"During the entire fifty years of Shakyamuni’s teaching, only in the last eight years did he preach the twenty- eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra. Again, of all these chapters, only in the eight chapters did he reveal and transfer the object of devotion to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. During the two millennia of the Former and Middle Days of the Law, statues were made showing Mahakashyapa and Ananda flanking the Shakyamuni Buddha of Hinayana, and Manjushri and Universal Worthy flanking the Shakyamuni Buddha of the provisional Mahayana, the Nirvana Sutra, and the theoretical teaching of the Lotus Sutra.
Even though statues and paintings were made of these Shakyamuni Buddhas during the two millennia, no image or statue was made of the Buddha of the “Life Span” chapter. Only in the Latter Day of the Law will the representation of that Buddha appear." -- The True Object of Worship
Reading this...."Only in the Later Day of the Law will the representation of the Buddha appear" has prompted me to follow through with what I had promised you, Mark, for that "representation of the Buddha" did indeed appear before me, not in human form, but in an overwhelming presence emanating from my Gohonzon as I was chanting the Daimoku. Note: because of format of this web-site for posting - being difficult to to write anything lengthy, please allow me to complete my post through multiple entries......thanx.
ReplyDelete2) This, with my initial Nittatsu Hosoi Gohonzon, circa 1969/70, having at a later date participated in the Gojukai Ceremony, chanting Nam Myoho Renge kyo, and admittedly, being a wee, little bit stoned - but not to the point of disillusionment! These were the particulars. Now, I chant what might be referred to as the Hiki-Daimoku....Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, to experience what might have been missing.
ReplyDelete3)This experience compels me to address the "truth" that I have stumbled upon, not asking why me, for hasn't everyone experienced this?....but, I have to ask the question, what does it mean that this piece of paper has life, is a living document.
ReplyDelete4) It was a one shot deal - the next day, I tried to gain entry by duplicating everything - even smoking a joint from the same stash, etc...I just couldn't connect, I was denied. Thinking back, I was really exerting myself during this very initial trial period - they had given me Daimoku fill-in forms - every 20" you would pencil in a little box - Oh, what fun! But, I also recall that I was really frustrated that day - throwing a towel at my closed-door Butsudan - demanding some confirmation of what they were saying, what they were promising. I shortly concluded afterwards that this was a merciful revelation reserved for "hard heads."
ReplyDeleteHad a similar experience with a Nittatsu Gohonzon when I chanted 7 hours a day for 7 days when my father died; It was fleeting. Now I know it was the Devil disguised as a Buddha. Anything Nichiren Shoshu can not be meritorious or virtuous.
DeleteSo, can I deduce from your reply that smoking one joint gives you the same hallucinogenic effect as 49 hours of chanting the truncated Daimoku? - LOL, then pass me that joint! Now then, maybe not "meritorious or virtuous,"....but for me, realizing "that this piece of paper has life" was momentous, and my years of practice and investigation has led me here.....so, it was the one thing, like I said to you previously, that kept me tethered to Nichiren Buddhism. Through all that you had endured, "the lies, etc." it couldn't have been just your "fear," but something, a promising, penetrating something that motivated your further investigation to unearth the truth. Further more, had it been the Magna Carta, Dead Sea Scrolls, Declaration of Independence or the signed agreement for the Louisiana Purchase, it could not have produced the awesome Magnificence I experienced, and the sense of "the eternity," of the Eternal Buddha no matter how good the pot....you sent your father 49 hours of heartfelt Nichiren Shoushu formatted Daimoku via a Nittatsu Gohonzon, to comfort him on his journey.....I'm sure it was not all in vain, that he must have felt your prayers at some level.
DeleteI'm not so sure if we are to believe Nichiren about practicing heterodox or slanderous teachings. Since I chanted sincerely and didn't know of Nichiren Shoshu's deviations, perhaps the Buddha took mercy on my father and me.
DeleteThere you go, I think it so.
DeleteYes, there may, from time to time, be extenuating and merciful circumstances as you mentioned above, but as I have shared with you, when the BIG FAMILY EVENT came to a crisis, the Buddhist Gods vacated the premises, and even exasperated and fanned the flames.....this is a story which must and will be told.
DeleteHi Maxwell. I may have missed it but tell me more about the BIG FAMILY EVENT.
DeleteOf Interest: WikipesiA has a supringly generous, if not surprisingly suspicious entry about Nittatsu Hosoi....check it out!....one such quote: In 1974, Nittatsu Shonin strongly rebuked the circulating claim that a new Buddha has appeared among Soka Gakkai groups:...."I have heard recently that within a certain (Soka Gakkai) group, there is a lot of talk about a new true Buddha appearing. If the report I received is accurate, the people making such claims are not practicing Nichiren Shoshu and can no longer be called Nichiren Shoshu believers. If there are people who teach such an erroneous doctrine, I would like Hokkekyo believers to stop them by all means. Please understand that this is the Hokkekyo's mission."......well now, who could they be referring to as a "new true Buddha"...hmmmm.
ReplyDelete5)Nowhere have I seen a manifestation of Wisdom displayed in those Buddhist sects that have claimed the Gohonzon as their own. People love good deals, they love to tell others about them, and they want to participate in their procurement. Word of mouth of this wonderful Gohonzon should have been as natural and exciting as opening day of "The Wizard of Oz" or "Gone with the Wind"......ok, then how about "A Space Odyssey" or "Star Wars"?.....or the opening of a great new restaurant.....the discussion and the excitement of, Yes, chanting "magical words to a magical piece of paper".....people should be lining up and pounding down the door to get a Gohonzon.....it should be as natural and obvious as that. And yet, all those who have forsaken their practice and are now slandering "everything Buddhist".....listening to their reasons why, it is understandable due to the nature/correctness of their indoctrination and to the foibles of those influential practitioners. It is a very sad state of affairs for organized Buddhism. Which, could it be true, that this web-site is the bastion of hope.....who would have thunk it, for me, it is worthy of investigation.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Anger, Avarice, Greed and Stupidity have taken over the organized sects of Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism. did you know that the High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu has more than $50,000 Eaglewood Juzu, solid gold rimmed glasses, $25,000 robes, several mansions and 1500 dollar slippers; almost as extravagant as Ikedas Gucci loafers, sharkskin Italian custom designed suits and mansions all over the place. Sick MOFOS!
ReplyDeleteHi Maxwell. I missed your comment on the Eternal Buddha and my heartfelt Daimoku for my father. As I once posted, before you know the truth, there is benefit in the SGI practice thanks to the power of faith and practice. However, as we study, our faith will regress because what we are told from Ikeda and the SGI leaders contradicts the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren, particularly regarding the Eternal Buddha.
ReplyDelete