Link roundup to prove we're still here

by: Nine Lives

Wed Jul 27, 2011 at 10:51:51 AM PDT

If you think namu-myoho-renge-kyo is a magic phrase that makes you happy and is a get-out-of-death-and-suffering-free card, no, it doesn't "work." Nichiren Buddhism is a life-long practice -- even if your life turns out to be heartbreakingly short. It's not a quick fix or magic cure.

Better to have chanted one time than never at all. Winehouse's death is sad, but it's no basis for questioning the value of Nichiren Buddhism.

Now for some links....  

Amy Winehouse RIP

by: brooke

Sat Jul 23, 2011 at 12:19:49 PM PDT

Winehouse chanted daimoku. As exemplified by this report, the press treated her practice in a snarky way:

The smackhead singer has been trying to find peace in her chaotic life by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

Goodbye, Amy. Thanks for making your voice heard.  

Idiot compassion manifests in two ways

by: Nine Lives

Fri Jul 22, 2011 at 13:35:12 PM PDT

Here in Buddhist Blog World, people who speak bluntly sometimes are accused of not being compassionate or not practicing Right Speech. But sometimes issues need to be addressed, and saying the "safe" or "socially correct" thing so you can be part of the crowd is very far from Right Speech.

As I was reading it, I was reminded of people who insist it's wrong and terribly unbuddhist to "criticize" and "judge" organizations that purport to practice Nichiren Buddhism.

We shouldn't "judge" because, hey, the people we're "judging" chant daimoku just like us, so we should all stick together. We are all disciples of Nichiren. Daimoku is always right even if it is exploited or misrepresented. Nonsense!

Conversely, some Nichiren sects claim that the only way to exercise true compassion is to tell everyone else that they are wrong. They're wrong because they are members of the wrong sect. They're wrong because they have personal opinions about Buddhist practice. They're wrong because they don't believe that their wrongness causes earthquakes. (I wish I was exaggerating.)

"Idiot compassion" can manifest in two ways. One way is niceness. As Barbara described:

...sometimes the urge to be "nice" is about maintaining a polite and pleasant facade over a situation we don't want to confront.

The other way is strident un-niceness -- by being a fanatical, fundamentalist jerk, and presuming to understand Nichiren Buddhism better than everyone else.

Should we stay or go?

by: Nine Lives

Sat Jul 09, 2011 at 11:48:24 AM PDT

I've been really bad about posting updates, haven't I? The idea of BuddhaJones is that it's a group blog where people can post topics as well as comment on other posts. But it's my job to keep the ball rolling.

Our traffic statistics remain high, with the majority of people finding this site through search engines when looking for info on Nichiren Buddhism and related topics.

So I put the question to you: Should we stay or go? You can post a comment below or e-mail me at nine@buddhajones.com.

Lazy Summer Links

by: Nine Lives

Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 13:26:04 PM PDT

Regarding food offering to the gohonzon, Shoshu has this advice:

...A proper food offering would be vegetarian, being careful to avoid odiferous foods such as onions or garlic...

Don't stink up your altar area. See more squabbling about food oferings here.

Here's a Kempon Hokke chanting guy video. Not sure what it is or what it means. Would be nice if it had been accompanied by some descriptive text.

Nichirenites Unite!

by: Nine Lives

Wed May 11, 2011 at 12:00:13 PM PDT

Want to connect with other Nichiren Buddhists in your area? Try the NB Locator.

Back in April, I saw that Nipponzan Myohoji chanters were involved in a peace march in Oak Ridge, Tenn to protest nuclear weapons production:

Buddhists with Nipponzan Myohoji, a religious movement that emerged from the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism, were among those attending the rally for nuclear disarmament. They left Asheville, N.C., last Friday on their "pilgrimage" to The Secret City.

The Secret City?! What's that? It's "part of the Manhattan Project where fuel was enriched for the world's first atomic bomb." I didn't know that Oak Ridge is "The Atomic City." (link and link). More after the jump....

Slander or Not Slander?

by: Nine Lives

Thu May 05, 2011 at 12:47:46 PM PDT

We are not slandering the Law when we practice the Law differently.

So, in our community of diverse styles and histories, what differences are minor and which are major? For example, one can chant Nam or Namu and still be a Nichiren Buddhist.

Is there a threshold though, where differences are so different that, whatever it is, it's not Nichiren Buddhism any more?

Daimoku anniversary

by: Nine Lives

Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 12:55:02 PM PDT

As brooke noted a couple years ago:

According to legend...Nichiren first chanted Namu-myoho-renge-kyo. I choose to believe differently, however. I believe that he uttered the mantra sometime before April 28, 1253. But on this date, he resolved to make daimoku his primary practice. And yes, he chanted Namu. Granted, this was not the first time in the history of the world that daimoku was chanted, and Nichiren did not invent the mantra. (Contrary to popular belief.) However, April 28, 1253 was the start of daimoku-chanting-as-primary-practice.

Namu. salut!