Search found 22 matches

by UniversalWorthy
Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:35 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: "Meditation" in Nichiren Traditions
Replies: 5
Views: 2534

Re: "Meditation" in Nichiren Traditions

There are plenty of practices and visualizations and formulas for accumulating merit and wisdom and the development of bodhicitta. There is also the Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra epilogue of the Lotus Sutra which I sometimes use as a guide for visualization while chanting daimoku. There are plenty ...
by UniversalWorthy
Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:38 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Soka Gakai (SGI) Criticism Thread
Replies: 201
Views: 68142

Re: Soka Gakai (SGI) Criticism Thread

It seems to me that Ill-arazza has a compulsive ability, a fairly refined skill actually, to pull people into arguments that really turn into "worldy dharma" debates. This soon turns to an act of slander for all participants. It doesn't seem there is anything really he wishes to discuss, j...
by UniversalWorthy
Fri Aug 31, 2012 4:08 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Postive about Soka Gakkai?
Replies: 45
Views: 16425

Re: Postive about Soka Gakkai?

Well, let me say that, as an ex-member who has no plans to ever return for a variety of reasons, I think that I have to agree with you on a very basic, logical basis. When I used to defend the organization against various claims (most of which were implying the "C" word), I would say that ...
by UniversalWorthy
Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:28 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Why chant in Japanese ?
Replies: 16
Views: 6196

Re: Why chant in Japanese ?

to clarify one of my previous statements: "The real danger is that some very large 'Nichiren' organizations/temples, some medium-sized ones and some very small sects, could direct practicioners away from understanding the multitude of profound teachings that lie just below the surface and/or re...
by UniversalWorthy
Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:57 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Why chant in Japanese ?
Replies: 16
Views: 6196

Re: Why chant in Japanese ?

QQ, Yes, by "mnemonic" I meant the traditional 'memory aid' sense, as we might find in mikkyo practices (which, of course, Nichiren engaged in as a young monk, on his way to becoming the wisest person in Japan, as he prayed for to Bodhisattva Kokuzo) I guess I also meant to infer another s...
by UniversalWorthy
Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:22 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Why chant in Japanese ?
Replies: 16
Views: 6196

Re: Why chant in Japanese ?

First, Ananda, thank you so much for triggering this fruitful and meaningful discussion. These are the kinds of things we should be discussing. QQ, Second, thank you for your extensive comments and responses, really great ideas there. "I could be convinced differently, but as it stands, the mne...
by UniversalWorthy
Fri Aug 17, 2012 4:47 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Why chant in Japanese ?
Replies: 16
Views: 6196

Re: Why chant in Japanese ?

QQ, I think one way to approach this is to say that, well, we can certainly chant the sutra in any language we want. However, when it comes to the daimoku, be it the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra or any other sutra, we are engaging with a mnemonic device whereby each word, each character really is, in ...
by UniversalWorthy
Thu Aug 09, 2012 4:26 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Question about chanting Daimoku for great lengths of time
Replies: 21
Views: 9056

Re: Question about chanting Daimoku for great lengths of time

"yeah except the eternal Buddha is Nichiren Daishonin rather than Shakyamuni" I respect this as your personal view, but I have to admit I've always found this position completely awkward and offensive. I find it especially awkward that it would be held not by a person here or there, but by...
by UniversalWorthy
Wed Aug 01, 2012 6:02 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Question about chanting Daimoku for great lengths of time
Replies: 21
Views: 9056

Re: Question about chanting Daimoku for great lengths of time

This is kind of abitrary , but I guess there are associations. When I practiced with SGI, yes, usually ten minutes never sufficed and it was normal to host two to three-hour tosos. There were others who had 12+ hour tosos. Like everything else in the SGI, it was an extreme....hmmm, how can I say.......
by UniversalWorthy
Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:42 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Can someone help me reconcile please?
Replies: 44
Views: 13671

Re: Can someone help me reconcile please?

Rory, More good stuff. You're assumption that as a buddhist who practices daimoku I would, quite naturally, be contemplating ichinen sanzen is half-correct (with regards to my practice.) Of course I am familiar with the concept ('three thousand realms in one thought moment') as well as meditation on...
by UniversalWorthy
Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:31 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Can someone help me reconcile please?
Replies: 44
Views: 13671

Re: Can someone help me reconcile please?

Time is a four-letter-word. ....;)
by UniversalWorthy
Thu Jun 21, 2012 3:04 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Can someone help me reconcile please?
Replies: 44
Views: 13671

Re: Can someone help me reconcile please?

Thanks Rory for touching on Madhyamika which I am already familiar with. In fact, we are currently studying it with my sangha. I find it especially helpful to always return and water the good roots. I am not sure when you say "So meditating on 'emptyness' would be incorrect for our school"...
by UniversalWorthy
Tue Jun 19, 2012 4:13 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Can someone help me reconcile please?
Replies: 44
Views: 13671

Re: Can someone help me reconcile please?

Just my 2 cents, beautiful breath: I am a non-sectarian practicioner of the daimoku (chant of the title of the Lotus Sutra, which is itself a formulation mantra of the essential teaching of the sutra itself) and consider Nichiren to be one of my great teachers. I have an altar that is not exclusive ...
by UniversalWorthy
Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:26 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land
Replies: 143
Views: 42925

Re: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land

Rory, I'm not sure there was any disagreement about whether or not Shingon and Tibetan tantric practices both sprung from the same Vajrayana tradition (including, of course, the Indian tantric practices and guru-yoga, etc...) Nichiren, in his time, in a country that was considered actively buddhist,...
by UniversalWorthy
Wed Apr 04, 2012 1:01 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land
Replies: 143
Views: 42925

Re: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land

Aemilius, thanks for bringing that point up about Never Disparaging. Please note that certain Nichirenist sectarians will then say "oh, never disparaging is not appropriate for this age" or something to that effect. There will be an answer for everything. They cling to a type of reading of...
by UniversalWorthy
Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:11 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land
Replies: 143
Views: 42925

Re: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land

Rory, Actually, that is a good thread. Thank you very much for leading me to it. A couple of things. There is a mid-point between the two extremes of taking the various sutras and commentaries literally and just taking them as fairy tales. We can read them with the mind of faith (the ox which drives...
by UniversalWorthy
Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:34 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land
Replies: 143
Views: 42925

Re: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land

Son Of Buddha, I can tell you now with certainty that you will be unable to get any constructive debate with fundamentalist-literalists. This will always be the way and we feel compassion for them just as ourselves. For example, perhaps something occurred in their lives that causes them to seek some...
by UniversalWorthy
Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:59 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land
Replies: 143
Views: 42925

Re: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land

Rory- I am independent of any school and practice daily the daimoku prescribed by Nichiren. As for study, lately I have been attending Gelug teachings when I am able. As for "metaphors", no I do not lack faith that we are all really capable of attaining buddhahood in this lifetime, but thi...
by UniversalWorthy
Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:49 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land
Replies: 143
Views: 42925

Re: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land

you may not like it; but we are doing as the sutra, the final teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha for the last 6 years of his life bids us do. It's not really a question of whether I "like it or not." I also practice the buddhism prescribed by Nichiren and consider the Lotus Sutra to be the hig...
by UniversalWorthy
Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:26 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land
Replies: 143
Views: 42925

Re: Nichiren's interpretation of the Pure Land

Two things. I'm thinking that, normally, I might say, well these two individuals have experienced a very myopic view with buddhist sects or practices other than Nichiren sects and lay organizations. However, that would be very arrogant of me to a. suggest that this was the case just because the two ...

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