It’s been pointed out to me that in my efforts to reveal Modern Buddhism, that I have come on too strong. There is some truth to this observation. For that reason, I apologize to my readers.
There are probably some deep psychological reasons why I approached this announcement and promotion as I did. I may have what's known as a messianic personality; a psychological profile that believes it can/should/must save the world. I'm not sure where this nature came from. I can only tell you that this personality profile goes back as far as I can remember. If that makes me a nut, I was dry roasted and toasted from the get-go. Then came NSA! One of the most influential people on my character and development was Mr. Williams (GMW). I loved that guy. He would speak to a group of ten or ten thousand, with all the raging fire of his Aries personality. Influential evangelist speakers do this every Sunday (not as good as GMW!), as do the super-hanchos at shakubuku meetings.
Writers use their words, without the nuance, sensations, and image of standing in front of you. At times, a writer can have a greater impact than a public speaker because the writer's idiosyncrasies are often obscured and the reader must use their imagination to visualize who is delivering the message, and imagine what that message is. The image projected by a writer can be a complete illusion, so reader beware. A speaker can be a charismatic liar. That's why The Buddha instructed people to follow the Law and not persons, no matter how amazing or eloquent they appear to be. A good writer conveys their message and gets their point across. A great writer enables you to actually hear their voice and experience their message.
I have been a tiger in the temple. I have always been a bodhisattva with too much roar, and not enough reasoned calm. Perhaps it’s time to purr. Sorry to split diverse metaphors here; passion is important, but sounding the ram’s horn and calling out to the masses, like Moses on Mount Sinai, is the wrong approach for many people, especially the wise and seasoned folk that I want to attract. I can see that my behavior is too much like the cult-tastic approach of the old NSA, or bug-eyed evangelicals out to save the wretched masses.
For this reason, I ask for your forgiveness, and allow me to henceforth reveal Modern Buddhism in a more measured means. It is also not my intention to use my Phantom City blog as the platform for Modern Buddhism. For this, I have my own website www.spiritwell.net, which is dedicated to healing. Here, at FWP, I would like to use this forum for my general views on life and Buddhism, peppered with probative essays on the dharma, and sprinkled with a fair amount of satire. For those who are interested in Modern Buddhism, The Society of Modern Buddhist Healing, and the Order of Jakkodo, please don’t expect me to be serious (or nice) all of the time, or to have some kind of saintly demeanor in my writings. I'm no Little Goody Two-Shoes. My existence is not "Leave it to Beaver" black and white – it's 250 micrograms of lysergic acid Technicolor in yoni mudra. I write serious pieces, expound on the dharma, praise the great ones, and bitch slap the bullies. I like to lampoon stuff. Thank Allah I'm not a Muslim with this personality. I cannot be pigeonholed into one genre or approach - I like them all. There is the sangha founder and there is old Chuckie, the creative writer who loves to play. I cannot tell you who you will read tomorrow, but it's my hope that you can tell the difference between my missionary positions and the rest. See?
I would also like to offer an apology to Vanya, for alleging that his blog site had spyware or a Trojan Horse. Here is what I wrote to a friend that led me to insinuate that:
“I have to tell you and John, that he left a link on my comments that directed me to the Carlos parody. When I hit on it, my wife was standing right there, and my computer was freaking seized, like it was attacked by a Trojan Horse, or some monsterous spyware, or something. I've never see anything like it. I wouldn't go back to his site in fear that his site was infected with some invasive software. Someone had to tell me that he was writing nasty things about me and the movements.”
It came to my attention that this was false, and for that I apologize. It’s hard to say why my system flipped out as I’m not technologically astute. All I know now is that the site is harmless, at least from an e-standpoint. I am sorry.
Let me address the financial considerations of Modern Buddhism, and the Nichiren prayer mandala. Dharma for profit is not a consideration for me. I do not want to sell mandalas like a carnival barker, hawking stuffed animals in their crooked games of chance. I was given good advice by my friend who suggested that I just state the cost without apology, and leave it at that. I have decided to impart these mandalas on a sliding scale, based on the individual’s financial situation. That seems the best way to handle a thorny reality, on a person-by-person basis. My email address is cratkins50@earthlink.net. As you all probably know, every word communicated to me is held in the absolute strictest confidence. Let it be.
Another thing that came out was an assertion that what I am doing, and how I am doing it, were subtle and overt tactics ripped out of some cult manual. This charge was directed at The Order of Jakkodo. I don’t know how to avoid that label by some people, because The Order of Jakkodo is an esoteric training fraternity. I can only tell you that what I am attempting to do, is to pry people out of their cult mentality and blind obedience to masters other than The Buddha. The aim is to reconnect people directly to the Buddha and The Lotus Sutra. Having this order breached is the cause for serious karmic side effects. The order of devotion will never be anything other then this simple order of devotion: The Lotus Sutra, The Buddha, and the Practitioner.
Finally, the stated contradiction of my relationship to Daisaku Ikeda at the time of my writing “Modern Buddhist Healing” contrasted to my position now, has been put into question. Fair enough. I’m not exactly sure how to explain that and make one understand. I was a true believer and my consciousness and daily life gravitated around every word of the mentor. Something very deep and profound changed within me over the past five years that shook me out of my trance. Now, I have what seems to be deep respect for the mentor, but not the feelings of human idol worship that myself and so many others have demonstrated. I broke free of this mindset, even though we in the SGI, have always been chided to follow the Law and not the person, even though we were shown and encouraged to behave the exact opposite. The result in breaking those chains has been one of personal transcendence and positive transformation, without any diminishment of appreciation, or sincere gratitude for my past teachers. I think it must be sometiing akin to Nichiren's feeling toward Dozenbo.
Thank you all for your advice, encouragement, and, yes for your serious and satirical admonitions. Modern Buddhism will continue to move forward, but without that over-the-top, impervious confidence from that pouncing tiger, that is Charles Atkins. More purr, less roar. I may even roll over and let you pet my tummy, but be careful, I still bite. I hope you can accept me that way. I will continue to be self-assured, but in a far more moderate, unassuming way. I don’t want to be marketed as your new Sensei, but rather as your fellow traveler who knows the path, and can expedite your development, and lead you in avoiding the dangers up ahead. And Phantom City will continue to mix the serious with the silly, because writing is fun, and the path to Buddhahood should never be an endless, painful austerity. Purr.
On behalf of The Order of Jakkodo, I confer the grade of Jakkodo Master on:
Byrd Ehlman
Reverend Greg Dilley
These two accomplished, wonderful warriors of the Lotus Sutra, are now all of life, they are everywhere, and they are the living light. Let it be known that they have transcended all impediment, adversity, and limitation to manifest Buddhahood and the wisdom of all existence. A Jakkodo Master is one who is impervious to all hinderence, spiritually invincible, and has made heroic strides in accomplishing "the great work." Let their names forever be known as venerable Jakkodo Masters
There have been numerous inquiries and comments about The Order of Jakkodo. Some folk have expressed keen interest, while others have doubts about the methods and means. For those who have not been following along, almost a year ago, I announced a new movement called Jakkodo. A month or two ago, I introduced a new healing movement called The Society of Modern Buddhist Healing. I then founded the new sangha, Modern Buddhism.
Originally, Jakkodo was conceived as a healing society, but all of that changed in July. Without reservation, I reformed it into a mystic order to train new adepts, fashioned after the European secret societies of the nineteenth century, like The Golden Dawn. Having blazed the physical, intellectual, and spiritual path through Jakkodo, I formalized the order teachings and training program which is successfully completed by answering the question for that grade. In other words, I can confer a degree, even certify them as a master of Jakkodo, based on whether they know the secret of that grade.
I have been pressed to reveal the details of each grade. Some folk have expressed frustration that I haven’t published the details. Some have read my vague description of Grade One, Hell, and expressed fear, criticism, consternation, befuddlement, some have offered suggestions to “soften it up,” while others wonder just what possible good it might be.
It must be told that all the senses are used, each level has its physical, mental, and spiritual training, and that emerging from this process, one is improved. If you enter Jakkodo, at the beginning of that grade, if you look at the order teachings and tell me, the secret is THUS, you pass that grade.
It’s that easy, it's that hard, and it’s that mystic.