by: Anonymous

Hi James!

I strongly recommend you read the book Something You Forgot Along the Way for an introduction to the law of cause and effect based on which Buddhism is taught. Truth is what is valid at all times and all places. If you have any questions on Jodo Shinshu, I’ll be more than happy to help you. Our temple is in Toyama, Japan in case you are around. It looks more like a college of Buddhism!
Looking forward to hearing from you!

***note from editor***

Bita, I was expecting a comment from you! Thanks, as always.

by: James

Thank you very much for your replies! I have heard more bad than good I’m afraid but I am interested in Nichiren but the only school I see around me is SGI I wish I had more choices. Namaste.

by: James

I’m also very interested in Pure land as well but nothing around me..

by: Bita

Hi James!

These days distance is not an issue any more!

I can share with you what I know of Buddhism through Skype!

My skype address is:

bitaasakura

by: Bita

Please see the Shinrankai website for a reasonably concise explanation of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Here is the URL: http://www.facebook.com/l/hAQDpNuFu/lifespurpose.info/index.htm Click on the buttons,” Teachings of Buddha” and “About Shinran Shonin”. If what you read there interests you, then you may wish to order the books listed in the American Institute of Buddhist Thought website and/or make contact with the Los Angeles church/temple through the Jodo Shinshu Shinrankai U.S.A website. Hope this helps. : – )”

And as always, meeting through skype is available too!

bitaasakura

by: James

Thank you very much i will look into it.

by: Mark Rogow

Hi James. There are many schools of Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism besides the Soka Gakkai: There is the Nichiren Shu which rivals the Soka Gakkai in size; the Kempon Hokke [The Lotus Sutra Revealing The Original Buddha]; the Honmon Butsuryu Shu [The Eight Chapter School]; the Nipponzon Myoho Ji [Movement of the Wonderful Law of the Lotus Sutra]; A large independent movement; The NBAA [The Nichiren Buddhist Association of America; The Everlife Foundation; the Nichiren Shoshu, the school to which SGI was initially affiliated; and dozens of less well known schools. I am partial but I won’t attempt to steer you in any direction. Research them all and choose wisely.

Mark

by: James

Thank you very much for your help unfortunately i only see SGI in my area i wish i had more Choices.

by: James

When I mean choices I mean what’s available around where I live.

by: Bronco

Good Morning Hugo../

In reply to your conversation regarding religion, and how it can divert ones true instinctive intuition, by many cunning deviants or charlatans in any so called religious sects…

Propaganda, it’s self can be poisonous, because of my rebellious nature, nobody has ever influenced me in any way, because I trust my intuition profoundly. Any lingering doubt and I am gone. I have to say that, the only place I failed in my rebellion was in the forces…

In my ignorance, I never knew they had seen and heard every excuse over the decades, mine was no exception. However, I soon realised by many defaults, they were not trying to alter me for their own benefit, they were doing it for mine. Now, I have nothing but love for their pupose and resolute endeavour, I am rich in them, because of them..

As you say, Buddha’s immortal words set me ablaze by suggesting, we find out for ourselves by direct experience. Listen to advise but we don’t have to take it, this was always me. For me Buddhism is not a religion, it is a science of life, because of the Buddha’s Dharma. Which refers to the subatomic forces and particles which manifest all of life. Now how immense is that, ther is nothing bigger for me…There is nowhere else to go for me, I am found..Sincerely Bronco…

by: sachin meshram

sir i am not study in buddha dhamma but i am new buddhist at Nagpur in India i am practice in vipasana to acharya goyanka give me theary and practical of 10 days shibir in Nagpur City.

sir i am not rgegularly pactice because i am hard working man my family is small but my son is high education in Nagpur city my salary is small scale only 4500 Indian Rs. and i will meanten my familly expences and my son education expemces i will swa the dream my son is stable in buddhist country but i cant taking this expences i am proud of you because your country has a buddhist country my thought buddha is buddha buddhas leval is high no any perons buddhas leval and so that buddha is grat ont only lord buddha sir pleas understan my english is not clear but plz understand me i am buddhist man i will attached your buddhist vission

by: Paul

I think your advice is very good and well considered. It is true that pure gold is only found by rubbing it, then smelting it and testing it thoroughly to see if it is pure gold. This relates to enquiry and not taking something said to be true, investigating what is said and written is important for learning and falls into the category of contemplative meditations.

Further, what is always important is to look at the similarities of the traditions and not the differences. This helps to stabilise the mind onto positive thoughts and brings personal harmony adding to harmony in the world today in a very real way .

by: Doyle

I would avoid them. The proselytize. “People with opinions just go around bothering each other

by: Bronco

These two headlines are what we all are and nothing more. We have a tendency to pass on our life experiences by what we have experienced, not to impress so much, but in an attempt to help others find their way…

How can we inform anyone what a Strawberry takes like, fact is we cannot, we can tell them how wonderful it tastes in forgetting, that many do not like the taste…

Trying to convince or impress is difficult indeed when we try our best to help. Oh you will love this man or woman, they are truy marvellous, only to find that others instincts differ from ours…

by: Bita

We cannot live without believing in people or things. One may believe in their spouse, children, their doctor, or their health. Without believing in anything we cannot live even one day. But every time we suffer is because we are betrayed by what we placed our faith in. To attain happiness one needs to believe in something that will never betray them and this is what Jodo Shinshu teaches. To discuss more, please Skype me at:

Bitaasakura

by: edith

I was a member for 29 years, and, now I have nothing to do with them. I read a lot of books. Some of Ghandi, some of the Dalai Lama. Now I understand more about who and why I am here; not, what any particular religion professes. I feel 100% better since I’ve learned to explore and make my own decisions. I would suggest that everyone do the same.

by: Bronco…

Hello James…

Doubt is within us all for whatever reasons, seeing is believing without doubt. Seeing the unseen creates doubt, because we do not have acces to that dimension however, something within lingers and beckons at all times. If we believe in nothing there is no point in looking, but we do…

Two things initially attracted me to Buddhism. You are what you think, having become what you thought, said Buddha. The other one was more uncanny, a foreign land, foreign people or person telling me what I had always thought even as a kid…

Since that time 25 years ago, spirituality has heightened to new levels of mystery beyond belief. In my studies I read a book by someone named Muz Marray, named The Quest. In his book he spoke of many religions, as we do, also he stated that, when one is on the spirtual path there is no turning back. Spooky initially, now I am totally embraced by all the changes within…

Good hunting,,,Bronco…

by: Bronco

Hello Edith…

You have done exactly what Buddha, advised, to find out for ones self by direct experience, which you have done by finding out more of who you are, and why we are here. My great pal, My Grandfather, chose to be an atheist for reasons of his own. A great man with great wisdom, he told me as a very young kid, It’s Nice To be nice to all of life. His method I have usd the whole of this life thus far, and will continue to do so. Buddhism, exaggerates his wisdom totally in tune with the vibrations of life inseparably. I will remain with Buddhism for those very reasons. It is all down to choices of freedom, this we should all have…..

by: Anonymous

A good friend of mine introduced me to this recently. She has been practicing it for a couple of years. She just mentioned the practice to me, I researched the rest and found the teachings interesting and so went to their centre in London, Russell square. I really liked what I heard so read some books and have started going to the local district meetings. So far everyone I have met have been lovely. I have not come across anyone who is trying to convince me or “save me”. They are happy to answer any queries I have but otherwise have left me to make my own journey. I have been chanting for 3 months and find it gives me a lot of peace. I am sure there are people who practice who are trying to prostetylize but I haven’t come across them. Even when I went to the centre no one was grabbing me to convert me. If I do come across people like that I will just ignore them. I like the teachings of nichiren daishosin. As with any religious organisations, none of them are perfect. You have to take from it the good and ignore the bad

by: Bronco

Dear Anonymous…

Come on in the water is lovely, by the way, the duality of good and bad are inesparable dimensions as all dualities are, we cannot have one without the other, and there are many of them which conduct our lives with desires and cravings. all created by the mystery of thoughts…

Reading is connection where there is no teacher or temple to go to. Reading will remind you of what you know, this is inherent awareness. Should you reply, then use your name without shame or embarrassment. You are free in Buddhism, here to talk whenever…Bronco…

NEW
by: CJ Plourde

I was a memeber in US and Canada for seven years. First, as a monk now, in the Tibetan lineages, SGI shaped buddhism as a peace movement, promoting peace, which is not what the Buddhat promoted.

The SGI and Nichiren Shoshu do not discuss the philosophical treatises of Buddhism, do not discuss enlightenment, hold wrong views on enlightenment, and emptiness, and instead of caring for others by upholding the vows not to kill animals, insects, or people, which are basic vows all Buddhists take, even though they are not monks or nuns, the SGI and NS organizations are a magical thinking society. They believe that if we all chant we will attain peace in the world. That may be a great goal, but that is not waht the Buddha taught: Buddhist thought is that each and every one of us is capable of attaining awakening, or enlightenment, by mixing compassion for others with a theoretical understanding of Emptiness.

When with meditation, and virtuous prayers, and mantra recitations, we can hopefully achieve enlightenment. SGI encourages its members to chant for lovers,better jobs, fame and fortune, and financial success, and these run COUNTER to the teachings of the Buddha.

Not only is Nichiren Shoshu and its founder a bit twarted, but certainly the Soka Gakkai, and its founders, its members, run this organization like a pyramid scheme, collectiong moneey for incense, monthly newspapers, magazines and tons of stuff they sell in their bookstores.

I share this only because it is a cult with negative people who use negative reinforcement like shaming people, forcing people to work within their communities for free, like joining gymnastics, and brass band, etc. for members. I never ever ever once heard any “leader” many of whom are paid, describe the beauty of Buddhism and how it was a philosophy for those who want to become better, more compassionate people, and for people who believe in Enlightenment.

The Buddha said that the way to awakening was by meditating, and other practices, but SGI doesnt do any of these things, because it would not be able to get all the members they have…imagine telling members that cheating on their lovers, that thinking about fame and fortune, etc., were not the path of Buddhism…no one would join.

That is why that those who really believe in the teachings of the Buddha, and enlightenment, find themselves in the Zen schools, or the Mahayana schools like the US Insight Meditation centers, or the Tibetan Buddhist centres throughout the world.

NEW
by: Anonymous

Further to my previous post – new to SGI by anonymous I would like to add my latest experience. I continued chanting with them for a year, always a little uncomfortable with certain concepts that they talked about eg disciple mentor relationship with Daisaku Ikeda, encouragement to chant for material goals and personal victories – all of this was not in accord with my understanding of Buddhism. However I really liked Nichiren Shonin’s teachings and the teachings of the lotus sutra. I did a lot of my own reading and continued going to SGI meetings The penny really dropped that this organisation was really not Buddhism and certainly not for me when I went to the women’s division residential study weekend. I expected to learn more about the lotus sutra, Sakyamunni Buddha and Nichiren Shonin’s teachings. Instead all I heard was about devotion to Daisaku Ikeda and his teachings – disguised under the headings of Nichiren’s quotes. I realised this is a cult – although not in the traditional sense and decided to look at other places for Nichiren’s teachings. I came across Nichiren Shu which is much more in line with what I thought Buddhism is about. Anyone interested in Nichiren Buddhism should definitely explore this school. SGI has had its place in introducing me to nichiren Buddhism – without them I would never have heard of Nichiren. But it gives a very twisted and warped view of his philosophy