| In my experience, the people who are living the Lotus Sutra are the folks who keep it simple and humble. They chant. They seem to me to have amazing faith in the efficacy of their chanting. They're not scholarly, but they have a keen understanding of people's hearts and events in the world. They don't talk or act like religious zealots. It's like they're coming from a whole different place.
I mention this because you're on the internet, reading this. It occurs to me that the internet might be your only source of information about Nichiren Buddhism. I want to assure you that such amazing and genuine practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism actually exist. You wouldn't know it by what you see online.
I often think that because Nichiren Buddhism is so simple people can't resist making it more complicated and difficult. Some will do this to promote their "brand" of Nichiren Buddhism (such as SGI or Shoshu) and others will do it to stroke their ego.
Many people are frankly confused about what they're "supposed" to do or be as Nichiren Buddhists. Are they supposed to be rebels or reformers or go around denouncing other expressions of Buddhism? They're still trying to figure it out. You'll find all of this online.
It may sound simple -- too simple -- to chant the mantra and live your life. But it's really very difficult if you've tried it. It's difficult to keep your mind and heart open all the time to the wonder of this practice, and to make it through arid periods of boredom, observing your life at every moment.
It's a lifelong practice of humility, openness, patience, perseverance, and coming to know yourself. There are no secure "levels" of attainment, and no graduation day. There are no medals or gold stars issued by the universe for a job well done.
People who boast about attainment or understanding frankly don't have either. People who try to scare you into practicing a certain way frankly are terrified of themselves. People who tell you that all your material desires will magically be fulfilled by chanting...well, you'll find out for yourself that the advertising is misleading.
If you feel an affinity for the mantra, by all means, pick it up. Try it. Keep it simple. It is simple.
I will go so far as to say that with every complication, with every move away from fundamental simplicity, practitioners are trying to flee the raw, clear, ordinary majesty of Nichiren Buddhism. To me, complicating the practice is basically "putting the BS in Buddhism."
You don't need to learn a lot of Japanese words and rituals. You don't have to know anything about anything to practice Nichiren Buddhism correctly. I promise. |
