I’ve recently secured the oldest NSA Gongyo book I’ve never seen, one from 1961.
I love old Gongyo books and I’m not sure why. Perhaps I’ve enjoyed seeing the way NSA/SGI has evolved with Nichiren Shoshu through the decades, or not.
The oldest Gongyo translation I’d seen before getting this little book was in the back of the original “Lecture on the Sutra” by Josei Toda. This, admittedly, was my favorite book on Buddhism, at least before I found out Toda was mistaken on many important things. I mean no ill-will towards Toda Sensei; I sincerely believe he did the best he could.
Back when I still liked that book I was able to copy and re-publish it, in very limited amounts. I still have three copies of the bootleg version lying around.
Anyway, I love this little 1961 book. It has parts A, B and C of the Lotus Sutra, as all the older books did (that’s the first part of chapter 2, and the entire chapter 16, the essential chapter). The silent prayers are completely in Japanese and have no translation whatsoever, only the phonetic English (I call this the “trust us” version).
I have decided to re-publish this book too, for anyone out there that would like to enjoy one. My new version is a facimile of the original, with a blue card-stock cover with "The Liturgy of Nichiren Shoshu" on the front. The photocopy pages do show some of the original's wear but are clearly readable throughout..
Please e-mail me offline if you wish to buy one. US sales only please.
On his medication;
"Hi. I´ve been reading some of the old blogs and the new ones. You mentioned the stuff about chanting for things rather than to just be in the moment. I´m no longer a member of SGI but I´m still rather fascinated by some of these discussions when I get idle (which happens a lot). I digress, but I read some of the old discussions from 2004 about the controversy of the the BuddhaJones website. Fascinating stuff. I tend to agree now that I have never been treated poorly by the SGI. I guess it is perfectly all right to introduce this org. by saying that is is "Buddhism" and at any time refuse to give any valid information even when pressed about it. Etc. Especially fascinating I found Brians "refutal" of cult-literature. Of course, it is itself rather "cultish" but in a more productive way than the organisations. You might as well say that the orgs. don´t exist if you say that the books don´t exist. Moreover, there are SGI "shakobuku"-books such as "The Buddha in your mirror" and "Buddhism in the daily life". The strategy in these books are to focus on everything else than SGI docrine while in fact making an enourmous effort to advertise it. The advertise becomes more effective in this fashion.
This strategy was (is?) also used by the Moonies. They would, for example, start a "film club" which was really a group meeting. Nice stuff.
Well, I better move on in my life. I agree much more with Rev. Greg than with **** ***** (I am not allowed to mention her name) now. Obviously cultism is a personal choice. I have never been a cultie but I found **** *****´s discourse rather fascinating. She is a very good writer. Anyway, I´d like to leave all this behind me. I want nothing to do with SGI.
Bye.
Best regards
Peter "
Off of his medication;
"I was bullied by SGI. Presently I am contacting Danish newspaper in order to write an article about SGI in Denmark to expose it for what it is: a destructive cult. The former Danish leader resigned in Denmark a couple of years ago for seriously bullying a woman who had been sexually mistreated as a child. I don´t think this is abnormal behaviour in SGI. It must me exposed for what it is. "
and...
"Charles, I totally agree. SGI leaders should be allowed to torture and victimize anyone found guilty in not adhering to the faith of the lotus sutra and not chanting 1000000000 daimoku each second and alloting more than their allowed mouthful of air - duuuuuuuuh!"
Sansho Shima defines a principle in Buddhism and in all life. It literally means “three obstacles and four demons” but represents a ubiquitous and universal principle which transcends religious systems and beliefs.
In short, there will be resistance to any act, challenge or path in human life which threatens our spiritual comfort zone or promises spiritual growth. More than easily identifiable emotional discomfort, Sansho Shima refers to the strange and seemingly “blameless” circumstances that arise apparently “out of no where” to oppose us when we attempt to take action that is a direct or indirect challenge to our individual growth as human begins.
So you wanted to go to Japan to train with the sword teacher. You weren’t able to go in December of 2005 as you had thought you would, you put off your pilgrimage until Spring. We spoke of a possible Spring trip, and you were, at one point, utterly determined that Spring would be the time, if there was a group going.
Well now there is, however now for you there is Sansho Shima. Why else would something catastrophic of a financial nature happen right now?
I understand. However you need to ask yourself, “will it ever be easier to accomplish my goals?”. Should you stand up now to your karma, or should you back down and await a more advantageous time in your life?
Will Sansho Shima also appear then? Or, if you wait until later, will it be easier? Is there in fact a chance you may not make the trip to go to Japan to train until it is all too late?
Going on a pilgrimage anywhere can be a challenging offering to one’s life, even more so a pilgrimage to a foreign land to undergo strict training. Before my first trip to Japan to train I also confronted Sansho Shima. I may confront it again.
It’s all about our individual path of self discovery…