Chanting Growers Group

[PassTheDoobie]

I certainly have no intention of censuring the sons of the Buddha. My only hatred is for the act of slandering the Law.

[ On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land, WND page 23 ]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

If one doubts the strength of the Buddha when he says, "I am the only person who can rescue and protect others"; if one is suspicious of the rope held out by the Lotus Sutra when its teachings declare that one can "gain entrance though faith alone"; if one fails to chant the Mystic Law which guarantees that "such a person assuredly and without doubt [will attain the Buddha way]," then the Buddha's power cannot reach one, and it will be impossible to scale the embankment of enlightenment. Lack of faith is the basic failing that causes a person to fall into hell.

[ Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra, WND page 59-60 ]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

In kindling a fire, three things are needed: a good piece of steel, a good flint, and good tinder. The same is true of prayer. Three things are required--a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching--before prayers can be effective and disasters banished from the land.

[ How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra, WND Page 880 ]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Moreover, even though one may encounter a wise teacher and the true sutra and thereby embrace the correct teaching, when one resolves to break free from the sufferings of birth and death and attain Buddhahood, one will inevitably encounter seven grave matters known as the three obstacles and four devils, just as surely as a shadow follows the body and clouds accompany rain. Even if you should manage to overcome the first six, if you are defeated by the seventh, you will not be able to become a Buddha.

[ Letter to Misawa, WND page 894 ]

 

[Guest]

I did some great Shakubuku today, all day! Found another Bodhisattva of the Earth and another co-worker who has been struggling quite a bit lately made a huge breakthough today as far as understanding the essence of the message I have been trying to deliver for the last 3 months and that is NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO! I have been vocally chanting and today a newer co-worker asked me before I began chanting, "whats that Nam Myoho Renge you mentioned, its in the Tina Turner movie..." I was floored, blown away and very very pleased her seeking spirit was in tune throughout all my unrelenting encouragement this week. Its clear many of us Humans are suffering everyday and to share the joy of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin's teachings with everyone is my greatest joy! I went home yesterday and talked to the Gohonzon as I have been telepathically conversing with the Daishonin for sometime now, He inscribed his life in Sumi Ink and he is right in my home protecting my grow and my new seedlings and 3 female plants. I am overjoyed! Which means I will be undoubtly persecuted now, but FUCK IT! I know its gonna get tougher but now I look forward to enjoying now and will deal with whatever later on!

Freedom!! Thats the ticket baby! Embrace the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and make it happen. Last night reviewing the thread I read the definition of slander posted by PTD and then referenced page 882 of the Gosho and found one of the best Goshos, which the name escapes me but I will come back and write about it when I finish reading it since page 882 was about towards the middle of this particular Gosho which had questions and answers to very relavent stuff. Nichiren is thoughtful and wise enough to relate to MyohoDisco in 2006! Tailor made just for me, just like this thread and its progression. The only reason I didnt write more today was because I was so busy and my coworkers were also taking part in examining my Buddha Nature as I taught them to chant and how to chant and I bet 1 of the 2 will be chanting tonight! Ohh yes!

Never slander, if you do, work hard to expiate it and move forward! Its not the end of the world unless you continue and end up in the avichi hell. 3000 realms in a single moment relates to this because remember even if your stuck in the four lower worlds, I can be pretty confident in telling you that through Nam Myoho Renge Kyo you will become enlightened. Nichiren Daishonin makes this clear to me and I truly believe and find myself sooo soooo sooo soooooooooooooooo grateful for this.

You know today something happened i was not going to mention but now I must after what I said and that is I was preparing myself for to be defeated because I was not paid for a while overtime and recently have been short changing myself "by choice" taking 1 hour of "comp time" which means I can leave work an hour or two earlier after I did an hour or two of overtime, etc. And I always complained to myself and my wife about this bullshit that just started at the beginning of the summer because a few things came up and I needed time off on a couple occassions and I have always had overtime accumulated. So I was making bad causes to keep this nasty cycle going by shortchanging myself, until I made the determination to stand up for myself and I chanted about it,not only today but for a few days from time to time when I would remember, guess what................

I spoke to my manager and the senior partners and they are paying me after the holiday all my overtime plus!!! the half hours rightfully due to me which I have missed out on when I have taken the "comp. time". The Gohonzon's mercy is unlimited I tell you! Such a great victory, and expirience that it blew me away! I am still very pleased with the results from my determined prayer!

#2 Had an issue with a someone through email, and I took it well and stood up for myself immediately, guess what, as a result I now have developed more confidence and this person who wrote me a difficult email was so impressed with what I told them that they said their prayers were answered by my ichinen?it was a situation were someone was assuming things and making some sort of differentiation about me in a way through their lower life condition at the time and I was shocked by the email and wrote back what I felt was true and how I really felt about things and as a result was embraced today after calling him (he provided his phone number in the response) and we both agreed that together we will work our asses doing and living what I would like to consider a "Great Shakubuku Campaign" aimed at the universe and every inhabitant. We even discussed how he has a friend who has a band and this guy with the band is trying to Shakubuku the world with their MUSIC! HOW COOL IS THAT! I immediately told him (sans the marijuana) about this thread and all of us. We were both very pleased discussing this and I will speak more to this person later, because now I am really gaining more Buddha Wisdom and really doing my best, which is bound to get much better.

Embrace Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and see the Gohonzon, live with the Gohonzon, and Share the Gohonzon! The Daishonin awaits your audience!

WOOOHOOO, mucho love especially to my mentors who have facilitated this incredible start of my Human Revolution through the power of the Gohonzon!

Love you guys,
MyohoDisco

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Now is the time for us to take a great leap forward.
Therefore, let's pay even closer attention to everyone's safety.
Ensuring, as much as we possibly can, that no one is involved in any type of accident or incident,
let's brightly and cheerfully make a great start towards new goals!

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[Guest]

So to followup with a comment regarding studying a Gosho for the last two days here, I was drawn to Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra. (from pages 872 to 889 including the backround which further elaborates and facilitates the 2nd read and 3rd read uncovering layers upon layers of depth and relavence in our lives. This gosho is noteworthy (liketherest) and if you will read this Backround quoting the Daishonin and really helping everyone realize and awaken to enlightenment by chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo! you will embrace the Teaching! I have worked hard at this for many lives, this I am sure of and now I want to really forge the Lasting Impact of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin's guidance and teachings to all through my life! I will keep Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo vocalized more than ever, I love chanting all day!
the backround goes as follows:

Background

This letter is generally thought to have been written in the third year of Kenji (1277), though differing opinions assign it to as early as 1271 or even as late as 1282. Its recipient was a woman called the lay nun Myoho who lived at Okamiya in Suruga Province. Little is known about her, other than that she was widowed in 1278 and also lost an elder brother. She appears to have maintained steadfast faith throughout her life. She is the same lay nun who received The One Essential Phrase from Nichiren Daishonin in 1278.

"Those initially aspiring to the way"
in the letter's title refers to the people
of this latter age, who were generally
considered to have planted few roots
of merit in prior lifetimes. Written in
question-and-answer form, it first estab-
lishes that, among the various schools
of Buddhism, only that based upon the
Lotus Sutra represents the school found-
ed by Shakyamuni Buddha himself, for
this sutra alone expresses the Buddha's
true intention.
Through the first few sets of ques-
tions and answers, the Daishonin ex-
plains that, whether viewed in terms of
the teaching, the people's capacity, the
time, or the country, the Lotus is the
only sutra to be propagated in Japan
during the Latter Day of the Law. Un-
like the provisional teachings, which
are suited to some people but not to
others, the Lotus Sutra is unique in en-
abling all people to attain Buddhahood.
In Nichiren Daishonin's time, the
idea prevailed that the Lotus Sutra, be-

ing extremely profound, was far be-
yond the capacity of people born in
the Latter Day of the Law, and that
only the relatively easy Nembutsu
teachings could save them by leading
them to rebirth in Amida's Pure Land.
The Daishonin counters by asserting
that, in this age, the seven characters of
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which repre-
sent the heart and core of the Lotus
Sutra, can benefit all people. This is the
Law to be propagated by Bodhisattva
Superior Practices.
Referring to the many disasters then
besetting Japan, Nichiren Daishonin
points out that prayers for the nation's
welfare based on the provisional teach-
ings no longer produce results. To
make fire, he says, three things are
needed: a good piece of steel, a good
flint, and good tinder. Similarly, one
needs three elements - a good teacher,
a good believer, and a good teaching -
before prayers can be answered and the
nation restored to peace. The Lotus
Sutra, being foremost among the Bud-
dha's teachings, is just such a "good
teaching" that can answer prayers and
end disasters.
A theme running through this writ-
ing is the Lotus Sutra's universal power
of salvation. The Daishonin says that,
regardless of whether people do or do
not possess the power of understand-
ing, the most important thing is to let
them form a bond with the Mystic
Law. Thus he emphasizes that in the
evil age of the Latter Day one should
assertively teach Nam-myoho-renge kyo, the heart of the Lotus Sutra, rath-
er than some lesser, provisional teach-
ing, for even those who slander the
Lotus Sutra will eventually attain Bud-
dhahood by virtue of the "poison-drum
relationship," or the reverse connection
that they thereby form with it. He also
makes clear for the lay nun Myoho's
benefit that the Lotus Sutra, unlike the
earlier teachings, guarantees Buddha-
hood for women as well as for men.

The conclusion explains that the Law of Myoho-renge-kyo, the five chracters of the sutra's title, is identical to the Buddha nature inherent in our own lives and in all things in the universe. When we reverse this Law, the essence of our own life, and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we simultaneously manifest the Buddha nature, both in ourselves and in the world around us.

I apologize for the bad format of this but I must discuss a bit before I goto sleep the highlighted portion although how could we avoid all the truth laid out in any and all the Goshos and this thread who consistently quotes the Goshos. I am also reading other Goshos and have been on the thread but much easier from my hardcopy thanks to my dear brother. As I just keep finding each Gosho I read amazing its with great joy i ask you to please study them as well. Its important to keep this fresh in your mind so that you can emulate it with direct references just as Nichiren Daishonin always does to yourself and others. I want to be able to be a clearer more eloquent Bodhisattva of the Earth and properly represent my Master's understanding and profound compassion for all of us. Every word of his Goshos are just written specifically for all us especially all of us, its the truth, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo the Mystic Law.

I came here looking for answers and I found : THE ANSWER!

THANK YOU EVERYONE PTD, BABBA, GYPSY, DUTCH, (OTHER ADMIN AND SUPPORT), THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP and especially NICHIREN DAISHONIN

MOST EXCELLENT!

Gosho Excerpt:

"In kindling a fire, three things are needed: a good piece of steel, a good flint, and good tinder. The same is true of prayer. Three things are required; a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching before prayers can be effective and disasters banished from the land."


How those initially aspiring to the way can attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra,
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, pg# 880)
Written to Myoho-ama in 1277 from Minobu
http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/Nichiren/wnd/concord/pages.view/880.html




Daily Encouragement:

A mother's beliefs have a powerful influence on her children. In the realm of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, too, the children of families where the mother's faith is strong invariably develop into admirable adults.

bye

 

[Guest]

ANOTHER GREAT GOSHO reaching out to me tonight!

ANOTHER GREAT GOSHO reaching out to me tonight!

After reading Letter to Misawa (note: read The Opening of the Eyes and The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind {again} next) I am blown away. Another Gosho just for me, which if you read the quote Thomas posted will make reference to the three obstacles and four devils always trying to rain on my Kosen-rufu parade, but I got weapons, and the best ones are Nichiren, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Buddha wisdom, consistency, and the Heart of the Lion King which is synounomous with myself my feelings of how I feel I am connected with the writings in this Gosho and how they are meant for me. I can see how the predictions are the understanding of a sage, so true today! Ohh baby, I'm excited! Proof Proof Proof, cannot entertain any doubts at this point since, the truth is in the application of the guidance to study, chant, shakubuku. like the three elements mentioned three times in this page alone if you view it standard...

In kindling a fire, three things are needed: a good piece of steel, a good flint, and good tinder. The same is true of prayer. Three things are required--a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching--before prayers can be effective and disasters banished from the land.

Got it! Chant with appreciation the Daishonin laid it out for us.

So excited I just wanna throw a party, and dance! WOOHOO! wow, really good stuff! Sing, dance, scream, chant, whisper (when appropriate) and think about Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo! Make it happen!

 

[Desiderata]

L I F E is nothing without L O V E !!!!!!!!!

 

[Desiderata]

The only way to survive is to follow good decent H O N E S T F O L K S that teach U S the ways and MEANS to survive forever no matter what we have been taught, or what our corrupt minds have been brainwashed to believe.........

 

[Guest]

Thanks Desi!

 

[Delta9-THC]

Desiderata
Not that I hold it against you for writing all those words ... just wondering why you posted like 20 times...

GMT this is the very place you should discuss your views .... If the other people have different ones to your own .... You know me ... (hopefully)
I think that if everyone isnt open with their thoughts then how do we learn?
anyway ... Dont feel like you have to post something .... just know I have as much faith in you as I do for everyone here!



Everyone here ...
Hope Your Well!

PTD ... dont be so quick to wish those that dont agree with your views goodbye ....
Not that Im telling you what to do ... but we all can learn an gain insight from others experience ....

On another note..... BONZO ... can I come man ? Looks lovely !
I'll bring me spade and bucket : )

Peace

 

[Hitman]

Wow! Exhaling!

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! Roar!

 

[Guest]

Desiderata
Not that I hold it against you for writing all those words ... just wondering why you posted like 20 times...

GMT this is the very place you should discuss your views .... If the other people have different ones to your own .... You know me ... (hopefully)
I think that if everyone isnt open with their thoughts then how do we learn?
anyway ... Dont feel like you have to post something .... just know I have as much faith in you as I do for everyone here!



Everyone here ...
Hope Your Well!

PTD ... dont be so quick to wish those that dont agree with your views goodbye ....
Not that Im telling you what to do ... but we all can learn an gain insight from others experience ....

On another note..... BONZO ... can I come man ? Looks lovely !
I'll bring me spade and bucket : )

Peace

GMT is always welcome and so is everyone else, from my understanding he did not want to continue on the subject because it might not go in the "proper direction". That in itself is very admirable, as is the fact that the Bodhisattvas of the Earth emerge from the EARTH singing, dancing, screaming, inspiring and I have seen GMT and everyone's Buddhanature manifest on this thread even if to the slightest degree.

Tom did not dismiss him as it seems, because we all have potential to embrace our BuddhaNature even if we slander the Lotus Sutra because as I refered to in my last posts last night about the "Poison-drum relationship" the fact that we may say Nam Myoho Renge Kyo has the effect of manifesting our Buddhanature. As is Tom's compassion for us all is on the same wavelength as my master Nichiren Daishonin's compassion for us all we must realize that because Tom truly cares as much as he does he was able to honestly share the valuable truths within these recent expiriences especially GMT's incredible entrance in this thread. GMT really came in intellect a'blazing and sharp as can be, overall very impressive but to overlook the fact that he outright denied Nam Myoho Renge Kyo was his cause to further study and look into The Mystic Law. Which he has and as a result has benefited from his Buddha Wisdom, this I am sure of because GMT is sharp enough to grasp truth via his Teachers and Masters guidance which he upholds dearly. To use the mind and find a greater understanding within this life attributed to the Lotus Sutra is awesome. Those Devadatta's out there are very very great Buddhas! I can see that even if we percieve things in a certain way there is always Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to really bring all of us cohesively together. I think it was polite for Tom to say goodbye to GMT and it was surely a goodbye for now type thing, because I have confidence in all of who practice or are sympathetic to the practice that within us is the Unlimited ability clarified by Nichiren Daishonin to not only uphold the Lotus Sutra but to Also share it with all living beings in the Land of the Eternally Tranquil Light.

Delta you sincerity is amazing lovely and admirable, thanks for saying what you said, I appreciate it.

To all good day and much love!

 

[Guest]

Got my world tribune today with Orlando Bloom with President Ikeda on the cover, soo awesome!

Got tons of love too, I hope my messages send my love into your heart (whomever reads this). I look forward to chanting with all of you lifetime after lifetime and also have Gohonzon in my life in every subsequent life.

 

[Guest]

"To be despised by fools is the greatest honor"- Tsunesaburo Makiguchi

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Delta, what it really boiled down to...

Delta, what it really boiled down to...

Normally I would not come into this thread, but I have repeatedly been asked to tonight, and so here I am. Plato categorised the 4 levels of what we believe to be knowledge. The lowest of the 4 being belief, the next lowest being perception, the second to highest form of knowledge is mathematics and the highest level of knowledge is the knowledge of the forms which all come from the original form of the good. Mankind has always regarded Plato as being of value, as have I. I in no way wish to tell anyone else what to believe in, however I would rather people understood the difference between beliefs and knowledge. I cannot ever accept that the way to wipe away ignorance is to gain blind faith. Easydisco, here I am, if you wish to examine my views you may do so here or in my own thread, as I said I do not believe this thread is the correct place for me, but as with all beliefs accept that that may be wrong.

...was that I agreed with GMT's first post. I had already read the previous exchange between him and easy. He was here to have us examine his views? No offense, but I'm too busy to be interested. I am sure they are most profound, but compared to what? Is it any secret how I revere the Law? From my perspective, what would I gain from it?

GMT was not coming here seeking, he was coming here to appease someone convinced a visit might change his perception. That was not going to happen. Trust me. And frankly dear friend, the person that would have had to constantly explain the slander issues as they occurred, and look like an asshole for having to do that, would have been me. No thank you.

GMT had no idea what we've been talking about here. He rejects faith as a concept he wishes to incorporate into his belief system. Without faith, Buddhism becomes another game of mental masturbation. As is reflected in GMT's affection for Zen, which happens to be considered one of the most slanderous sects of Buddhism, according to the Daishonin's teachings.

This is due to the fact that Zen is not based on any Shakyamuni sutra. It is a made up concept, that a dude named Bodhidharma decided to be the basis of reality around six to seven hundred years after the Lotus Sutra and the other Mahayana sutras emerged. The enlightenment gained is therefore delusional (as far as Nichiren buddhist's are concerned). The Daishonin considers it a slander because it does not uphold the the combining of the three vehicles with the one vehicle nor the ultimate superiority, as Shakyamuni himself declared it to be, of the Lotus Sutra above all of Shayamuni's lifetime of teachings.

It also requires a Master to confer the discipline, since it is supposed to be mind to mind; something again, esoteric in nature and prejudicial towards the equality of all beings. Alan Watts, Robert Parsig, and Phil Jackson don't count. Anytime I hear someone mention Zen, my stomach gets a little upset.

T

 

[Babbabud]

My take on some of what Thomas just posted. Some of us have studied longer then others ^^. So therefore will recognize a slander more easily then others. If the slander is not pointed out and refuted then the person who is aware of the slander suffers the karma for it ... therefore if T dosent point out the slander it becomes karma that HE must endure. Some of the rest of us would understand a large slander if it hit us in the eye but because T has practiced for the amount of time he has he would constantly be having to refute or endure the karma for not pointing it out.
Hope I came close to explaining this correctly .. but thats how I see it .
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Thanks Bud!

Thanks Bud!

My take on some of what Thomas just posted. Some of us have studied longer they others ^^. So therefore will recognize a slander more easily then others. If the slander is not pointed out and refuted then the person who is aware of the slander suffers the karma for it ... therefore if T dosent point out the slander it becomes karma that HE must endure. Some of the rest of us would understand a large slander if it hit us in the eye but because T has practiced for the amount of time he has he would constantly be having to refute or endure the karma for not pointing it out.
Hope I came close to explaining this correctly .. but thats how I see it .
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

You nailed it!

For the record, GMT is welcome here, as is anyone else anytime, to discuss Nichiren Buddhism or have questions about it answered to the best of our collective ability.

Deep respect to you all,

Thomas

 

[Babbabud]

I want to thank Easy and GMT , PTD , Delta, Desi , Hit , and anyone else that has taken part in this conversation. It has really increased everyones understanding of Nichiren Buddhism and thats what we are here for, so ....THANKYOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!!