I have seen a lot of nonsence get argued back and forth over the years - "Is it Nam or Namu", "Is the Dai-Gohonzon for real or what?", "Is xyz real or not?", and who inherits or "Who has inherited the true whatsis that will make us all happy forever and ever world without end amen" and so on...
But when I read the teachings of the Buddha, he would not get dragged into such theoretical things. He always brought things back to what we can realistically know and deal with here and now.
Here is the Buddha's challenge to us:
Do you understand suffering, it's full extent and implications?
Have you uprooted (or perhaps transformed) the sources of suffering within our life?
Have you realized for yourself what it is like when suffering (our emotional reactivity to painful circumstances and the subtle discomfort of constant change) is overcome?
Are you following the path that enables us to overcome suffering?
I think that the bravado, egotism, sharpness, belligerence, sarcasm, cynicism, and general unpleasantness of many who go on and on about various things that seem to matter so much but really are of very little consequence shows that they have not met this challenge, and they don't even seem like they are ever going to get around to seriously engaging them. It's too bad. I include myself in this. But I do think it is worth deeply considering what the Buddha felt was really the most important issue and most important challenge to meet in this living moment.
Though this seems to deal with suffering, it is not for the sake of wallowing in misery. Rather, it is to confront reality and through that engagement learn what it is to be truly happy. In my own small way - I feel that the path has proven itself to me over and over again.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
Hi everyone,
I have finally finished my article (actually its 60 pages long in Word, so its a looong article) about the last year of the Buddha's life. In it you will find:
More bloody palace intrigues worthy of Hamlet!
The massacre of the Shakya clan (payback for their earlier bigotry)!
The competition between the courtesan Amrapali and the Licchavi noblemen in all their makeup and fancy dresses for the Buddha's favor!
Shariputra goes home to mother ... and dies!
The brutal gang murder of Maudgalyayana!
What the Buddha really died of (it wasn't food poisoning)!
Mara, the Devil King of the Sixth Heaven, returns to hasten the Buddha's death!
The Buddha's final instructions!
The Death of the Buddha!
All this and more can be found in my article: "The Buddha's Final Year" at:
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/TheBuddhasPassing.html
And if you haven't before, be sure to read the other articles chronicling the Buddha's life:
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/Life-of-Buddha.html
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/formation_of_sangha.html
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/Quarrel_at_Kosambi.htm
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/angulimala.html
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/Devadatta_Story.html
You may think you know about the historical Shakyamuni Buddha, but unless you know these stories, you probably don't know him at all!
Serial killers, rampaging elephants, assassins, gods, demons, courtesans, palace intrigues, scheming rivals, armies poised for conquest and bloody massacres, and battling monks! It's all here! It's all online! Read them now!!!
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei