Chanting Growers Group

[Guest]

Thank You Babbabud

Thank You Babbabud

I understand that. I was making a note expressing that it had nothng to do with SGI. That is the material that is used to support his Dr. Phil moments and I am just making sure that it is understood.
So this is like the song "A Passion Play" by Jethro Tull. Carry on! SG

 

[Babbabud]

Seems it was already chrystal clear to most of us that the word Guru has nothing to do with the SGI. As far as Dr Phil moments Im not aware of anyone playing psychologist here ... just a thread of honest feelings. I have no understanding of any "play" ... any feelings ive seen here have been what ppl really felt and the encouragement from each other just looks like good positive human feelings. Sorry you see this as something other than positive. One thing I have never seen this thread used for are personal attacks. Yes the SGI material is used in our discussion... I think its wonderful Drop in again the positive encouragement is infectious

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Need a little reality here

Need a little reality here

Silence...not today. Need a little reality here.
I have been a member of SGI-USA for 15 years. Our ONLY mentor is President Daisaku Ikeda. Southern Girl

The reality is that you don't know what you're talking about. I am frontally challenging your position as being absolutely incorrect. If the only mentor in the SGI were Daisaku Ikeda, then I think you would actually have the personality cult that the SGI is accused of being by it’s opponents.

First of all, may I confirm that I am a proud member of the Soka Gakkai (as in Soka Gakkai of Japan). I haven’t been a member of the SGI-USA for several years, but here I am respected and referred to as ‘sanbai’, which refers to a respected elder classmate. Daisaku Ikeda is a mentor to many, but I believe to say that he is the only one in the SGI is a statement that negates the Buddha Nature, faith and life experience that pervades many of the SGI members that practice Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism throughout the world.

I believe ‘mentor’ is by definition a one on one process. Mentoring is a life-to-life experience involving exchanges of concepts, feelings and experiences. The idea is for mentors to capably convey what they know in a fashion that allows another to share and express it as a mentor themselves. The growth and benefit of this experience always has a degree of mutuality; mentors grow from mentoring. This is ultimately expressed in our Buddhist practice in the form of the practice of shakubuku.

In my life experience, shit stinks. Period. Where ever you have people you have shit and it always stinks. The SGI is made up of people and their shit stinks too. The point I reached in my exhaustive search of the alternatives as it relates to the practice of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism (without wishing to qualify that statement further) is that the alternatives shit stinks more. However, in my experience, for one to say that the only mentor to be found in the SGI for the practice of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism is the president, living in (to many) far off Japan, is ridiculous.

That message is propounded by ignorant people or enemies of the Soka Gakkai; don’t believe it.

(Or a simpler thing to say would have just been: Where does it say that? Where does it say, “Our ONLY mentor is President Daisaku Ikeda?”)

 

[PassTheDoobie]

SPEAKING OF LITTLE GIRLS......

SPEAKING OF LITTLE GIRLS......

On another note:

IT'S TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The Postscript to "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"

The Postscript to "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"

I COMPILED the above work in the first year of the Bunno era (1260), with the cyclical sign kanoe-saru. That is, I began the work during the Shoka era (1257-1259) and completed it in the first year of Bunno.

In the first year of the Shoka era, cyclical sign hinoto-mi, on the twenty-third day of the eighth month, at the time when the hour of the dog gives way to the hour of the boar (around 9:00 PM), there was a severe earth-quake. Observing this event, I conceived the work. Later, in the first year of Bunno, cyclical sign kanoe-saru, on the sixteenth day of the seventh month, I presented it to His Lordship, (1) the lay priest of Saimyo-ji, who is now deceased, by way of the lay priest (2) Yadoya. Still later, in the first year of the Bun'ei era (1264), cyclical sign kinoe-ne, on the fifth day of the seventh month, when a great comet appeared, I became even more certain of the origins of these disasters. Then, on the eighteenth day of the intercalary first month of the fifth year of Bun'ei, cyclical sign tsuchinoe-tatsu, nine years after the first year of Bunno [when I submitted On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land ], an official letter came from the great kingdom of the Mongols that lies to the west, threatening to attack our country. Again, in the sixth year of the same era (1269), a second letter arrived. Thus the prediction that I made in my memorial [On Establishing the Correct Teaching] has already proved to be true. In view of this, we may suppose that the predictions I made will continue to come true in the future as well.

This work of mine has now been substantiated by fact. But this is not solely due to Nichiren's power. Rather it has come about as a response to the true words of the Lotus Sutra. I copied this work on the eighth day of the twelfth month in the sixth year of Bun'ei (1269), cyclical sign tsuchinoto-mi.

Background

In 1269, Mongol emissaries again arrived at Dazaifu, the government outpost on the southern island of Kyushu, pressing for an answer to their earlier demands. Nichiren Daishonin is believed to have sent off another round of letters to high officials, which again failed to elicit a response. On the eighth day of the twelfth month of 1269, the Daishonin copied On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land and appended this postscript. In the postscript, he warns that the prophecies set forth in that document nine years earlier are now coming true.

Notes

1. The lay priest of Saimyo-ji indicates Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263), the fifth regent of the Kamakura shogunate. He became regent in 1246, but relinquished the regency to Hojo Nagatoki and took holy orders under Doryu, a naturalized Zen priest from China, in 1256. As a lay priest he lived at Saimyo-ji temple, which he had built, but he continued as the de facto ruler. He was called the lay priest of Saimyo-ji.
2. Yadoya Mitsunori, also known as the lay priest Yadoya, was a ranking official close to Hojo Tokiyori.

(WND pg. 31)

 

[BushyOldGrower]

Mentors or Guru's have no site powers like mods or admin. I have no mod powers on the site other than in my forum. I was called the Bubblegum Guru for many years at Overgrow and it meant little actually.

Red, the site is non demonational but we do have members of all faiths and aethiests as well as you know and all are welcome but no one forces anything on you sir. Coming here is asking for it though.

Southern Girl, Tom had nothing to do with this and neither did I other than approving of the decision. His title shows respect and he deserves it in my opinion. I am sorry you see it as wrong for him but I respectfully disagree. BOG

I doubt Tom will want to lose respect well earned and he shouldnt because he once told me never to lose the love people have for me. We cant help others without having people like us for what we do.

 

[Guest]

Hey,
I gotta jump in here,I am SORRY for causing this kind of shit!!!I LOVE all you people,I meant nuthing by it really,just my way of talking!!Anyone who knows me will tell ya that!I was venting for some odd reason yesterday,today I'm cool.I feel as if i started something and i didnt mean too,I dont mean forcing in a litteral way,just my way of saying theres an awful lotta ya!!!!And I come here occasionally to cheer up!!Besides everyone in this thread makes it damn near impossible to stir up,so much warm and fuzzy and all......argh ...I better leave now,I feel your powers trying to turn me!!!
I would also like to add that I am not affiliated with the SGI,FBI,DEA,or the AAA!!!

 

[PassTheDoobie]

On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime

On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime

If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured since time without beginning and to attain without fail unsurpassed enlightenment in this lifetime, you must perceive the mystic truth that is originally inherent in all living beings. This truth is Myoho-renge-kyo. Chanting Myoho-renge-kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the mystic truth innate in all life.

The Lotus Sutra is the king of sutras, true and correct in both word and principle. Its words are the ultimate reality, and this reality is the Mystic Law (myoho). It is called the Mystic Law because it reveals the principle of the mutually inclusive relationship of a single moment of life and all phenomena. That is why this sutra is the wisdom of all Buddhas.

Life at each moment encompasses the body and mind and the self and environment of all sentient beings in the Ten Worlds as well as all insentient beings in the three thousand realms, including plants, sky, earth, and even the minutest particles of dust. Life at each moment permeates the entire realm of phenomena and is revealed in all phenomena. To be awakened to this principle is itself the mutually inclusive relationship of life at each moment and all phenomena. Nevertheless, even though you chant and believe in Myoho-renge-kyo, if you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the Mystic Law but an inferior teaching. "Inferior teaching" means those other than this [Lotus] sutra, which are all expedient and provisional. No expedient or provisional teaching leads directly to enlightenment, and without the direct path to enlightenment you cannot attain Buddhahood, even if you practice lifetime after lifetime for countless kalpas. Attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime is then impossible. Therefore, when you (1) chant myoho and recite renge, you must summon up deep faith that Myoho-renge-kyo is your life itself.

You must never think that any of the eighty thousand sacred teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha's lifetime or any of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions and three existences are outside yourself. Your practice of the Buddhist teachings will not relieve you of the sufferings of birth and death in the least unless you perceive the true nature of your life. If you seek enlightenment outside yourself, then your performing even ten thousand practices and ten thousand good deeds will be in vain. It is like the case of a poor man who spends night and day counting his neighbor's wealth but gains not even half a coin. That is why the T'ien-t'ai school's commentary states, "Unless one perceives the nature of one's life, one cannot eradicate one's grave offenses."(2) This passage implies that, unless one perceives the nature of one's life, one's practice will become an endless, painful austerity. Therefore, such students of Buddhism are condemned as non-Buddhist. Great Concentration and Insight states that, although they study Buddhism, their views are no different from those of non-Buddhists.

Whether you chant the Buddha's name, (3) recite the sutra, or merely offer flowers and incense, all your virtuous acts will implant benefits and roots of goodness in your life. With this conviction you should strive in faith. The Vimalakirti Sutra states that, when one seeks the Buddhas' emancipation in the minds of ordinary beings, one finds that ordinary beings are the entities of enlightenment, and that the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana. It also states that, if the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds.

It is the same with a Buddha and an ordinary being. When deluded, one is called an ordinary being, but when enlightened, one is called a Buddha. This is similar to a tarnished mirror that will shine like a jewel when polished. A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality. Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

What then does myo signify? It is simply the mysterious nature of our life from moment to moment, which the mind cannot comprehend or words express. When we look into our own mind at any moment, we perceive neither color nor form to verify that it exists. Yet we still cannot say it does not exist, for many differing thoughts continually occur. The mind cannot be considered either to exist or not to exist. Life is indeed an elusive reality that transcends both the words and concepts of existence and nonexistence. It is neither existence nor non-existence, yet exhibits the qualities of both. It is the mystic entity of the Middle Way that is the ultimate reality. Myo is the name given to the mystic nature of life, and ho, to its manifestations. Renge, which means lotus flower, is used to symbolize the wonder of this Law. If we understand that our life at this moment is myo, then we will also understand that our life at other (4) moments is the Mystic Law. This realization is the mystic kyo, or sutra. The Lotus Sutra is the king of sutras, the direct path to enlightenment, for it explains that the entity of our life, which manifests either good or evil at each moment, is in fact the entity of the Mystic Law.

If you chant Myoho-renge-kyo with deep faith in this principle, you are certain to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. That is why the sutra states, "After I have passed into extinction, [one] should accept and uphold this sutra. Such a person assuredly and without doubt will attain the Buddha way." (5) Never doubt in the slightest.

Respectfully.

Maintain your faith and attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Nichiren

Background

This letter was written to Toki Jonin in the seventh year of Kencho (1255), two years after Nichiren Daishonin established his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. At the time of this letter, the Daishonin was thirty-four years old and was living in Kamakura, the seat of the military government. Toki was a staunch follower of the Daishonin who lived in Wakamiya in Shimosa Province. He received some thirty letters, including Letter from Sado and one of the major treatises, The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind. A retainer of Lord Chiba, the constable of Shimosa, Toki had become a follower of the Daishonin around 1254.

Of all his writings from the mid-1250s, On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime focuses most clearly on the tenets of the Daishonin's Buddhism;many of the other works of this period are aimed chiefly at refuting the erroneous doctrines of other schools and discussing theoretical questions. This short essay not only reflects the theories T'ien-t'ai formulated based on the Lotus Sutra, but also reveals the concrete practice for attaining Buddha-hood - namely, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo - that is missing in T'ien-t'ai's theoretical framework.

Myoho-renge-kyo is the title of the Lotus Sutra, but to the Daishonin it is much more; it is the essence of the sutra, the revelation of the supreme Law itself. Apparent in this work are both the depth of his thought and his conviction that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the only teaching that can lead people to Buddhahood in this lifetime.

Notes

1. "Chant myoho and recite renge" means to chant the daimoku of the Mystic Law, or Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
2. The Annotations on "Great Concentration and Insight."
3. As used here, "the Buddha's name"denotes Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
4. This sentence can also be interpreted to read, "If one understands that one's life is myo, then one also understands that others' lives are all entities of the Mystic Law."
5. Lotus Sutra, chap. 21.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Without adversity, we would have no proof of our progress!

All my love to all!

--And I mean ALL--

T

 

[Guest]

I DO enjoy a little Dr.Phil every now and then

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Red!

Red!




see what shit you started SG? I think she might be vying for your title RED!

Watch out, you've got competition!

 

[Mrs.Babba]

PTD....congradulations on your TWINS!...that is great news!...we are so happy for you and your family! much love from the babbas

 

[Babbabud]

Twins!!!

Twins!!!



All right twinsss she knew it all along
Congratulations to the Doobie family .

Went to my SGI meeting last night feeling a little down... wasnt sure about going ... man i felt better after an hour of chanting with my family
Oh yea and just for the record I am a member of the SGI
USA but Im not a Guru .... although ICmag, which is not in any way affliliated with the SGI USA, asked me to be which I respectfully declined
Nam myoho renge kyo

Much love to everyone ... and I also mean each and everyone of you !!!!!

Please everyone keep dropping in and reading

 

[Babbabud]

Well it appears that PureLand has deleted his account. Seemed like a very nice individual. Sorry to see a new member leave so fast. I hope it is in no way related to how we represented ourselves. If anything I said in my post yesterday seemed too strong I do apologize. I have much respect for everyone involved in this thread. My practice is very young in a group of old timers and if Ive spoke out of turn or my ignorance is hanging out at times im sorry and do not wish to appear arrogant. SourthernGirl I bow to you in obeisance.
Nam myoho renge kyo !

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Mrs. Babba--Thank you for the congrats on the new kids to both of you! I only wish I could have taken some bets a mere four years ago! "We are going to have six kids." No one would have believed me! I could have gotten some unbelievable odds!

Frankly I got to read Pure Land's last post, and I am very sure that the thread had nothing to do with his leaving. I REALLY liked the guy and do hope he returns. Pure Land! If you are out there and reading this, know that you are already missed!

Bud--You did not speak out of turn, and you are never arrogant (that I have ever seen).

Thanks to both you and BOG for your support. When someone starts taking shots at me, you two always seem to be there to try and deflect them. How deep our past life connections must be! My gratitude for knowing both of you is beyond words. Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Babbabud
You have nothing to bow to me for ever. No One for that matter, unless Nichiren Daishonin shows up in your living room....then I say Bow! There are no gurus in buddhism. And I understand that the title has nothing to do with this site. But this site is pages and pages of quotes from the Gosho and SGI. For anyone who has any knowledge of Buddhism there in lies the confusion. Which was the point that I was trying to make. That is what he saw and made his point.
Your opinion and your feelings are as important as anyones, which is sometimes or alot of times a problem in here. You continue to feel and say what you feel because most of what you say comes from your heart. Don't ever let anyone take that away from you. That too is not buddhism. Compassion, listening and trying to understand. I love you for who and what you are. You have shown me how important SGI, President Ikeda and my fellowship with that organization is as well as So Cal.It is up to us as to how it serves us but a very important piece of the journey. I hope that you are my Bud. SG

 

[PassTheDoobie]

SG! There ARE gurus in Buddhism...

SG! There ARE gurus in Buddhism...

There are no gurus in buddhism. SG

Whatever you have in your head a guru is, please open your mind to the fact that a guru can be nothing more than a teacher:

Guru
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A guru (गुरू Sanskrit) is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism. Based on a long line of philosophical understandings of the importance of knowledge, guru is seen in these religions as a sacred conduit, or a way to self-realization. In India and among people of Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikh belief, the title retains a hallowed meaning.

Guru also refers in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu figure analogous to the Roman planet/god Jupiter. In Vedic astrology, Jupiter/Guru/Brihaspati is believed to exert teaching influences. Indeed, in many Indian languages, such as Hindi, Thursday is called either Brihaspativaar or Guruvaar (vaar meaning period or day).

In contemporary India and Indonesia, Guru is widely used with the general meaning "teacher". In Western usage, the original meaning of guru has been extended to cover anyone who acquires followers, not necessarily in an established school of philosophy or religion. In a further metaphorical extension, guru is used of a person who has authority because of his or her perceived knowledge or skills in a domain of expertise.

The importance of discerning between a true guru and a false one is explored in scriptures and teachings of religions in which a guru plays a role. The assessment and criticism of gurus and the Guru-shishya tradition are espoused in the discourse about new religious movements by Western secular scholars, theologians, anti-cultists, and by skeptics both in the West and in India.

I'm not trying to pick on you, but you continue to jump in here with declaratives, that I am compelled to try and clarify. Please try and express things that are your opinions, as exactly that. I believe I make that effort. I would appreciate it if you would too. Thanks!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Thomas

 

[PassTheDoobie]

And I understand that the title has nothing to do with this site. SG

And to clarify this one last time, the title has ONLY to do with this site.

 

[Guest]

I don't need it clarified one more time. I understand that. I just didn't want anyone to get the impression that in Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism we don't have guru's. In my opinion to the best of my knowledge. I have heard of sages, sensai but never a guru. But if that is a word used in Hinduism, Buddhism that would be the way before Nichiren Daishonin. PTD you can be whatever title you want to be. You show me the word guru in gosho and you have my humble apologies. SG

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The more you say...

The more you say...

I just didn't want anyone to get the impression that in Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism we don't have guru's. PTD you can be whatever title you want to be.SG

The more confused I become. Are you still unaware of the fact that I did not seek or "want" this title, but was asked to assume it, and accepted?

Have you decided to become a troll?

Read my PM, and let's take this conversation out of the thread so that people don't become even more disillusioned about the importance of unity among SGI members than they may already be.

Thanks!

T