The past year has gone by quickly. As we approach 2006, it is only natural to ponder what has transpired and what is to come. On the world stage, there has been much war and tragedy. The Bush administration has given new meaning to the word “abomination.” Greed, anger, and foolishness have gripped civilization, and nature has revolted. But I leave the final analysis to my blog peers who are far more adept at such analysis.
On a personal level, 2005 was a year of accomplishment and happiness for me. Those achievements included the writing and publication of a new book, positioning myself to break into publishing novels, advancement in my day job, the launching of a website, accumulating wealth, starting a weekly radio program, remaining perfectly healthy, and last. but certainly not least, enjoying the succulent fruits of a happy family life – a reality that I never expected to achieve.
From a Buddhist perspective, my practice became beautiful and rhythmical like the ocean tide. The days of frantic, endless, painful austerity daimoku, faded into the night. I have begun learning how to relax – a quality that had alluded me my entire life. Being an intense, passionate man, that has fought his anger and has been carried away by my emotions for most of my life, the ability to gain a sense of calm or peace was a benefit that was most unexpected and welcome.
What struck me as curious was that my sense of peace emerged after people in the SGI stopped calling me. In the past year, not one single leader or “eternal friend” has tried to contact me to see how I was doing or if I might possibly be interested in attending a meeting or lecture. Perhaps there was good reason for them not contacting me. I am probably considered a lost cause at this point. In the spring of 2004 I told a leader that organized religion was no longer appealing to me. His response was that time would show me the errors of my ways, at which time I lost my temper and told him to "never curse me again." He didn’t get it. In my mind, telling someone that unless they follow the group, which is supposed to be the correct way to live, one’s life will turn to shit.
While I was in the organization, my life was in a perpetual state of suffering, with one crisis after another. It was only when I made the conscious decision and took action to remove the attachment of depending on an organization and its alleged benefit producing activities for my happiness, did my life improve. Why this happened is mystifying, but not incomprehensible. I have no malice toward the organization that set my feet on the path to understanding. I have great appreciation for those people who advised me and were my friends and confidents. From this group or system, I was able to learn about the Lotus Sutra and develop the practice that would one day set me free. If asked, I would have no reservation about attending a lecture or chanting with the members again. I believe, however, that I am considered dangerous to the spirit and mindset of the organization now, and unless I were to keep my mouth shout and keep my opinions to myself, that I would not be welcome. Keep my mouth shut? Hmmmmm....what would Nichiren do?
Why is that? Since my complete departure from the organization in 2003, I have concluded a number of things that are opposed to the dearly held beliefs of the SGI. As a former leader, lecturer, and fervent advocate of and for the organization, my radical divergence from the established doctrine has put me into the category of what “they” might call a heretic, or in a worse case scenario, a slanderer. However, my current point-of-view was not arrived at overnight because I got pissed off and took the opposing position of everything the organization holds near and dear. My conclusions emerged after years of frustration, untold tears of angst over blatant contradictions, and the most important reason of all, the negative actual proof I experienced in my life.
The points of contention are very basic. The first is the designation of Nichiren as the true Buddha. First and foremost, there is absolutely no documentary evidence in the Lotus Sutra that this claim is so. It’s not in the Emerging From the Earth chapter, nor in the Life Span. It doesn’t exist anywhere in the Lotus Sutra, no matter how many times you read it or how you read it. I regard Nichiren as a great bodhisattva that attained enlightenment, and translated already existing systems, cosmology, and methods into a coherent practice. The Lotus Sutra already existed. Mandalas to achieve samadhi states of consciousness already existed. The depiction of the ceremony in the air in a mandala already existed. Even Myoho-renge-kyo already existed – adding Nam to the title of a sutra was already a customary practice. Nichiren bundled all these expedient means together to give us the practice we enjoy today. Nichiren, himself, regarded Shakyamuni as the eternal Buddha. Who am I to dispute that? As a side note, though, it is also quite clear from the Lotus Sutra that Shakyamuni - one of sixteen brothers who attained enlightenment through the Lotus Sutra - seems to be a Buddha responsible for our section of the universe, and his brothers for the other nine directions, so the designation of the exclusive "eternal Buddha" is in contradiction with the Lotus Sutra. And what of his father Daitsu who attained enlighhtenment first? As an ontological record to who the one and eternal Buddha is, I think we run into trouble trying to make absolute determinations on this subject with a description that is clearly metaphorical. Suffice it to say that Shakyamuni is, for all intents and purposes, the eternal Buddha for us here on our speck of dust on that spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy. Any more absolute determinations are no more likely true than the reality of "intelligent design."
Point two is the authenticity of the Dai-Gohonzon. Robin has written volumes on this subject. Even without his and others research, the Taiseki-ji wooden plank Gohonzon does not pass the acid test. Does it matter? In terms of praying to it and receiving benefits, I don’t believe it matters one bit. My problem with it is when one sect asserts that they have the one and only true object for the salvation of mankind in their possession, which was passed down through the successive high priests to the present day, and to not accept it as such is a grave slander. I am not a person of incorrigible disbelief. I am a person who has honestly discarded magical thinking, seen through skewed historical accounts, and read the metaphorical implications for what they really are. I can only see fabrication and revisionst history in this legend.
Point three is the exaltation of the master and the organization. Although I am deeply respectful of Daisaku Ikeda, and his guidance has unquestionably helped forge my understanding and belief in Buddhism, I am repelled by his obvious deification at the expense of centering on Nichiren, and especially Shakyamuni! The focal point of reverence and emulation has been shifted from the Buddha to a living person, giving rise to the creation of a personality cult, that is completely obvious from outside the organization, yet for all intents and purposes, invisible from the inside.
The organization poses problems for me from the perspective that its original aim was the absorbtion of indigenous religions. This prime directive, which has been superficially refuted by the SGI Charter that states the organization’s respect for other religions, actually aims at both religious and political domination of Japan and the world at large. I am opposed to theocratic governance. It’s certain that the organization will deny any such ambitions, but it’s clear to me that religious and political assimilation is the ultimate goal. It is a goal that I believe shall never be realized because the model is deeply flawed. I respect the mentor, I am friends with the members, and I deeply praise the practice. It just won’t work as a popular movement, especially with the emphasis on the living and dead mentors. Wouldn't it be something if one practice, one religion, and one organization could lead all people to enlightenment, usher in perfect world peace, and bring order to all government and quell the ravages of the elements? Just say "hai!" is dreadfully close to "heil!" It's not gonna happen like that, my friends as evidenced by the conspicuous decline of the SGI-USA. There is little attractive to the youth and without new blood to replace the aging pioneers, it's going to be an arthritic organization of perpetual nostalgia.
As 2005 draws to a close, I count my many blessings. First, I thank the many readers and their brilliant and sometimes snide commentary.
I thank my colleagues at Fraught With Peril, one and all. I especially commend the amazing efforts of Robin Beck, who has literally made this site a world-class affair through his meticulous research.
Every writer here has broken new ground and has been an inspiration to me, and for that I am eternally grateful. It’s a given that we don’t agree on many things, but that’s what makes the site so interesting. I know that I can visit Ryuei and get the authoritative take on most any Buddhist subject.
Reverend Greg will bring out the thinker in us all, and at times, he'll make us angry, but he's never dull. Chris never fails to give us the wise perspective and political backside.
Chikushonin is the resident genius, who needs to make more time to write because we want to see his ideas. I don’t know what happened to Doctor Science, Brian Holly, but his stuff was always top drawer – I wish he’d educate us some more. The Third Coast dude gave the much-needed Universalist slant.
And HRH Queen Lolo never fails to make me smile with her warm and witty charm. I am honored to share the stage with her and the rest of you.
Finally, I pray for all of you to have a wonderful holiday and an awesome New Year. May you all prosper, bask in the beauty of perfect health, and see the sun of enlightenment dawn in your life.
Charles Atkins
One month ago, my wife and I began a weekly radio program called Spiritwell. We are members of an organization known as the Independent Media Cooperative that is a grassroots organization that provides the community surrounding the University of Illinois with an alternative viewpoint on issues. In October, after six years of planning and fundraising, we went on the air with our first low power, FM broadcast. A few days after that, Spiritwell broadcast their first two hour program.
When I first submitted the proposal for our program, the show’s theme was about healing, visualization, meditation, and other heady subjects, with a mega-dose of good music. By the time of our first show, I realized how burned out I was on being serious. Between promoting my book, maintaining my website, FWP (which is never work, really), and all the obligations of guiding and encouraging the sick, I thought something lighter and fun was needed.
What we’ve created – and continue to create, is sardonic, spiritual news and discussion, with copious amounts of ass-kicking music. My wife, an already experienced radio DJ mans the controls and develops the play list. My part is to find religious and spiritual news, especially the wrong and ironic from around the world that we can discuss. We take playful but sometimes haymaker shots at Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Christians (especially evangelists), Pagans, and politicians who wear their religion on their sleeves. This is all done with the purpose of commending the reasonable approach and to draw a laser beam on falsehood, heretics, spiritual grifters, and on self-righteous idiots.
For example, in our first few shows we reported on the 14 year old “Buddha Boy” of Nepal who is alleged to have been meditating without food or water for six months. We’ve discussed an Indian poet who offended the Hindu faithful for becoming publicly aroused by the statue of a revered Hindu deity. We reported on another offense to the Hindus by naked Israelis at a sacred lake. We even talked about an adolescent idiot and would be Satanist who tried to carve a pentagram in the chest of a young girl as a way to win back the affections of the girl who dumped him. As you see, there is no shortage of moronic behavior.
Perhaps the most popular segment of our show is our “Pat Robertson Gems,” where we take the words of the world infamous evangelist and pick them apart. How much fun can one guy have? For example, here’s one of the quotes we aired.
“If anybody understood what the Hindus really believe, there would be no doubt that they have no business administering government policies in a country that favors freedom and equality…Can you imagine having the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as defense minister, or Mahatma Gandhi as minister of health, education, and welfare? The Hindu and Buddhist idea of karma and the Muslim idea of kismet, or fate condemn the poor and the disabled to their suffering…it’s the will of Allah. These beliefs are nothing but abject fatalism, and they would devastate the social gains this nation has made if they were ever put into practice.” Pat Robertson’s “The New World Order,” page 219.
You need not hear a rehash of our on-air fun with this quote, as you can fill in the blanks yourself.
Some people might suggest that I use this unique forum to spread Nichiren Buddhism. Each week, I do present what I call, the “Buddhist Concept of the Week.” A couple of weeks ago I presented the “Three Poisons” of greed, anger, and foolishness to illustrate the folly of a Wisconsin man who froze his dead mother in a block of ice, put her in a chest freezer, and kept her there for several years so he could collect her social security checks.
Each week, I’ll try and choose the juiciest stories from around the world, as well as lampoon the scoundrels. At this point, if people want to learn about healing visualization, they can get my books, and if they want a Buddhist tutorial, well, that’s why they publish The Shambhala Sun and Tricycle. In the mean time, if people tune in, they’ll get some wicked wisdom and music for the mind. If the truth be told, I’m way more like Aleister Crowley than Mahatma Gandhi – more like John Stewart than Jimmy Stewart. I’m having more fun than a hippie in an Amsterdam coffee house.