Thanks so much for your response Sarnath.
From my experience and long discussions of Buddhism with my SOKA
friends, after having visited their centre, and also visited the
centre of Nichiren Shoshu of Singapore. I realise that both places
had very warm and nice people and I could see that their followers
have strong faith and solid practice.
From my very preliminary encounter with them, in the Nichiren
Shoshu school, their main tenets are basically the same with all
mahayana schools of Buddhism, practicing to rid the 3 poisons,
karma, to lessen attachments etc. They believe this can be done
through the chanting of the mantra Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo. From my
observation, generally, their followers do have a good solid
foundation in the same Buddhism which is taught at other Mahayana
temples. They do know about the tipitaka(maybe the japanese version
to be more accurate) And also of course the different Mahayana
schools of thought. However, they strongly emphasize those
mentioned above being book knowledge and the door to being able to
integrate those book knowledge into one's daily life and actions is
thru the chanting of the mantra as mentioned above.
As for their dedication towards chanting their mantra, from what I
observe, it is no less than those who follow the Pureland school.
As such, as with the pureland schools, they appeal to ppl who like
the methods of mantra recitation.
In the practice of mantra, I guess that I can safely say that
concentration is practised and at the same time, the practice of
mantra generally generates a very powerful mental energy in the
practitioner that goes with the mantra. This is common with all
schools that practice the mantra method. The practitioners of the
Nichiren schools also seem to experience and exhibit these from my
personal observation.
In SOKA, from what I know, their practitioners chant the same
mantra to bring out the inherent life force in them. From the
explanation of my friend who shared this with me, the life force he
means is the life force which is one with the whole universe and
himself and all beings. After some further discussion, I gather his
explanation of the life force being a little similar to the concept
of Buddha Nature of the Mahayana Schools. From what I know, this
chanting also serves to align one to the natural way of things in
this world. Sometimes people also chant for more altruistic
purposes, like for all one's friends to be well and happy and free
from suffering, or more mundane wants like to get a good job. About
their base in the general Buddhist teachings, I cannot say much as
I have not really spoken much with them about it. But I do know
that in Singapore, they do have dedicated classes that teach
Buddhist knowledge. They also do have a certain basic
understandings of the 3 poisons etc.
Other than that, to clarify a misconception, they do not pray to a
box or a piece of paper. The 'piece of paper' in the box is
actually a mandala first drawn up by Nichiren and subsequently by
the priests of the tradition. On it contains the names of many
Great Patriarchs and Bodhisattvas, heavenly kings and heavenly
protectors. Of course, not forgetting their main mantra as the
centre piece. My friend told me, when bowing to the Gohonzon(the
mandala, gohonzon actually means the main image of worship in
japanese) , one is bowing to one's Buddha inside oneself, or one's
Buddha nature in short. To remember this great potentiality inside
everyone to achieve the sublime state of Buddhahood. And to remind
one to strive to that stage and be one with it one day
sooner.
Similarities aside, it is an interesting fact to note that Nichiren
went around exploring all other schools of Buddhism of his time and
challenged their practitioners in public debate. Thereafter, mostly
he saw the futility of all other schools to achieve Buddhahood. Or
maybe, could it be that the practitioners of his time or those
which he encountered were not any good in their practice?
Yea, so just to give you guys a better idea of the insides of these
two schools from what I know. If anyone readin is a member of these
organisations, pls do correct me if i do make any mistakes along
the way.
In any case, as what is said in the famous Kalama Sutta, I think
the faith of these people from the Nichiren Schools comes from the
truth they find in the practices evocated by Nichiren. On the other
hand, I think that those who have not explored and ventured and had
first hand contact with the Nichiren or SOKA followers and temples
not comment too much on their form of Buddhism.
Another thing I would like to share is that what we
always hear and see about the Nichiren schools could be just the
critism of one school on the other. For example when I was speaking
with the people from Nichiren Shoshu, they were talking about the
corupt practices of the Nichiren Shu which resulted in their break
away and about SOKA being politically oriented. When I speak with
the people from SOKA, they would talk of the people from Nichiren
Shoshu having corupt practices which are not in line with
Nichiren's teachings anymore. So whatever hearsay we hear or read
of could be added on rumous started by any of these factions. Thus
my advice is NOT to believe in any of these or take any other
person's word for it but truly explore and know for yourselves
their teachings first hand.
Hands palm to palm,
Emanrohe
Hi , Emanrohe , I think you have a idea that they are nice .
SGI do not represent Buddhism in any ways .first they refused to
recognise Sakyamuni and based their belief on a lay man words.this
layman is the current president of SGI international
Next , You should try to go and find out whats their curriculum
for SGI .They have to take exams for the Lotus Sutra and they
rejected the Universal Gate Chapter .Since you are from Kwan Yin
School of Korean Zen .You should know this chapter is Praise of
Avalokiteshvara
They classified the Lotus Sutra as inferior and superior
chapters .May I ask this question,Who turn the wheel of the
Wondeful Lotus ?Nichiren or Sakyamuni
stop twisting the fact of this sutra .
Then they feel they use new terminology to deal with modern
social issue .That to me isnt Buddhism ,but an new age religion
.
I have friend who left Sokka Gakkai after disgusted by their
shallow of teaching and constant criticism of other school of
Buddhism
So ,let me go back to Kalama Sutta .Do you need to be a
christian , muslim , hindu ,catholic before you come to Buddhism
?
the answer is no .You just need those who were once in that
religion to understand their religion more , instead of
experiencing yourself
Thats y i feel certain teaching in Pali Cannon is incomplete
,and cannot be use as Yardstick for Buddhist practice
thanks