August 19, 2006
Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall...
Kanjin Insight Cultivation
What's the Ugliest Part of Your body?
What's the ugliest
Part of your body?
What's the ugliest
Part of your body?
Some say your nose
Some say your toes
(I think it's your mind)
But I think it's YOUR MIND
(Your mind)
I think it's your mind, woo woo
--Frank Zappa
When I joined SGI {NSA}, I suspect they were sort of using 'bait and switch' tactics. New members were promised material gain. Maybe the idea was that by chanting to fulfill our selfish desires, we would 'see ourselves' in the 'mirror', and thus do 'human revolution.' It just seems like the switch never really came, or came on, though.
I also think there was a deliberate effort to distance ourselves from older forms of Buddhism. NSA had pozzaz and sizzle. We were the modern sexy strain of "True" Buddhism. I was trained to market the stereotyped public misperception of Shakyamuni's Buddhism; and point out that we were 'not that'.
But, for me, there was never any clear idea on what the goal wes. There was no explanation of the purpose of Buddhism, other than a vague idea of 'whirled peas'. Some became very attached to material gain; and never had any clue about inconspicuous benefit. In that sense, it was reduced to a 'success through positive thinking scheme'. Then after 1979, we were indoctrinated into sectarian Taisekiji dogma; dogma I still have trouble shedding. Next came the split and flame wars.
Since then I started to find out what true Buddhism is really about. I think I knew the first time I chanted. But I was told I was wrong and I finally bought into the materialistic gain & loss approach. Soon after that, I was sick and broke. During those dark years, I had faith but no hope. I just could not seem to get it. My life was going in circles. It seemed I was destined to be a loser.
Then, after 30 years, I think I got it. Actually, maybe I had gotten it right away, I just thought I had it wrong? 
The purpose of Buddhism is to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, wisdom, and insight. Chanting meditation is how we who are Nichiren Buddhists do that. The Mandala Gohonzon is truly a mirror of our spiritual life. Chanting the Daimoku, while gazing at the Gohonzon, allows us to 'stop' {shi} our conditioned mind, and see {kan} into our true heart {shin}. Then we can see how ugly we are and we should know what to do about it.
Today, social attitudes are changing. Main street USA is better informed about Buddhism. People in the midwest are accepting of even Wicca. Mainstream Christian Churches are teaching classes on yoga, mindfulness meditation, and vipassana. I do not think we need to water down or gloss over the Dharma these days.
The point of Bonno soku Bodai is to focus on one's heart's desire whatever that is. But if we see that in the mirror, and it looks ugly, then what? SGI has an incredible Insight Meditation. What I think is needed are ways to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom. And what we see now are many long term SGI members adding zazen, the metta sutta, and the heart sutra to their practice. And we know exactly what we want from those, even though we may not have set out seeking that.
Posted by: robin at April 27, 2006 03:38 PMRobin wrote:
The purpose of Buddhism is to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, wisdom, and insight. Chanting meditation is how we who are Nichiren Buddhists do that.
VW: yea, but, earthly desires are enlightenment, right? So chanting for a new big screen TV is enlightenment, right?
Only then will you realize that earthly desires are enlightenment, and that the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana.
[The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life (WND029), Page 218, col 2, line 7, sentence 3 in paragraph 2]
These are also what is called "earthly desires are enlightenment," and "the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana."
[Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment (WND035), Page 318, col 1, line 22, sentence 2 in paragraph 1]
Moreover, the walking stick becomes the walking stick of the true aspect, or the Mystic Law; the river of three crossings becomes the ocean of "the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana"; and the mountain of death becomes the towering peak of "earthly desires are enlightenment."
[Hell Is the Land of Tranquil Light (WND052), Page 457, col 2, line 40, sentence 3 in paragraph 4]
the Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai's Great Concentration and Insight reads, "Earthly desires are enlightenment; the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana."
[The Receipt of New Fiefs (WND126), Page 946, col 2, line 19, sentence 4 in paragraph 3]
And for an SGI explaination of earthly desires are enlightenment, check out this link.
http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/buddhismtoday/bc002.htm
Isn’t this concept of “earthly desires are enlightenment” unique to Nichiren Buddhism. I’ve not run across it while reading about any other type of Buddhism.
VW