- Comments (19)
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#1 | Written by nt about 5 months ago.
I’ll start this – our family has a Christmas tree. It is a custom in our society. And, no, we don’t call it a Kosen Rufu Tree or a World Peace Tree or any other lame moniker. It’s a Christmas tree.
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#2 | Written by ten2one about 5 months ago.
Yes they should – and they can be enlightened about it too!
But – I do insist on having a flashing Buddha on top of the tree and not some star or fairy figure.
I have found a supplier of hand made ornaments with all characters from the gohonzon hand painted on them. This allows the tree to be correctly themed and decorated. It’s great fun for the kids to have to chant to the tree as they get in the festive spirit.
If Christmas Crackers are to be provided – A British thing – the motto or joke inside must be replaced with a Gosho Quote. Rice balls in place of bonbons or small toy are also advisable.
Advent Calendars are also recommended – but any chocolate treats inside should be replaced with fondant cream filled Bodhisattvas and the Calendar is not hung on the wall. It is placed on the ground so that all choccy Bodhisattvas symbolically come from the earth.
It is also recommended to not use popcorn garlands – blown rice garlands whilst tricker to thread do have a gosho reference and can act as an educational aide. It also allows group meetings to be organized for the threading, and it can be used as an extended practice for Kosey Rufu.
lighted rain deer or other festive symbols should not be placed outside the house. It is far better to use available reproduction Gohonzons pasted onto lanterns and even left over illuminated pumpkins with a Gohonzon pasted over. This retains the festive element whilst allowing the vicarious proselytization of neighbors and all passing traffic.
With a little thinking Christmas need not conflict with Nichiren Buddhism, and can also bring added benefits at minimal cost.
http://clearemptymind.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/santa-buddha.jpg
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#3 | Written by ryuei about 5 months ago.
I don’t have any problem with it either. Christmas is actually just the Christianized version of older winter solstice holidays anyway. Also, Buddhism is not an imperialistic exclusivist religion like Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. Nichiren himself was as much a Shintoist and a Confucian as he was a Buddhist – but of course for him the Lotus Sutra was primary and Shinto and Confucianism were subordinate even to Hinayana Buddhism. The trick to this is that while Buddhism does allow for the observance of non-Buddhist customs, it does not endorse any views or practices that go against the Dharma. See Nichiren’s letter to the woman asking about customs in Japan relating to menstruation. In that letter, Nichiren recommends observing local customs unless they violate human dignity and equality or become a hindrance to practicing the Dharma. I think it is perfectly fine, if one wishes, to celebrate the season and even to celebrate the birthday of a man who, for many in this culture, represents the spirit of selfless compassion and bodhisattva self-sacrifice. We should not overlook the FACT that in chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra it says that bodhisattvas like Avalokitesvara can take on the form of even deities if that is what people need, or the FACT that in chapter 1 the many deities of the Vedas were present (and as such representative of all deities or local gods), or the FACT that on the Omandala Gohonzon that Nichiren designed there are Vedic and Shinto deities alongside buddhas and bodhisattvas. In Buddhism it is taught that even in places and times where there is no Buddha Dharma (like 1st century Israel under Roman rule) it is possible that pratyekabuddhas or incognito bodhisattvas may appear. In Kaimoku-sho, Nichiren even shares the beliefs of T’ien-t’ai and Miao-lo that the great founding figures of Taoism and Confucianism were bodhisattvas. I personally think that the trouble many American Buddhists seem to have reconciling Buddhism and their former religious heritage is coming mainly from the imperialistic and exclusivist claims of Western forms of monotheism. From the Buddhist side, there is no need to exclude these more provisional teachings and customs so long as they do no violate human dignity or foster wrong views.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei -
#4 | Written by CL about 5 months ago.
No problem with a little tree or whatever joyful decorations one might decorate their hearth with. However, no religion, no customs, nothing escapes the gaze of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. From these things, all things arise no matter how “imperialistic” or “exclusivist” the Patriarchs of the organized forms of these religions have behaved over so much time. Unfortunately these ancient and “pagan” aspects of these faiths get subordinated to displays of power, control, consumerism, and esotericism with the goal of submerging the truth beneath layers of ignorance.
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#5 | Written by clown hidden about 5 months ago.
I haven’t had a Christmas tree in many years but maybe I’ll set one up this year. I don’t see any conflict because I don’t tthink the tree is religious first of all, but I wouldn’t even have a problem with a nativity scene under the tree. I don’t interpret the Lotus Sutra as a religion which defeats all others and needs exclude them, but as a universalist religion which contains all religion and philosophies and can harmonize them.
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#6 | Written by CL about 5 months ago.
” I don’t interpret the Lotus Sutra as a religion which defeats all others and needs exclude them, but as a universalist religion which contains all religion and philosophies and can harmonize them.”
Right on Phil. You will be hated for saying and believing that. It’s a hard thing to believe. It’s always easier and more popular to exclude on the basis of what things appear to be on the surface and what the greater media tell us, what extremist sects (buddhist or otherwise) tells us, what extremist priests, imams, and rabbis tell us, but never will it be the truth.
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#7 | Written by Mark Rogow about 5 months ago.
I don’t hate Phil for such views. I hate the lie that this is the view of Nichiren Daishonin that the SGI and the Nichiren Shu employ to rope in unsuspecting seekers of the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin.
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#8 | Written by Ryuei about 5 months ago.
Sometimes I wonder if you have ever really read any gosho, let alone the Lotus Sutra Mark. Your views are not those I recognize as belonging to Shakyamuni Buddha or Nichiren Daishonin. I bear no anger or malice towards you, but I think it should be made clear on my part that I do not recognize your views as valid.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei -
#9 | Written by shinkei about 5 months ago.
‘Sometimes I wonder if you have ever really read any gosho, let alone the Lotus Sutra Mark. Your views are not those I recognize as be…’
come on man.
where does it say in the gosho to go to shingon temple anniversary ceremonies?
where does it say to have various deities from the gohonzon enshrined seperately?
where does tientai say that there isnt a division between sht first 14 and latter 14 chapters of the lotus sutra?
where does it say that interfaith is acceptable?
to deny the teachings of nichiren is hobo.
gassho -
#10 | Written by shinkei about 5 months ago.
‘not those I recognize as belonging to Shakyamuni Buddha or Nichiren Daishonin’
you are perfectly describing yourself and the entire heretical nichiren shu and soka gakkai.
opinion is not valid actual proof. ecumenical practices are against the teachings.
gassho -
#11 | Written by Top senior leader about 5 months ago.
Your comment it’s clear that Marks views are entirely made up ones ! The tree is from a pagan tradition and is non denominational .
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#12 | Written by ryuei about 5 months ago.
For that matter, I doubt very much that the Kempon Hokke Shu priests in Japan are pleased with how these American members are conducting themselves online. But of course they are not here to properly represent themselves. It is a real shame.
To respond to some legitimate issues however:
1. Where does it say in the gosho not to visit temples of other schools? In fact, Nichiren and his disciples had to visit temples of at least the Tendai school to do research or for lodging. Nichiren was not a sectarian – he was against movements (sometimes but not always represented by officially recognized “sects” in his day) that obscured the Lotus Sutra. We in the Nichiren Shu are perfectly free to visit other temples and act as good neighbors and vice versa. That does not mean, however, that we are participating the practices of other schools. That does not mean we are reciting other sutras or engaging in other ceremonies. The teaching of the Lotus Sutra, remember, is Ekayana – the One Vehicle.
2. Where does it say in the gosho not to enshrine shugojin (guardian deities)? Nowhere, that’s where. The shugojin are either part of the Gohonzon arrangement in which the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha and/or the Odaimoku are central, are they part of side shrines – and even then the Odaimoku is usually present above and behind the deity. Even if it is not, it is understood that the side shrine is an extension of the central altar where the Gohonzon is enshrined.
3. Whoever said there is not a division between the Shakumon (Trace Gate) and the Honmon (Original Gate) or former and latter 14 chapters? In fact, I devote quite a bit of space to them in Lotus Seeds because I think all Nichiren Shu members should know about it and know that the Honmon is primary.
4. Interfaith is important for the sake of peaceful dialogue and world peace in general. It is not the same as participating in or endorsing views contrary to the Lotus Sutra. In fact, I would say refusing to be a good neighbor and show solidarity in terms of common insights and values would be a slander of the Lotus Sutra. The Kaimoku-sho makes it very clear that one must not cling to either shoju or shakubuku, and for that matter often I find myself doing shakubuku when guest teaching at the temples of other schools of Buddhism simply because I am asked questions about the Lotus Sutra and other sutras and the practice of Odaimoku and I make it very clear that the Lotus Sutra is the expression of the highest teaching and that the Odaimoku is the primary practice of the Latter Age. Simply being exclusive, belligerent, engaging in know-nothing polemics, and shunning others is not the practice of Bodhisattva Never Despise.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei -
#13 | Written by shinkei about 5 months ago.
’1. Where does it say in the gosho not to visit temples of other schools?’
visiting is fine if you are there to refute the heretical teachings.
participating in ceremonies is slander. check out your seattle temple.‘Where does it say in the gosho not to enshrine shugojin (guardian deities)? ‘
twisted logic. read the kanjin honzon sho.
‘Whoever said there is not a division between the Shakumon (Trace Gate) and the Honmon (Original Gate) or former and latter 14 chapters?’
maybe you haven’t heard-this is what your sect espouses.
‘Interfaith is import…’
more flowery rhetoric for you to get money from a larger audience.
ever hear of the exclusive practice of the lotus sutra and shakubuku?take your half baked opinions and put them where the sun don’t shine junior.
you are a slanderer, not a nichiren priest. your sect is a business.
if you think that the practice of fukyo is for the latter day….
gassho
gassho -
#14 | Written by clown hidden about 5 months ago.
I don’t know why Kempon Hokke should despise Christianity, they seem just like Christian Fundamentalists. The Buddha is their God, the Gosho is their Bible, and only their interpretation of things is correct, everyone else is a slanderer. That’s fine for blind followers.
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#15 | Written by ryuei about 5 months ago.
Shinkei,
Totally inadequate responses. I doubt very much that Rev. Cederman participated in any Shingon ceremonies. And I totally disagree that we should only visit others to refute them. That is just fundamentalist Christian and/or Shoshu thinking. It is also just plain rude and belligerent.
Kanjin Honzon Sho describes the Gohonzon of Nichiren Buddhism. It does not say anything about the issue of shugojin.
Nichiren Shu teaches Itchi-ha the harmony of the Shakumon and Honmon, but that does not mean we say they are equal. They are not equal. Honmon is primary and Shakumon secondary, however they are also in harmony with each other. You are misconstruing what Nichiren Shu teaches for your own divisive ends.
I will continue to insist that interfaith and solidarity with other Buddhists is important for world peace. This is what Nichiren Shu teaches and I am proud of that.
From where I stand, it is you who is blackening the name of Nichiren Buddhism. You are also hypocrites. Mark Rogow is violating fuju fuse just be participating in this sight that is hosted by an SGI member and even if it were not he is putting himself in the company of people he sees as slanderers. If Mark were really sincere he would pack up and leave this sight as a matter of principle. He should be hosted only be his fellow believers.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei -
#16 | Written by shinkei about 5 months ago.
‘Totally inadequate responses. I doubt very much that Rev. Cederman participated in any Shingon ceremonies. And I totally disagree that we should only visit others to refute them. That is just fundamentalist Christian and/or Shoshu thinking. It is also just plain rude and belligerent. ‘
ok, you have the right to your own opinion.
‘Kanjin Honzon Sho describes t…’
yes it does. nowhere does nichiren say to pray to the deities other than the mandala,shaka,shi bosatsu. nothing more afaik.
‘You are misconstruing what Nichiren Shu teaches for your own divisive ends. ‘
if this is your view, then i am sorry. most others in your sect don’t hold this view.
‘I will continue to insist that interfaith and solidarity with other Buddhists is important for world peace. This is what Nichiren Shu t’
good for you. read the rissho ankoku ron and you might see a difference in what you think and what nichiren says.
‘From where I stand, it is you who is blackening the name of Nichiren Buddhism. You are also hypocrites.’
again, personal opinion.
gassho -
#17 | Written by shinkei about 5 months ago.
Ryuei san. If you go to the Kempon International site you will see a post that is directed to you and your heretical sect that my teacher posted.
gassho -
#18 | Written by clown hidden about 5 months ago.
If anyone can find that post about Rev. McCormick please post a link. It has long beeen a question in my mind if Kempon Hokke in Japan is as Kempon Hokke in the US.
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#19 | Written by ryuei about 5 months ago.
Nichiren did not say anything one way or the other about shugojin or subordinate shrine arrangements. By not saying anything that means he had no objections or he would have said so. The issue he was concerned with was what the honzon or gohonzon should be. There is no need to read into it Judeo-Christian exclusivism and/or iconoclasm.
Nichiren Buddhism is already inherently syncretic. There are Vedic and Shinto deities on the Omandala-Gohonzon. Nichiren praises Confucian values and virtues and even uses Confucian arguments about filial piety to prove that the Lotus Sutra is the highest teaching. Nichiren refuted certain aspects of mikkyo (esoteric Buddhism) but drew upon others (the use of a mandala for instance). Nichiren upheld the Lotus Sutra as the highest teaching but felt perfectly free to cite any and all other sutras that addressed specific points. The Rissho Ankoku Ron is a great example of how he uses other sutras to make his case about impending disasters. He didn’t cite those sutras to dismiss them, he cited them because they pointed out things the Lotus Sutra didn’t specifically go into.
Those who are trying to turn Nichiren Buddhism into a Buddhist analogue of a fundamentalist, exclusivist, militant and imperialist Western style monotheism are deluding themselves and trying to delude others.
Oh, and one other point – you claim that the Nichiren Shu teaching of Itchi-ha is that the Shakumon and Honmon are equal and there is no primacy given to the Honmon. I have NEVER heard that from anyone in the modern Nichiren Shu. If you have proof that this is what someone in Nichiren Shu teaches I’d like to see it, but if you have none than you are merely slandering us out of the abundance of your own ill-will.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
