Real Buddhism versus SGI "fishing" Buddhism [listen up Jamie Lee Silver] -- Author unknown

"The motive of our lives is accomplishing enlightenment, it is accomplished through soku shin jobutsu. Becoming enlightened as we are. The Buddha is called Buddha of musa sanjin, which means the quintessence of the three properties of the Buddha from the original past without adjustment," so words that indicate astonishing change, are not admissible and not complimentary with the teaching of Nichiren

SGI is fishing Buddhism, the Believer goes fishing for benefits and believes as long as they catch fish. No fish!..... Gee, Buddhism isn't working, I quit." 

Faith and enlightenment have to do with the eternal, ageless part of one's being. People who think that bonno soku bodai means one develops enlightenment through chanting for desires or wishes are deceived; they have been misdirected. 

Transformations one perceives on the marvelous level of life may be the fruit of faith, but they are not the seed of enlightenment. We can agree that the unchanging center of life, amala-shiki, the ninth consciousness, affects all other levels of realization and exhibits through the Ten Factors, but we must again confess that we can comprehend neither our own karma nor anyone else's, so we cannot say for certain what the changes or episodes in our lives mean ultimately. What we can say is that enduring with the Gohonzon through the Daimoku absolutely affects one's life. 

Believers think of enlightenment as soku shin jobutsu [attaining Buddhahood in one's present form]. Believers center on believing in and having faith in the Gohonzon and believing in Namu Myoho Renge Kyo primarily; difficulties, heartaches and ecstasy are secondary. This is not because believers are magnanimous, but because the Gohonzon is absolute and happenings that cause joy and suffering are phenomenal and therefore, transitory.

If your dreams are realized, if your worries change dramatically, that's great, but it doesn't mean you have faith, it doesn't mean you are enlightened. If you think incredible benefit or gain is proof of pure faith, then you should ask yourself: How does faith in Buddhism, in Lord Shakyamuni Buddha, differ from faith in other religions, whose adherents also attribute the phenomenal changes in their lives to their faith? 

If the function of the Gohonzon is to bring spectacular change and benefit to the believer, then how does Buddhism differ from the many human potential and positive thinking movements that espouse the same intent, and provide abundant testimony of satisfied participants? If benefits are evidence of pure faith, then how about the benefits that appear in the lives of people without religious faith? 

Today's highly developed material civilization and extravagant material lifestyle are unprecedented in the history of mankind. However, if we contemplate the global picture, we see that the sufferings of living beings have only increased. Wars, famines, droughts, and other manmade and natural disasters are occurring everywhere. The nations of the world invest great amounts of money and employ endless strategies in an attempt to solve these problems, but they can only provide temporary relief. They have no way to remove the ultimate cause of people's suffering. Our faith and practice offers a solution." -- Author unknown   Real Buddhism versus SGI "fishing" Buddhism [listen up Jamie Lee Silver] -- Author unknown