed it. Sounds perfect doesn't it? Just have to get over this little distance problem we have (I'm currently living in the Seattle area)
Anyway, I'd like to get her connected with a district in Salinas. Do you still live in Salinas? If not, do you have contacts in Salinas? Please let me know.
I hope you are getting along well. I remember making a post here when I heard about Greg. I was very sorry to hear about him.
Thanks, and please contact me soon. Send me an email, and I'll give you her contact information.
Sam
Sam! Great to hear from you. When you are done here, go to Greg's site. I left you a present.
Yes, I live and practice in Salinas. And, yeas, I would be happy to bring your friend to a meeting. Give me her info and I'll do my best.
You still go to BM... another Earthbound legacy.
Later,
Nancy
Wow- a picture of Sam Weiss with hair; I'd never seen such a thing. I guess I haven't known him long enough.
Lucky for this punk, he always had a sense of humor. Err uh- I hope he hasn't lost that too.
I once said to Greg long after the physical dissolution of Stone Tiger Group that there was no such thing as a "former member" of Stone Tiger Group. He responded by laughing loudly and saying, "I like that [way of looking at it.]"
I've missed those open minded non-judgmental conversations.
Scott scooting
Posted by: Scott McDonough at September 19, 2009 05:54 PMOops!
For the sake of clarity I should have posted that part of my comments were in regards to that gift (old pic of Greg, Nancy, Sam, and Liz) you left for Sam on Rev. Greg's page.
definitely scooting
Posted by: Scott McDonough at September 19, 2009 06:33 PMHey, watch it , Scott. I have pictures of you with hair, too! Apparently, Stone Tiger Group had a lasting effect on you as you use it in your email address. I would like to start another group like that, but don't know where. Maybe I should go around the country setting up Stone Tiger Groups in SGI. That would be a great mission. Members all over the country having dialog about anything and everything... including aliens.
Posted by: Nancy at September 21, 2009 11:36 AMYow Ms. Nancy-
Leilani and I are livin' in downturn San Jose now. I mean downtown San Hooooooooo!
Anyway- I've been goin' to this district here for awhile, and the members don't seem to be all that judgmental.
Some of the district's members are students @ SJSU- your alma mater.
It seems like the members in the district are fairly open minded. Although they do mostly stick to whatever was planned before the meetings.
As far as how open their topics are- I don't know; they've asked me to attend their planning meetings, but I haven't gotten there yet.
Yo Nancy- you didn't share what led to the formation of Stone Tiger Group. We'd been together in a district where half the members were functioning adults, and the other half were dysfunctional adults, and I think at times I could have been counted on both sides depending on how you look at it.
Anway-I remember there was a lot of duplicate phone calling done in that district about activities, and whenever the schedule changed another bunch of calls would go out which in part made me think how important it was to get the printed monthly schedules right the first time. And then when I suggested we set up a phone tree and actually brought in a sample diagram with the members names filled out on the tree as a suggestion- some of the members got upset and asked me who I thought I was coming in there making a lot of changes. (I had just gotten into that district a few months earlier.)
I also remember back then that when we were planning how to use our time at the discussion meetings- I suggested that we should try skipping that very lengthy part of the Juryo Chapter and just do its shorter verse section, so we could have more time for daimoku and dialogue at our 90 minute monthly meetings.
I tried to explain that the reason I was suggesting this was that I had read Mr. Ikeda's lecture on the meaning of those sections of the Lotus Sutra, and it appeared that the main points in that very long part of the Juryo Chapter were summarized in the verse (Ji Ga Ge) section, so we didn't need to do the longer part, especially since it was so time consuming.
Boy did I catch hell for that one. I remember one of the members said, "Who do you think you are changing the Buddhist practice?" It was pretty tense in the room that night.
I had heard later that I was not the only member who was suggesting that change.
Anyway-about five years later- the SGI recommended we change our practice of Gongyo by omitting that long section of the Juryo and only reciting the two shorter Lotus Sutra sections once in the morning and once in the evening instead of five times in the morning and three times in the evening. And before the changes we did that particularly long section of the Juryo chapter once in the morning and once in the evening. The old practice took a lot more time and patience, and I believe put this practice out of reach for a lot of people. Now it only takes five minutes for the sutra recitations in the morning and the evening. Btw, Gongyo consists of sutra recitation and the chanting of daimoku. And I think many SGI would recommending chanting as much daimoku as you can.
So anyway- after the SGI changed its recommendation to shorten the practice of Gongyo- that very same member from that old district who got on me for thinking I could change that practice said to me and a bunch of other people at the community center that she thought that the old longer practice was probably right for those times, and that the newer shorter practice was right for these times. That got me thinkin'.
And what I feel and what I think are that the longer form of Gongyo was never necessary. What I suspect is that Mr. Toda (who led the Soka Gakkai before Mr. Ikeda) felt he had to compromise with the priesthood at the time because of Japanese society's deep historical attachment to priestly authority. If he dared to suggest a shorter practice a lot of priests would tell a lot of members of the Soka Gakkai that they were not practicing correctly, and so because of the immaturity of their organization at the time- Toda went with the longer practice feeling he'd loose a lot of members if their practice was criticized by the priesthood. At least, this is what I suspect happened.
Anyway back in that old district with about two or three years or so effort- it just seemed hopeless as far as makin' any real progress was concerned, and so you walked away from that district, and then Greg followed. I stayed but became mostly inactive as the atmosphere there felt stifling.
A few months passed, and then one night Greg called and said you were going to start something different- a new group out of Willow Glen District that we could all have a say in. That became Stone Tiger Group.
Stone Tiger had a pretty good run. But I failed to keep it going after you and Greg bought a house down in Salinas Vill.
Then sometime (I think it was near the end of my Stone Tiger group experience) I got that traumatic brain injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from that work place injury back in 2000.
But then I learned through a Nolo Press (Berkley, Ca.) self-help law book on worker's comp that I was eligible for vocational rehab since I couldn't work out in the streets anymore with all them flash backs, etc.
And I also learned that I could stretch those rehab dollars a lot farther if I used them at a community college instead of a private rehab program.
So I went to De Anza College to overcome my life of ignorance, and I finally got some computer survival skills. Going there also enabled me to get into a remedial English Writing program that I admired so much. The teacher had such a great yet challenging program. It was funny though- I tried her courses before the brain injury, and didn't keep up; she dropped me twice. It was only after the brain injury and several months at home getting my balance back and dealing with other problems after being hit by that car, that I started passing her courses. When I repeated them the second year, she asked me if I wanted to tutor some of her students, and I wound up helping about 150 of them over the next couple years. It was a great experience, and I think it helped me to rewire my injured neurons successfully by using the logic of language and law. I was managing my own worker's comp case and was fascinated by the legal controversies following our 2000 presidential election which happened when I was on temporary disability at home. I remember watching one or two hundred hours of those hearings from Florida on C-span while often sitting in front my TV with a my dictionary of legal terms, so I could try to figure out what they were arguing about. I know that may seem like freakish behavior to some.
Of yeah- it was at De Anza College that I was told by my English teacher that I needed an email address to communicate with her and keep up with the class. When Yahoo asked me for a name for my email account- the phrase Stone Tiger Group popped into my injured brain.
Anyway- I believe those were good experiences for me. The brain injury and PTSD also help me understand what so many folks are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with and makes me wonder how many civilians we've hurt and killed so tragically.
Wow- what a world we live in.
Well- uh- oops- yow- it's late, and this is a long assed post.
Outa here
Scott
Nancy,
This post is comforting. It lets me know that everyone in SGI isn't a brainwashed zealot.
I e-mailed you in late July. I am the new SGI member in the D.C.-area who was distraught after my Gohonzan enshrinement--several of the senior members "shakabukued" (forgive misspelling) my neighbors and I was offended (as my neighbors are happy on their chosen spiritual path). You and several other bloggers on this site gave me useful feedback after that experience.
In fact, I was ready to quit SGI the day I joined it--that's how angry I was. I've since been to monthly meetings (one of which was attended by Tariq Hassan) and have spoken up at these meetings about the fact that I won't be proselytizing to everyone I see, especially as I still have my doubts about the organization. I also don't believe the scare tactics that doing aggressive shakabuku is the only way I can "make good causes" and gain enlightenment.
Nancy, your reply to my original July post was something like: so what are you going to do now about the commitment you've just made?
Wise question. I've tried to study on my own, separating propaganda from Nichiren's teachings (very hard to do reading SGI's materials. My training as a journalist comes in handy, here.) I'm trying to see if I can make the practice work for me. And my spirit is always boosted when I see that there are members, some long-time, who feel that the bully pulpit is inappropriate.
If it weren't for FWP and a few other sites, I'd be on a very lonely quest.
Best,
Nicki
I don't think we should throw Buddhism at anyone.
And I also think that the first step in introducing another person (shakabuku) is to take faith in their inherent abilities like their powers of discernment.
One thing I try to use as a guiding principle is something Mr. Ikeda said, "Buddhism is reason." But it's not enough (in my opinion) to just go around saying, "Buddhism is reason; Buddhism is reason; Buddhism is reason."
I think we need to take the idea at least one step further and say, "If Buddhism is reason- then, isn't it also true that anything that is not reasonable must not be Buddhism?"
And so if someone says or does something that sounds or looks unreasonable- shouldn't some alarm bell go off in our heads?
I'm trying not to suggest that if some SGI member's words or actions disappoint us that we should abandon our attempt to understand and explore this philosophy and practice.
A thorough attempt to explore these includes a lot of sifting and sorting. And hopefully you will find good friends who provide honest and caring feed back.
Best wishes,
Scott
Posted by: Scott McDonough at September 26, 2009 11:52 PMOh and btw Nancy-
Speaking of coked up salesmen-
Did you hear that TV infomercial king Billy Mays died recently, and the autopsy showed he was likely a cocaine user?
He was always so enthusiastic on television.
And may I praise the deregulation of the broadcast industry back in the 1980's under Reagan & Bush which helped usher in our current era of oversold bullshit. Before that deregulation, TV commercials were not permitted to be over one or two minutes in length. Now, they seem to last forever. Is this some form of water boarding?
In particular, those home loan refinancing infomercials aired on television over the last few years were a significant factor in the recent collapse of our economy. "House of Cards"- a two hour feature from CNBC outlines this among many other failings.
And let us not forget the lack of objectivity from those Wall Street cheerleaders from CNBC before the crash.
Anyway- more alarm bells should've gone off.
From my previous post, I'd like to add to "Buddhism is reason" that I believe that Buddhism is an accurate explanation for how life works as the cornerstone of this philosophy is cause and effect: that what goes around comes around, and if we don't like how things have turned out- maybe we should look at the causes we've made, so we don't just keep repeating the same old mistakes.
And as a practical matter when people or things don't make sense- alarm bells should go off in our heads. I think more Buddhist thinking and practicing could lead to a better world.
And I also want to add that a lot of people who may not be making complete sense do mean well but lack clarity.
Unfortunately- a lot of people who took a look at the SGI's philosophy and practice in the past have been turned off by that lack of clarity. And I'd like to admit that I do have personal regrets in this regard.
Reflecting, reflecting,
Scott
Posted by: Scott McDonough at September 27, 2009 01:01 AMScott,
Thanks for the feedback. I hear, "Buddhism is reason," from lots of folks in SGI, some of whom are very superstitious . . . and self-righteous.
I know that I'm not perfect, but I've only met a few people (my sponsor included) who seem to have the "clarity" you mentioned. (Of course, everyone means well.)
For instance, there's the person in my chapter who insists that my husband chant, even though I've made it clear--as has my husband--that my husband supports me but has no interest in this practice. I've made it clear that, although my son may accompany me to meetings and even try to chant (he thinks it's singing in Spanish), he is not a prospective member at this point. But my words fall on deaf ears. And despite my repeated discussions with this person, my wishes regarding my family are disrespected and ignored.
In fact, I'm not letting my eight-year-old son anywhere near the youth division. In this area, youth are taught to parrot propaganda, not to think for themselves. My son is mentally disabled, so the last thing he needs to learn from a spiritual practice is that non-SGI Buddhists are misguided dupes at best, evil at worst. Some of the young people in my area--at the behest of their adult guides--actually chant for the failure of Nichiren Shoshu events/activities. Of course, members who participate in these endeavors say that I "don't understand" because I'm "new." But they're full of double-speak. How is it Buddhist-like to obsess over the fact that some folks sided with the priesthood after the split. (Isn't it human nature for people to disagree?) How is it Buddhist-like to insist that anyone who disagrees with SGI or Pres. Ikeda is "evil"? (Whatever happened to tolerance?)
So why am I still around? A few reasons: I find peace when I chant--it's my form of meditation. The concept of Buddha nature, and the idea that all humans possess it, makes sense to me. And I want to learn to tap into this nature.
Nichiren was a product of medieval Japan. As a person living in the 21st century, I keep this in mind when I read his and others' writings on this Buddhism.
Alas, SGI is the only game in town for me as far as Nichiren Buddhism goes. (I find Nichiren Shoshu's "fundamentalism" and parochialism even more disturbing.) Which is why I'm glad to have found this site . . . and bloggers like Nancy and Rev. Ryuei.
Best,
Nicki
Nicki,
I am reading (and re-reading) a book referenced by Joe, Nichiren the Buddhist Prophet by Masaharu Anesaki. I use it every month when I present the background for the monthly study meeting. It was written before the advent of SGI. My copy (actually Greg bought it) is copyright 1949, but it's original copyright is 1916. Here is what Greg wrote about it.
http://www.fraughtwithperil.com/blogs/revgreg/archives/000009.html
Funny, I wrote that advent line before I read Greg's blog. Also funny that Joe was turned on to the book by Greg. The circle of life.
Posted by: Nancy at September 28, 2009 10:19 AMScott,
It is so good to hear from you again. Brings back much better times. We struggled, but we struggled together. I will address Buddhism is reason in my next entry based on my own recent experience.
Niki,
I was in your husband's position when Greg joined SGI. I would stay away from the house when I knew Jeff would be there and try to get me to practice. After a year and a half and some really stupid crap on my part, I started chanting. My kids (teenagers) go to some YD meetings, but don't practice. They will have the tools when they need them. They listened to Greg and I talk about Buddhism all their lives. I completely understand your decisions about your family members.
Nancy,
Thanks for the reply and your understanding about my family.
When I wrote to you this summer, it was because I'd stumbled across Greg's blog almost two years ago. Something was drawing me to Nichiren Buddhism despite my issues with SGI as an organization. I found Greg's writings to be of great spiritual support and was sad to learn that he passed on so suddenly after I'd discovered his voice of reason. (I pray that you and your family are coping with your tremendous loss.)
At your suggestion, I just read Greg's blog about Nichiren, the Buddhist prophet. I bought and read Anesaki's book this summer from Amazon. The copy I bought is probably a mimeograph of the first edition. I found the book useful as it was biographical and not sectarian apologia.
I also look forward to your next post on "Buddhism is reason."
Until then,
Nicki
Hey Nancy-
I was thinking about Greg and you a few days ago- chanted some daimoku with Greg and you and your two former rug rats in mind, and I thought I should check your blog as I do from time to time to see how you were doin'. Then I saw in your most recent post where you mentioned Stone Tiger Group. How cosmic is that?
Hey Nicki-
I hope you keep chanting and exploring this practice. I believe it will make a positive difference in you and your child's lives.
I also feel that the more people in DC who practice the better for all of us.
DC is the capitol of contradictions in my opinion-great monuments surrounded by one of our nation's largest ghettos.
I got to visit there once on a trip across country and back. I sent a bunch of postcards from that adventure back to Greg and Nancy.
I remember while in DC (only a brief visit unfortunately) I stood on the street in front of our nation's Supreme Court. I expected to be inspired more but instead stood there wondering why there weren't any trees planted around it; it's just a giant block of concrete and marble sittin' there.
I chanted some daimoku while facing it and prayed for good decision making in the future.
About a year later in the Gore v. Bush case- that court ordered the State of Florida to halt the recounts in that states part of the 2000 presidential race. Maybe I should've chanted more, but had to catch my Amtrak train headed down to New Orleans which I got to visit (for the first time) before that place got wrecked.
Anyway- back to Buddhism is reason; I think Buddhism is reasonable because it's based on cause and effect. And one of many things to remember about cause and effect is that it not only occurs over time but also in space. When we raise our life conditions- we become more likely to have successful and constructive relations with the people and things around us. And doing that over time changes our internal cause (karma- or its effects) which then further revolutionizes our relationships to our environments.
How cause and effect works in time and space is outlined in the ten factors which we recite in the Hoben Chapter of the Lotus Sutra included in our daily practice of Gongyo.
These factors are part of the Chinese teacher Tientai's systemization of Shakyamuni's teachings into the concept of Ichinen Sanzen. That concept is made up of the "10 Worlds" (basic conditions of life) and their "Mutual Possession"- the fact that we can go from any world to any other of the 10 worlds at any moment which makes Buddhism a hopeful practice- the "10 Factors"- and the "3 Realms" of #1 what makes up an individual (the 5 components) #2 society, and #3 our natural environment.
The 5 components are form, perception, conception, volition, and consciousness. The last of those 5- consciousness- is actually the 9 levels of consciousness which consist of the 5 senses the conscious mind (6) which interprets input from the five senses, the subconscious mind (7), our karmic storehouse (8), and the fundamentally pure and undiluted nature of life itself (9).
Daimoku is the invocation of Myoho Renge Kyo; we invoke (draw forth from within) that 9th level of pure life force by chanting daimoku with faith (a growing faith in ourselves as human beings) and so all phenomenon (our minds, bodies, society, and the natural world) are simultaneously activated to the same positive extent.
Activate the entity; activate the entity.
While we are physically chanting- what we have in our minds is critically important; this is our faith. Faith is the quality and clarity of your belief and practice is the extent or quantity of your practice. Quality times quantity equals our result, so your success with chanting is a kind of math formula: faith times practice although we can't succeed in the real world without also taking concrete action.
And in this math formula as in others if one factor- either faith or practice is zero- then your product is zero. Although I do believe that practicing without faith could eventually lead to practicing with faith especially if you have good influences in your life like good freinds- but generally you need both.
And speakin' of faith- Joe Isuzu's recent post on FWP with quotes from famous thinkers about faith and related concepts was valuable and thought provoking. It also provoked me to type "Joe Isuzu" in on Youtube. Some of those old commercials he was in were pretty funny; humor helps. I feel we need more smart ass/wise guy Buddhists crawlin' this planet's surface: thanks Joe ... hope you ain't offended. That guys got a wicked sense of humor, and I dreamed of seeing some new movie with him in it. He'd be great as some jaded congressional aid explaining to visiting school kids about why our congressmen do the things they do. Then in the end, he can't take it no more and becomes the whistle blower who winds up saving some major piece of legislation from defeat. Is that too happy an ending America?
Anyway- my explanations are probably too confusing especially the way I'm trying to explain things, but I do believe that Ichinen Sanzen is a helpful way of explaining how cause and effect works in and around us. It is a navigational chart of sorts and a framework for understanding how life works.
Ichinen Sanzen is called The 3,000 realms in a single moment of life (10 x 10 x 10 x 3) and really encourages us to view life as an infinite possibility that can be directed by our Buddhist practice.
Ichinen Sanzen is kind of a mechanical explanation of Myo (entity) and Ho (phenomena) and the relationship between Myo and Ho. Myoho is also called the Mystic Law, and I believe it's important to note that the word mystical does not mean magical; it means mysterious which in turn means "difficult to understand." You can check those out in an English language dictionary.
And anyway- Shoho Jissho (the true entity of all phenomena) is the musical and meaningful crescendo of the Hoben Chapter from Shakyamuni which we recite in Gongyo. In that Hoben Chapter, Shakyamuni tells his smartest student Shariputra that the only way to enter the world of enlightenment is through faith- not intellect alone. And then he tells his student what it is that the Buddha (enlightened one) is enlightened to: it is Shoho Jissho- that there is a true (and common) entity within all phenomena. Then he says that truth is revealed in the 10 Factors of Life which we repeat 3 times when we recite that part of Gongyo.
Doing Gongyo keeps our life in constructive orbit by affirming the truths of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. And I believe if you persevere over time with your practice of chanting daimoku guided by your sutra recitations you will wind up in positive circumstances which perfectly befit you.
Shoho Jissho from Shakyamuni in India- Ichinen Sanzen from Tientai in China- and Myoho (the title of each chapter of Shakyamuni's Lotus Sutra) are all ruffly corespondent to one another.
Nichiren having first studied, compared, and analyzed the various sutras for 20 years was the first person on this planet's surface to prescribe the addition of Nam to Myoho Renge Kyo saying that all those sutra's concepts boiled down to that one single essential phrase: therefore you should chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Nam means devotion, but I think it helps to see it as recognition although I have not talked much about this possible substitution with others. The word devotion can have some slavish connotation. But I'm not completely sure Nam should be translated as recognition, but I do think that recognition is the first step in deciding whether or not we should devote ourselves to something.
And because faith times practice brings results- our study of the philosophy is important because it fuels our understanding, our faith while we practice the chanting of daimoku. And studying a clear explanation for how life works guides our practice which ultimately includes what we do 24/7.
I've also thought about substituting the word consideration for the word study in faith, practice, and study- the 3 practices recommended by the SGI. If we don't consider whether what we're studying matches our real world experience and rings true in our hearts- we could wind up following blindly, and that is not what any of the Buddhist pioneers were suggesting at least not as far as I know. I also had some bad experiences "studying" back in high school and spent some of my time wondering about some of the crap they were feeding us although I also had some good experiences there too.
Yow! Circumlocution is a common symptom of traumatic brain injury; this is one of my excuses for being so damn wordy in this post.
Activate the entity by drawing it forth from within. That is my main point.
Yikes- what an extremely long winded post!
Scott
Posted by: Scott McDonough at September 30, 2009 01:48 AMScott,
Thanks for the in-depth explanation. It is appreciated.
If I had not read THE BUDDHA IN YOUR MIRROR and then THE BUDDHA IN YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR, I'd not have even been introduced to these concepts. This is what I'd like to be studying and discussing.
I've been to a few "Basics of Buddhism" lectures at D.C.'s new (and beautiful) culture center. The few I've been to felt like propaganda to me--e.g., focusing on the "oneness of mentor and disciple." I would imagine that at one time SGI study meant learning the core principles of this Buddhism. I've never been to a district meeting where we focused on the core principles.
I'm not interested solely in Ikeda's take on the Lotus Sutra, for instance. I'd much rather study the Lotus Sutra and see if my take-away is the same as Ikeda's. After all, we all have Buddha-nature and are capable of realizing the mystic law for ourselves, right?
Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to explain Inchinen Sanzen, the importance of faith as well as your thoughts on using the word, "consideration" as a substitute for "study." Your words weren't confusing at all; they were insightful for a newbie like me.
Best,
Nicki