Robin Beck

Robby,
Sorry to leave you a note here. 2 things. 1 - went to Kitayama Honmonji yesterday and got to see the Nichiren Statue they have enshrined there that was supposedly brought by Nikko from Minobu. Doesn't look anything like the Minobu statue. They also have discovered in their storage a plank manadala that they don't know the origin of. my mom read it and it seems to have been made from a original by Nikko. Today off to Kiyosumidera. The main point of writing you, do you have publishing info on the gohonzon catalog that is quoted in the coffeehouse website? I want to send my mom on a search while she is here. Please email me back at the email I left here.
Thanks.
Q / Mat

I am impressed when I see you quoting and stating Chinese characters in your posts.

Your seeking spirit is admirable. For a European or non-Asian, understanding another language, all the more bearing historical, religious significance, requires much more effort than those already equipped with basic understanding.

I'm a Chinese by birth. I can still remember the times I take much much joy in reading deeply and dissecting the theories of Daishonin's buddhism, as with other religions. It was when I did a Comparative study between them that I conclude his to be the highest form of religion - a cultural movement that deals with human sufferings and happiness at the most fundamental level.

Along the way I got too entangled with the studies and got lost touch with my inner self. I developed anger and resentment at those who don't understand, but still practising, buddhism. Neither did I realise that I've lost the true meaning of it altogether.

To not understand Buddhism is like an infant not knowing any worldly affairs. Daishonin had constantly urged his believers to retain a pure faith through and through, like the infant sucking milk from the mother's breasts but not knowing what he is drinking. Incidentally, it is in the very heart of a life-to-life struggle for another human soul that this pure faith can wells-forth, and for the Bodhisattva to rise from the unseen yet great land of inner Earth called compassion.

All the best.

Hi Stormrider;

Thank you for your comments. One thing. I think the Mandala would be the Eternal Shakyamuni transferring the Dharma to the Bodhisattvas from the Earth.

For many years, I chanted with no understanding of the Kanji written on the Mandala Gohonzon. Learning that opened a new door. The Gohonzon is the Ceremony in the Air.

namaste

robin

For what purpose should one cultivate wisdom? May you always ask yourself this question - Daisaku Ikeda.

This question alone engulfs the entirety of Daishonin's buddhism. It is not to seek solace in the midst of turbulence; not to secure inner clamness in the whirlpools of confusions; not to find mundance satisfaction in deciphering the theories; and certainly not to locate comfort in retreating into one's own realm.

The innermost core of Daishhonin's Buddhism lies in extricating the fundamental elements that torment and torture the lives of humanity. From a petty anger to warfare rage, humanity suffer by their own hands. Daishonin left behind the invocation of Daimoku for the whole humankind to free themselves from their own inner devilish workings.

The truest spirit of this Biddhism thus lies in the very action one takes to eliminate the suffering, be it a sincere gesture, a warm embrace to a all-out struggle to ensure the person is truly happy and fortunate, Daishonin's Buddhism gears and guides humanity Back to their own inner Buddhahood, the very function that bespeaks one's words and actions as 'Human'.

While dissecting theories and analysing Buddhism contributes to one's understanding, no amount of knowledge can lift one out of his own karmic misery. It is that crystal flow of pure, untainted and genuine compassion that will open the inner palace of another human life, allowing the flowers of Myoho to blossom in it.

The fact that Daishonin left behind a scroll of his life is a testament to the simplicity yet profoundity of this Buddhism. Faith to Gohonzon decides almost entirely of whether one secures happiness in this lifetime and the next, or not.

"Who is thinking, who is observing?"

Yep. :)

Wow! Just got power back, more storms coming. We had a tornado warning earlier.

I have played with just naming the thoughts as they arise. Past, furture, thinking of. When I am able to do that I really see, the thoughts arising, and me observing them. Who is thinking, who is observing?

I'll be interested in your results. I have some more thoughts, but I am tracking the weather, hoping the storms in Northern Illinois dissipate.

Maybe let go and let the thoughts wander? I need to reflect on that.

Yea. Kind of tells you about my ichinen. I actually have started this process using your model. It is not easy. When I finish chanting it almost feels like I have had a physical workout. Hard work. I listen to the sound of the diamouku, use counting to 30 and repeat to keep the thoughts at bay, but they still sneek in. What I see so far is my intention to stay present. Then within seconds or a minute, the observer has gone to sleep and thoughts are present. Observer wakes up,present, to sleep thoughts, etc.

"Well maybe I will start tomorrow."

lol. Good line.

I have been practicing with Sgi for the past 33 years. I have been experimenting with chanting in the present moment for the last three years, and very recently began to use your (Twenty minutes to samadhi) technique. Although I have played with various techniques of staying present while I chant, I have not been able to stay consistent with it. A few days at the most and then I am back to thinking and numbing out when I chant. I think it is the monkey mind trying to be in control. I had read an Internet article back in 1999 back a Dr Yamazaki, who talked about letting all thoughts go while chanting, as if being on vacation, etc. He said 15 minutes of that kind of Diamouku was enough. I have no idea who he was or if the article was authentic, but somehow that idea really stuck with me. Quality over quantity. Somewhere in SGI I have heard it said that the word Japan encompasses everything in that country and the same with Nam Myoho Renge Kyo encompasses everything in the Lotus Surta. So my thought was that the Gosho, The True Object of Worship to Observe the Three Thousand Conditions in a Momentary State of Existence, is telling us that we should observe our mind while we chant. To do that I must be present and observe what is happening each moment, and when I find myself thinking of the past and future, to gently bring myself back to the present moment. My intention is to be consistent with (Twenty minutes to Samadhi), twice a day, and to see what I can uncover in this process. Well maybe I will start tomorrow. Thanks for the idea.