Fantastic!!! It is easy to begin and difficult to continue. As in SGI, we chant Namu Myoho renge kyo (not Nam Myoho renge kyo) to a copy of a Gohonzon inscribed by the venerable Nichiren. Also, similar to the Soka Gakkai, we do Gongyo morning and evening, reciting the same two parts of the 2nd and 16th Chapters of the Lotus Sutra. Unlike the Soka Gakkai, we study the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren and take them to heart. I had written the following to a new believer:
How to obtain Supreme and Perfect Enlightenment (Buddhahood) quickly
"Just a suggestion but would it be possible to post more info on how to really dive into the teachings for a new believer coming into the Nichiren fold? There isn't much info out there other than by "those that shan't be named." or others with their own agenda. Would it be possible to maybe post some things that show how one can begin, continue and develop their practice for the long haul and integrate into everyday life from an authentic point not from a watered down, mixed point like what is being peddled as Nichiren Buddhism." -- Josh
To begin to dive into the teachings, determine to chant Namu Myoho renge kyo for, at least, 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening. You may also recite portions of the 2nd and 16th Chapters of the Lotus Sutra in Sino-Japanese or your native language. You may find Sutra books containing these two chapters on line. From time to time you may also recite any or all of the Lotus Sutra as did Nichiren. I would avoid all sectarian prayers before or after your recitation of the Lotus Sutra unless they are based on the Lotus Sutra and writings of Nichiren. You may add your own personal prayers either before, after, or both before and after your recitation of Namu Myoho renge kyo and the Lotus Sutra. Your personal prayers too should be based on the Lotus Sutra and writings of Nichiren. They may be recited out loud or silently.
Choose a clean area of your home and set up an altar with blank wall, altar table, covered water cup [to change the water daily], vase for fresh flowers or evergreens [which should never be left on to wither and die], food bowl for offering fresh fruit [and try never to let the fruit rot], bell, incense dish, and candle holder. Initially, you may place a copy of the Lotus Sutra and a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha on the altar [be sure that it is Guatama or Shakyamuni and not Amida]. Make a great indestructible vow to continue chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo until the last moment of your life. To help you to continuously renew and strengthen your vow, it is necessary several things: To study the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin on a daily basis if possible; to take as your teachers Shakyamuni Buddha of the Original Doctrine [Shakyamuni of the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra or Gohonzon] and Nichiren Daishonin, the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra. Integrating the teachings into your daily life is to chant the title of the Lotus Sutra with the same faith as Nichiren. When your vow is firm, you may ask your friend or family member who introduced you to the faith and practice to bestow upon you a mandala Gohonzon or you may print off a mandala Gohonzon and either frame it or mount it on a blank wall scroll. You should perform an Eye Opening Ceremony when you receive the Gohonzon. It can be found online. The Gohonzon should be placed on the wall above seated eye level or placed in a cabinet called a Butsudan [if you have pets or are surrounded by those who oppose your practice]. You should protect the Gohonzon. You may place a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha (and/or a statue of Nichiren Daishonin) and a copy of the Lotus Sutra on the altar. Usually, the statues and copy of the Lotus Sutra are placed in the middle in front of the Gohonzon but this is not a hard and fast rule. Nichiren was not absolutely clear as to the structure of a valid object of worship [devotion], be it a painted [inscribed] or a statue arrangement. This accounts for the different styles and arrangements of the objects of worship of the various sects. You can't go wrong with a copy of a Nichiren inscribed Gohonzon, particularly those from the Koan Era (1278 - 1281). .
There are two types of practice: The practice for oneself and the practice for others. The practice for oneself is to chant Namu Myoho renge kyo. We should also chant parts of the 2nd Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra (either the entire 16th Chapter or the verse section alone).
The practice for others can be further broken down into the peaceful practices and the forceful practices. Only the priests must perform both practices. Laymen and laywomen may or may not perform the forceful practices depending on their abilities. Nichiren performed principally the peaceful practices regarding his disciples and believers and principally the forceful practices regarding the believers and practitioners of other faiths.
You will develop and integrate your faith and practice by following the Master Nichiren and adopting his manner of reading the Lotus Sutra [a bodily reading].
Nichiren teaches and I paraphrase: "There are two main reasons people make mistakes in their Buddhist practice...they are ignorant of the real teachings, and they follow bad teachers."
To avoid ignorance of the teachings, you should study the Lotus Sutra and the authenticated writings of Nichiren Daishonin. Several scholars and priests have determined which are authentic writings (definitely or probably) of Nichiren and which are forged writings. You should seek their writings on the subject. Studying the Five Major writings of Nichiren and their various translations are a good starting point. Please remember that the writings of Nichiren are ultimately consistent. If you read something purported to be from Nichiren and it is inconsistent with the Five Major Works or the entire canon of Nichiren, it is suspect. Please also remember that Nichiren developed his teachings. The earlier authentic teachings should be weighted against the authentic teachings during and after his exile on Sado Island with one exception: Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land written in 1260 is one of the Five Major Works and considered by some to be on par with the Opening of the Eyes and the True Object of Worship (A Treatise Revealing the Spiritual Contemplation and the Object of Worship for the First Time in the Fifth 500 year period after the Death of Shakyamuni Buddha)
The objective of the Nichiren faith is Supreme and Perfect Enlightenment or Buddhahood. In order to achieve such an exalted state one must perform a bodily reading of the Lotus Sutra as did Nichiren. By striving to have the same faith as Nichiren, you will be protected by the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Buddhist gods throughout the universe. To avoid following bad teachers, the only teachers to rely on are Shakyamuni of the Juryo (16th) Chapter of the Lotus Sutra (Gohonzon) and Nichiren Daishonin, the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra.
Lastly, if you wish to engage other Buddhists with polemics (the forceful practices), you had better study the Sutra classification of Tientai the Great...
"Five periods and eight teachings ［五時八教］ ( goji-hakkyō): A system of classification of the Buddhist teachings set forth by T’ien-t’ai (538–597) in The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra to demonstrate the superiority of the Lotus Sutra over all the other sutras. The five periods is a classification of Shakyamuni Buddha’s sutras according to the order in which they were expounded and consists of the Flower Garland, Āgama, Correct and Equal, Wisdom, and Lotus and Nirvana periods. The eight teachings is an organization of the Buddha’s teachings by content and method of presentation. It consists of two sub-classifications—the four teachings of doctrine and the four teachings of method. The four teachings of doctrine, a classification by content, are the Tripitaka teaching, the connecting teaching, the specific teaching, and the perfect teaching. The four teachings of method, a classification by method of teaching, are the sudden teaching, the gradual teaching, the secret teaching, and the indeterminate teaching. See also eight teachings; five periods." - Nichiren SGI library
Mark, disciple and believer of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin who has adopted Nichiren's forceful practices and who desires little.
to jerry and mark Among my disciples, those who think themselves well versed in Buddhism are the ones who make errors. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the heart of the Lotus Sutra. It is like the soul of a person. To revere another teaching as its equal is to be like a consort who is married to two emperors, or who secretly commits adultery with a minister or a humble subject. It can only be a cause for disaster.
ReplyDeleteThe Teaching for the Latter Day - WND-1, 903
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This letter was written at Minobu to Nanjo Tokimitsu, the steward of Ueno in Suruga Province and a loyal follower of the Daishonin. Nichiren Daishonin thanks Tokimitsu for the food items he has received and expresses his distress at the news of the death of the lay priest Ishikawa no Hyoe's daughter.
In this letter, Nichiren Daishonin declares that the teaching that enables people to attain Buddhahood in the Latter Day of the Law is not the Lotus Sutra itself but rather Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which is implicit in the sutra's "Life Span" chapter.
disappointed? ha, ha...bullbaiting? god- complex. both? hypocrite for sure. a surprise but a minor one.
Deletegood thing for me that nichiren has always been my leader/teacher. silly you, your reply is identical to so many i have received from so many SGI/NST senior leaders. mark, you are seriously deluded and your response to a legitimate quote of nichiren is truly pathetic. anyone can copy and paste theory over and over again, but as nichiren teaches, it is far more difficult to practice its intend, which involves not only the mouth but the ears, eyes and mostly the heart. your mouth is not too bad but the ears, eyes and heart are lacking. not even close to nichirens.
due to ego, blindness and a weak heart....you reject a good friends wake up call, only to show who you really are. instead, like IKEDA and his cult or thump and his thumpanzees, it seems you have lost your ability discern up from down, right from wrong and good from evil, and like them you must think you are infallible. stop it.
much like SAMIBO = something odd or strange about his faith !
rather than practice something you claim to dislike, ad homiinim , you should recognize a good friend in faith. much like jerry, it is not your wife. wake up !
I see. I should just take the criticism of one who has ended a friendship for worldly secular affairs, all because my wife liked Trump. Now you come here lecturing me. Go out and admonish the Soka Gakkai, Shoshu, and Shu and really show some b--ls.
DeleteI am alone doing what I do for the sake of Nichiren's Lotus Sutra Buddhism and my own sake. But you would have me shut up about what the Daishonin taught and my praise for the Lotus Sutra. Instead of criticizing me you should have made a more careful and thorough study of Nichiren's teachings.
Truthfully Greg, you are not worth my time. I have bigger fish to fry and dozens of people to shakubuku.
Instead of criticizing me, what about your benefits or has your loneliness and loss caused you to doubt the teachings like Jerry?
You would be as easy to refute as cutting a melon with a sword, misunderstanding the import of Reply to Lord Ueno. You are the no better than SGI and the Shoshu, rejecting the Lotus Sutra much. Continue to slander the Lotus Sutra and me. See where that gets you.
"to be praised by a fool is a disgrace". afraid to debate a women is hideous. run and hide.
DeleteI'm here. Why not you? Why not both of you here? Why are you wasting your time with me? There are ten million SGI, 1.5+ million Nichiren Shu, 1+ million Honmon
DeleteButsuryu Shu, eight hundred thousand Nichiren Shoshu. And you talk about ego.
ha, ha ha....because in real buddhism, it is proper to try to open the eyes by a true friend to one that has lost his way, and his ability to discern.. pissing on quotes by nichiren?. anyone see anything sick about that, from one who claims to walk in the footsteps nichiren? you, not long ago called me your best friend until i started telling you about your egregious mistakes. "the truth sounds harsh to the ears" - nichiren. "good medicine tastes bitter- nichiren. anyone can cut and paste but it is the heart and eyes that really matter.. say what you want mark...i could careless about your arbitrary opinions and you sycophant disciples. no one needs evil peak unless they are looking for a person to follow rather than the law. not me , i have not read your bullshit since i told you the truth. the world is fucked up and you are making it worse. nichiren was right about many current events ...you are not. bully pulpit? senior leader complex? bull baiting" ? either way you are a phony. treating a sincere believer like katie with trump respect ! a black heart for jerry...not nichiren at all. shame on you. /// just so we are clear. i remonstrated and left SGI in 1987 - 0 regrets. i left/remonstrated shoshu in 2004 - 0 regrets. 6 months ago remonstrated and left the rogow cult. - 0 regrets. when u wake up ....apologize. a heart of a spider is not a benefit. 53 years of faith and nichiren is my teacher. stop it !
DeleteThe only one who has lost his way is you Greg. Do you know why you have no success at converting people or even remonsrtating with the Soka Gakkai, Shu, and Shoshu? Because of your behavior, hardly that of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin. You are a potty mouthed hypocrite and undeserving of the Gohonzon I BESTOWED on YOU. Now you are getting all puffy and self righteous, devoid of a modicum of gratitude. You attack me for praising the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren. Things will not got well for you. Jealousy much? Look at those who were jealous of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin. They destroyed their castles from within. Thanks to the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren I will continue to spread the teachings, to point people to the Lotus Sutra and writings of Nichiren NOT TO ME. Thanks to my blog there are dozens of people who have left the SGI and now read and study the Lotus Sutra and writings of Nichiren. I have nothing to be ashamed of.
DeleteSenior leader complex? Projecting much. I could continue with my remonstration of you but there are bigger fish to fry than single slanderer with no influence. Better you should continue to admonish the Gakkai and the Shoshu then waste your time with me.
You trust the sgi commentary? I’m disappointed. Somebody fighting the good fight must to some degree, though it be slight be Somewhat well versed in the teachings, enough to point people to The Lotus Sutra and writings of Nichiren. Remember that he was writing to a teenager. You have been practicing for 50 years.
ReplyDeleteIs there something wrong with my advice to this potential new believer?
ReplyDeletehi , i have been practicing with the sgi for 10 years now and am a YWD district leader. I want to know more about Nicherin Daishonin true teachings. Can you please tell me where can I read and find those? Also can I continue reading the Gosho , since it was printed in SGI. Also please let me know where can I find a Nicherin Dai Gohonzon
ReplyDeleteThank you for your question.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the SGI translations...in my opinion, they are fine with one caveat, the Five Major Works should be compared with the Nichiren Shu translations. SGI relies heavily on the texts that were written before Sado and the inauthentic texts. They lump the inauthentic texts along with the definitely authentic texts. I say, "fine" because Jacqueline Stone, a non-SGI Buddhist, was the principle translator. However, she used the modern Gosho Zenshu, a translation of Nichiren's works into the modern Japanese by the Nichiren Shoshu (rather than the original Chinese and medieval Japanese). Also, she had to include input from SGI leaders. Several changes of important passages were made. It would be good to compare the SGI translations, particularly, those of the Five Major Works with the Nichiren Shu or other translations;
http://markrogow.blogspot.com/2013/12/more-on-nichiren-shoshusgi-altered-gosho.html
An example of an earlier work which is relied upon by the Soka Gakkai is On Attaining Buddhahood In This Lifetime(1258 or 1260). It has some utility but you will see in your studies how Nichiren's teachings evolved.
SGI also relies On the Treasure Tower,which has been deemed a pious forgery. The Ongi Kuden too is a definite forgery. The True Aspect of all Phenomena has part original writing of Nichiren with part a forgery. The Showa Tehon collection of Gosho is in the originals and they have A, B, C, and D Gosho classifications. Too bad there were those who wrote Gosho and lbeled them written by Nichiren.
Accurately following the teachings is different than originalism or seeking out what the Daishonin had in mind, the interpretation of others, or hearsay. Nichiren was a scriptural Buddhist. What Nichiren actually wrote is that which should be believed and embraced. It is not easy to cull what the Daishonin actually wrote because there are many forgeries in his name. But it is not impossible, as proven by the efforts of various scholars and scholar-priests. By utilizing their methods, we can come to know the truth of the teachings. One method is textual parsimony. What this means is that the writings are weighted. Those actually found in Nichiren's hand are weighted more heavily. Those considered more profound by the majority of priests and scholars, for example, the Five Major Works, are weighted more heavily. Those principles found in the majority of the authenticated works too, are weighted more heavily. The principles in the unauthenticated works are accepted or rejected in light of the Five Major Works and in light of the entire body of authenticated works. Utilizing this method, one can forge strong faith and therefore understanding [because fundamentally, Nichiren's teachings are consistent and not contradictory].Nichiren Shoshu's
No one stressed the texts more than Nichiren. Both texts and people coexist. Only in Zen and the Nichiren Shoshu is there asserted a mythical world existing without texts. The root is the text. The text has existed since the infinite past. The text is both the teacher and the relic of the Buddha. The text is the Dharma itself. Both an excellent doctrine and an excellent believer is necessary for the transmission of the Buddha's teachings. The Eternal Buddha lives today. The Gohonzon is the Eternal Buddha. The Gohonzon is a text.
Regarding the procurement of a copy of a Nichiren Gohonzon. You may print one on the finest acid free or parchment paper and either, frame it or mount it on a blank wall scroll utilizing zen paste or have it mounted by a professional. Ebay sometimes have beautiful Gohonzon for sale.
ReplyDeleteCheck out blankwallscrolls.com or amazon, for example.
Also check out the Gohonzon Shu, a copy of all extant Gohonzon (123) and choose the one you want.
for example the Gohonzon for the Transmission of the Dharma... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kempon_Hokke#/media/File:150dpi.jpg
https://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/nichirenscoffeehouse.net/GohonzonShu/082.html
https://www.facebook.com/Gohonzon-Distribution-Network-286745575286838/
Finest mountings here:
https://nomurakakejiku.com/kakejiku-art-blog/post-4441.html
Here are Nichiren's 126 Gohonzons
https://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/nichirenscoffeehouse.net/GohonzonShu/082.html
remonstrated with SGI AND SHOSHU FACE TO FACE MARK....ASSHOLE , CALL EITHER ONE ...SPEAK TO THE TOP LEADERS AND PRIEST AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ME. senior leader mark ... i know u have been threaten online b, and i have backed u. but , i bet you've never been threatened face to face by so called senior leaders, or the temple koto and his gang. you...such a dissiapointment and a shittty example of a lotus sutra buddhist. oh yeah ..get over it, i said shit ! adios.
Deleteits not that your wife u follow has no buddhist heart, ears or eyes... its really that you. like jerry follow them into the toilet. you have no eyes and have been wrong about many things...my faith is much stronger than yours and your no shakubuku/gesshu wife. has she ever to really practiced. it just u who gets to try your hand at the buddha way? big doubts. paste away and waste away. u can't even refute the basic quotes i left by my teacher nichiren. save your ad hominem for your any -mouses that show up from time to time to blow smoke up your slanderous ass. hint mark...open your eyes and realize ...its the ones who think they are special that end up, upside down. u r welcome.
DeleteI can refute your interpretations because they are not based on the Lotus Sutra and the entirety of Nichiren's understanding of the Lotus Sutra.You pick and choose the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren like the SGI and Nichiren Shoshu, not even having a clear understanding what is authentic and what is forged. How different are you from Jerry who now lumps together the true and the forged. In your remonstrations with me, your arguments are, at best, muddled. If I were you I would work on yourself. Perhaps your stroke has clouded your mind. Perhaps it has caused your head to split into seven pieces. I never liked everything you posted, the cursing and fallacies not based on the sutra and writings, diminishing the greatness of the teachings but since I considered your slander to be minor, I overlooked it. I was mistaken and your small slanders have now snowballed into an avalanche of slander. For this I now have regrets.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lie. We chant with dozens of people. Nancy and I taught them the Daimoku Gongyo. We chant with them weekly, Covid-19 or not. We are protected. Have you forgotten the teachings about one Daimoku, one phrase, one chapter, or one entire recitation of the Sutra. Who do you respect save for Katie?
ReplyDelete