Robin Beck

How can we propagate Buddhism in the West?

I am very interested in ways that the Dharma can take root, grow, and even thrive in the USA. Thoughts?

One thing, I am absolutely certain, 100% confident, that launching jihads or crusades against other Nichiren Buddhists will not help, and will hinder our acceptance and growth. It rightfully subjects us to ridicule. We can hang together, or hang alone. The USA still has freedom of religion. To survive, grow, and prosper, we shall have to meet the needs, wants, etcetera of real people. It is a free market of ideas, and I like it that way.

Three things I see that Nichiren Buddhism offers; which people need, are:

1. Basic self reformation
2. The cultivation of intellectual / cognitive skills
3. The healing of both mental and physical disease.

If we show success in those areas; some very influential people will sit up and take notice. I am sure there are other good things too. Just imagine if the SGI put the resources used to fight the temple, or to get awards for Ikeda, into other things. Like helping criminals reform, cultivating first rate academics or scholars, and helping people find ways to heal mental and/or stress related physical illness? Maybe some of those things are being done to some extent, by some people in SGI. However, I know of people who are pursuing or have pursued those things, with a lot of effort -- people like Betty {Chanter} and Chuck Atkins are among those who come to mind. It sure seems like they too often wind up being marginalized, or are even driven out of the organization.

I have been thinking about Nichiren Shu, are the best vehicle of propagation in the west? I see value in kinking with a tradition. I also see vakue in pursuing an independent path.

IIRC, the Nichiren Shu that exists today is not the same as the Hokke Shu that was renamed Nichiren Shu in the 1500s. I think the present Nichiren Shu was created when the Meiji Government forced temples to consolidate. There is a lot of diversity and even conflicting views of history and correct practice within Nichiren Shu. It is a big tent, a vast tent. There is much to nitpick about, some things that might be dubious, also much to learn from.

Some temples in Japan are maybe more like family businesses. Some might earn revenue selling trinkets to tourists. Others are paid by merchants in their respective neighborhood to do exorcisms to prevent disasters. They bless buildings, bridges and stuff -- I have no idea if that really works. Women go to one of the temples to pray to a statue of Hariti, said to be carved by Nichiren, so they can have safe child births. Nichiren Shu has a temple st virtually every famous Nichiren site. Those sites attract pilgrims, tourists, and blessing seekers. Those attractions provide revenue. These same temples house many Nichiren artifacts, items that could be lost to the future if the temples had no revenue.

I do not expect to Nichiren Shu look like that in the USA. I know of a Minister from Texas who was trained in the Zange ritual. She and her husband are apparently active in prison ministries; helping convicts change their karma. That kind of thing is a big deal here in the USA. We traditionally look to private community service foundations and Churches, not government, to heal social ills. We even have the faith based initiatives. I think Buddhism can be even more successful than Christian Ministries, which, BTW, I think are helpful.

As for promoting Nichiren Buddhist scholarship, hats off to Reverend Ryuei. I would like to see ways of expanding the type of work he does, other than the ordination path. Some way to train and certify lay theologians would be way kewl.

Posted by rbeck at November 30, 2007 05:40 PM