From Soka Gakkai Unofficial:
Let's Restore True Buddhism in the SGI
1,000 Questions, 1,000,000,000,000 Answers
Moe: Mixing any other faith with our practice is strongly refuted. Read the Gosho my friend. If you are still "hung up" on this issue, than what are you practicing for? We do not do "silent meditation" in this faith. We chant NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO to the Gohonzon. Nichiren Daishonin strongly refuted other schools (i.e. Zen) that use silent meditation. Our practice is one of "cause and effect" whereas the "Cause" is chanting NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO and the effect is eradicating your negative karma. Your group or district leader should explain this to you if they know how.
robin: Actually, it is Namu, if we are being picky. I wonder why Nichiren wrote that those with the training & capacity should certainly practice shikan; while beginners should concentrate on faith?
Moe: We no longer use NAMU even in Gongyo in the SGI. There has always been great criticism coming from other schools of Buddhism over the truncation of Namu. SGI before 2002 was using this in "Hiki-Daimoku" during Gongyo. However, with the shortening of Gongyo, we no longer say it at all. Nichiren Shoshu continues to use it. Sorry I am not clear as to why you are referring to the term "Shikan" in Nichiren Buddhism, thus I am unable to respond. If the term is derived from the "Maka Shikan" written by T'ien-t'ai, then it has no relevance in our faith other than reference only. In Buddhist faith I practice with concentration on the Gohonzon, the true object of worship as instructed in the Gosho. If you are doing something else, then I take it that you are not practicing with our sect and perhaps should concentrate on that of your own faith.
robin: You are right that I no longer practice SGI Buddhism; which should not be confused with what Nichiren actually taught. People with your views are a big reason why I disassociated.
Hiki Daimoku is a 7 beat daimoku. One can also chant Namu with one beat. None of these are sectarian issues. At many Nichiren Shu temples, Namu is "clipped" so it sounds like Nam. The "U" is actually unaspirated. It is a linguistic thing, it has nothing to do with doctrine. See Nam' or Namu?
The term shikan is a translation of samatha-vipassana and Nichiren never said it should not be practiced. If you concentrate on chanting with faith and concentrating on the mandala Gohonzon, I think you will overcome any delusion eventually. Unless you are acquainted with shikan, zazen, and so on, it is wise to neither advise for against them. I am familiar with some methods of shikan / samatha- viipassana, and can say they are useful when used appropriately.
The shi is a translation of samatha. The term means to calm or still the mind; to stop the monkey chatter. There are 10 main levels of samatha.
1. Access concentration: This means to temporarily overcome the 5 hindrances of lust, enmity, sloth, angst, and cynicism.
2 - 5: Four levels of form meditative absorption.
6 - 9: Four levels of spiritual attainments, also known as formless absorptions.
10: Cessation.
Samatha can also refer to any number of practices and cultivations. Buddhaghosa taught 40 objects of samatha cultivation.
Kan = Vipassana and means the path of clear insight. This comes about as a result of completing the 4 frameworks of Mindfulness Meditation -- non-judgemental observation or mindfulness [sati / smrti / pyrrhonism / nen ] of body, sensation, mentality, and mental formations. Insight arises as a perception that all conditioned phenomena are impure, stressful, fleeting or empty, and lacking a self nature. Nirvana in hinayana is expressed as awakening from attachment to conditioned phenomena, awakening to the deathless, and unbinding of the 5 skandas; form, sensation, conception, motive, and consciousness.
In provisional mahayana, this is treated by cultivation of higher ethics, patience and other healing energies, discerning wisdom, and selfless motives such as kindness and compassion. In the Higher Mahayana of the Lotus & Nirvana Sutras, this is re-expressed as awakening to innate or innocent purity, firmly established bliss, constancy amid change, and an authentic sense of self. Nichiren's practice is a form of insight meditation. Kanjin = vipassana citta or spiritual insight.
Gongyo is, in part, concentration on the Gohonzon to calm the mind, so we are really starting out by practicing samatha. The Gohonzon centers on the Amala Consciousness or Buddha Nature, expressed as either the Person: the Eternal Shakyamuni, or the Dharma; Nan Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo; flanked by the 4 leaders of the Bodhisatvas who emerge from Underground. These 4; Pure Practices, Firmly Established Practices, Boundless Practices, and Superior Practices; represent unconditioned Purity, Bliss, Constancy, and Higher or Authentic Self Identity {which is selfless}.
Kanjin might be understood as a form of insight meditation or vipassana that stresses purification or reformation, rather than unbinding, of the 5 skandhas. By fusing our subjective wisdom {jnana / gnosis / satoru-chi} with the objective truth {Satya? / aletheia /sakai-kyo} embodied by the Gohonzon, we begin to manifest our Buddha Nature / Consciousness and the functions of the 4 attendants.
Moe: There is no other than the Dai-Gohonzon and chanting Daimoku in the orthodox (the Fuji School) faith of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.
robin: It appears that you are practicing Nichiren Shoshu, the revisionism founded by Nichikan. Soka Gakkai has actually largely moved away from that. There are many things they no longer seem to accept. Good luck in trying to reform SGI back to the NSA days. I do not hear much about the Daigohonzon, which is a forgery. The Nichiren as the Buddha and exclusive transmission to Nikko teachings have been diluted.
I was going another direction, trying to reform SGI to authentic Nichiren / Hokke Shu Buddhism as actually taught by Nichiren, Nikko, and the others. All of the Nichikan Shoshu innovations are derived from forged documents that contradict the authentic writings of Nichiren and Nikko. You can pull all kinds of quotations out of context to support Nichikan Doctrine. However, in full context, it never holds up.
Moreover, one has to claim that Nichiren Shonin revealed his highest teachings in obscure personal letters to lay disciples. Meanwhile, the plain reading of the 5 or 10 major writings has to twisted to show "what he really meant." They even distort obvious doctrines like the specific and general transmissions. Their doctrine of Kuon Ganjo comes from two transmission texts that SGI now admits are fraudulent:
See: Refuting Nichiren Shoshu's doctrine of "bequeathal received by just a single person. Link
At any rate, I respect your views; the more different views the better. It is a common faith, not uniform views, that creates real unity. We can pray for each other, but we each have to do our own kanjin.
Posted by rbeck at May 28, 2008 09:22 PMHi Moe:
If you really wish to prove that your faith and practice of the Lotus Sutra is correct, I would encourage you to pass on my Buddhist challenge to one of your top senior leaders and insist that they accept. If no one with any religious authority takes me up on my challenge, I will be happy to invite you to take up my challenge. You will see my challenge on various venues or you may go to my Kempon Hokke Blog here, on Fraught With Peril.
Mark, Disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin
Posted by: Mark Rogow at May 29, 2008 08:54 PMHi, RObin - I was sort of alarmed by those posts, too, but I think it's good to read a little bit of extreme Shoshu-ism, just to remind ourselves of what it is that we don't like about that school. In other words, it's not just the clergy, it's a lot more than that!
With Safwan gone, we needed a little "spicing up" over there. We got some action, and he got a false claim of persecution at the hands of Will - everybody wins!
Thanks for this, Best, Wahzoh
Posted by: Byrd in LA at May 29, 2008 05:41 PMSolipsism (Latin: solus, alone + ipse, self) is the philosophical idea that "My mind is the only thing that I know exists". Solipsism is an epistemological or metaphysical position that knowledge of anything outside the mind is unjustified. The external world and other minds cannot be known and might not exist. In the history of philosophy, solipsism has served as a skeptical hypothesis.
Moe
I do not think describes me or my world view at all. I am more of empiricist actually. I think there is an objective subjectivity. Spiritual experiences can be replicated.
As for haughty; no one I know thinks I am haughty. Your abrupt dismissal of the views of others might be due to haughtiness, but I do not know you. It could be you are projecting.
I certainly disagree that Buddhism is just about changing one's karma, in the mystical sense you infer. On the other hand, karma is created by one's intentions, speech, and actions. Certainly, Buddhism is about changing those. I would not call that Solipsism.
I get the impression you mean it in the sense of magically changing our circumstances, without first changing our motives, words, and deeds.
You also wrote:
" the issue of removing the Japanese terms from the practice here in the U.S. The truth (as understood by many of us) of the matter is that since the ousting (the spin was resignation) of Mr. Williams back in 1992 shortly after Nichiren Shoshu ex-communicated the SGI, President Ikeda placed others (Fred Zaitsu, Danny Nagashima to name a few) in charge to change the SGI here in the U.S. Mr. Nagashima along with others have begun the "deconstruction" of the NSA period as they were advised that this is what members wanted because were very angry over years of forced
activity and a indifferent leadership."
"The concept given to them was that the strict format inculcated by Mr. Williams (who I have met
personally) was causing members to leave in massive proportions. Still, the head count says it all. In 1989 (one year before President Ikeda's historic trip to the U.S. to address the members concerns), the NSA count was almost 500,000 members. The head count now? 105,000 members. I have attempted to meet with him as well as Ted Morino to discuss the issue of the format, as this was something that members never had issues with. The answer has always been that they don't have time. Thus they have now created a "Buddhism for Dummies" practice that has not proven to help in any way."
"I see members now practicing for 30 or more years who have become extremely lazy in their daily practice and decided that it is no longer important to show new members the precepts as the Pioneer members showed them. As far as the
use of the term "zuiho bini", one could always debate this and I am sure that Mr. Nagashima and his coterie do just that (only in English). However, most SGI members who have been practicing for many years agree that this is not really the intent of the term and to me that is what matters. You decide for yourself."
I agree with some of that, actually. I knew Mr. Williams. I think the 500,000 was an exaggeration though. The pace and intensity of NSA was really too much -- many of us neglected our daily lives and have some regrets. A lot of us just got burnt out. I got real sick in 1991, and missed out on much of what when after that. Before that, from 1985 - 1991, I had really struggled to deal with the demands of my job, my family, and of NSA. It was tough enough on paid NSA staffers; some of us had to work in the outside world.
Moe,
I moved your comment to an appropriate topic. Thanks for your input. Good luck with your fundamentalist campaign to restore Soka Gakkai to Nichiren Shoshu doctrinal orthodoxy.
I was trying to steer it in another direction; more toward Nichiren Shu doctrine and practice. I think it is more likely to go "my" way. I moved on because of the way they are pushing Mentor Disciple issue; with an excessive idolatry of Ikeda.
I do not much like your attitude either, to be honest. I am working being more magnanimous. Tolerance of self righteous intolerance aka bigotry is really hard to achieve. I realize you think Nichiren was a bigot, but I read him differently, that is all.
Again, I wish you well.
gassho
robin
Posted by: robin at May 28, 2008 09:49 PMRobin,
After reading your comments on this website and the SGI Unofficial, I have concluded that I don't like anything about you. As a Libertarian, I do support the legalization of all drugs and can agree with you in particular about the issue of hemp. However, it is your haughty Solipsism regarding Nichiren Buddhism that I find disgusting. I attempted one last post on that idiotic website, but Will (the moderator) apparently thought it too insulting. Thus, I left the group. Just want you to know that I am very glad you are no longer with SGI and please don't come back!
Ciao! Moe
Posted by: Moe at May 28, 2008 09:48 PM