For Budding Buddhists...not to shove it down your throat!

[BushyOldGrower]

First let me say that this thread is about the practice of buddhism and what I plan to show those interested aren't my opinions. Although I may not be qualified to teach the tenets of buddhism yet my intention is to show how some buddhists practice buddhism daily.

This is about what I say in the morning and the text are shown in the pics. If you are interested enlarge and read the english version. I always chant toward the east and in the language but then I read what it meant to make it sink in. This is Gongyo according to the followers of the lay organization SGI.

I am not a member but I do this gongyo in an effort to bring out the inner buddha in myself. Daily in the morning and evening is best but any chanting or thinking of "nam myoho renge kyo" will help anyone IMHO. It helps to understand as much as you can but whatever is too tough for a person can be left without worry. If you see something here you wish to investigate let me know. I can refer you to our chanting guru who is my teacher and he would say he isnt a teacher either. His teacher is Sokai Gakai I believe and these teachings arent that controversial.

See of you like the spirit of gongyo and let me show you what nam myoho renge kyo means. It means more than this though...




I always wondered what practicing buddhism meant and it means more than this but here is much of what is done by a group of buddhists I respect. They believe that we all can reach enlightenment in this life and I quite agree.

Its hard to read, let alone write the truths encompassed in the three great secret laws and most have never heard of the three treasures.

Who was a buddha is always in question as he keeps returning and indeed never leaves but appears to leave for a time. If you understand that these doctrines came from 500 years previous to Christ you can see where he got some of his progressive ideas IMO. His doctrine of non violence for example.









To me the one is the one and he is the father of us. Divisions in differing religions are an obstacle to seeking truth but remember that if you seek you shall find. All rivers lead to the same deep sea of truth.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to all the older folks...we have the least time left.

Before we do it over again. BOG

 

[ripit]

brothers in spirit at least!

 

[BushyOldGrower]

There are other teachers and great masters. To me truth is to be found where you find it and I can't tell you what's true but I know it when I see it.

Some things just aren't debatable and many of these things are commonly believed by most people and religions. Certainly Jesus would Love Buddha and Buddha would at least respect Jesus for his sacrifice. BOG

 

[Guest]

BOG I think I have expsressed to you on a couple of occasions my interest in Buddhism. I may be wrong but I was under the impression that Jesus was raised experiencing many different religions. Of course Christianity does not tell us this and they wouldn't. I could be wrong.

Mo,

 

[LadyOlive]

Hey Bushy,

I see this in your posts..... sweetie what does it mean? Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Thank you kindly,
LadyOlive

 

[BushyOldGrower]

First read the google version at the top and then I can try to tell you. The trouble is that I am still learning the full meaning myself because nam myoho renge kyo encompasses the heart of the lotus sutra and that means its essential essence. To try and state it myself has been a task never completed because I can't do it.

The whole concept is big and if you read the gongyo you will read that only buddhas can fully understand. The thing is that it also says accessing this knowledge while hard to do isnt impossible. I know it isnt impossible but I cant write you the answer.

You can access the place of knowledge and understanding and special insights can come to you but learning how to do this starts with chanting nam myoho renge kyo and just this will be enough to strengthen and prove itself to you. Follow your intuitions if you seek this truth and you should as do I.

Can even a real expert remember and hold it all in one thought? Its very difficult when inbody but in an out of body experience things can be done not normally possible.

Nam means "devotion to" but to what? To the highest and most sacred laws of the universe that are the basis of our reality. Tom Pass the Doobie told me that when I asked but its a lot more. That is still just a short version like simple stuff we teach to kids. He knows my heart is good and I know he has much knowledge as well as being good as a fine teacher himself.

Perhaps some others will help me try to answer that question. The three great secret laws are good. One of them is that a buddha lives forever you know. BOG

 

[guineapig]

when you read certain passages of the New Testament in Ancient Ethiopian script (Coptic Church version) you get a sense that Buddhism and the teachings of Jesus have much in common.....the language is much much more prescise and the text hasn't endured centuries of translations and censorship and other actions that has really changed the original messages......interesting stuff here......-gp

 

[Guest]

Imo,
Not that anyone gives a shit,religon and politics should be kept out of "open" forums.Now before anyone gets all pissy with me and throws me in el slammo,I'm not stirring shit or flamming anyone here,I know I dont have to read the post or come here again.I'm glad Bog and others have found there god,some of us have differing views and some dont believe at all.Some would get angry about using Jesus name in a poll about "do you think Jesus was a Buddhist".Obviously I have my own opinions,NO!!Point is,same reason ya dont talk about it in a bar is the same reason ya shouldnt here.Fights occur,people take there god seriously and everyone has a different answer.Lets remember,Budda might have been around before Jesus,but he wasnt here before Jesus's father!He,being God,created Budda and all other things,the only way to the father is thru the son.Thats one story,I know lots others,the turtle story for example,etc etc.
"Certainly Jesus would Love Buddha and Buddha would at least respect Jesus for his sacrifice"
I learned all I need to know about Buddhism from that statement.Jesus does love Budda and all of you!And I'm sure he appreciates the respect from Budda. Love RED145

 

[Guest]

Red - I respect the hell outta your opinon. However, BOG isn't trying to shove anything down anyones throat - if he was, I'm sure it wouldn't have stayed around long enough for you to post.

If this type post bothers you, I recommend that you take your own advice:

I'm not stirring shit or flamming anyone here,I know I dont have to read the post or come here again.

By all means, feel free to start your own informative post regarding your beliefs...

Ya'll keeper' Green & Stay Safe!






.

 

[Guest]

Gunny,
I thought so,I never said he was shoving it down any throats Gunny,I was mearly making my opinion known,I'm still allowed that rite?I believe I started my post by saying,In My Opinion,thats all it was,everyone else gets too say whats on there mind,why am I different.Bog knows I love him,just sayin this is an marijuanna growing site,unless budda grew pot,I dont see the relavance. It's just my opinion,no ones shoving anything down anyones throat.that is unless the old lady comes over tonite!!

 

[resinryder]

Few questions about Buddhism. I have never known a Buddhist personally, and would ask the same type questions of hindus, mormans,etc. Please don't take it as a dig at your religion, I'm just curious. Most of what I've read about Buddhism is mystery and very hard to grasp.

1. If you can't explain what your chants mean, can't determine if you'll ever reach enlightenment, don't know if you'll ever be a Buddha, is there anything to make it worth while?

2. How do you know who is really a Buddha? How can you ever really be sure if anyone can truly achieve the level of Buddha if it's an eternal quest?

3. After leading a life as a Buddhist, what is your reward?

You, as refered to in the above questions, is Buddhist in general. Not refering to YOU Sir Bog. I have nothing but respect for you sir.
Please, this is not an attack, flaming, trolling, berating ones religious views over anothers,etc,etc, of any sorts, just curious. I guess I want to know what draws you to want to become a Buddhist when you can spend your life trying to obtain what may be unobtainable.

 

[guineapig]

is DG going to advise us to shy away from politics and religion?

i guess practicing a spiritual path is its own reward....

RED i tried to visit you while you were in the cooler.....i was going to pass you a file inside a birthday cake i baked but DG confiscated the file......if you can't bust out at least go ATTICA up in the place......hehehehe

some chaps around here have alluded to anti-semetic views but i hear everyone out and don't start flame-wars over religion.....its all interesting to me, but maybe RED does have a point about the possible limitations of an "open" forum.....

sorry to interrupy your discussion, -gp out

 

[Babbabud]

Nam myoho renge kyo

Nam myoho renge kyo

Nam = Devotion

Myoho= Mystic Law

Renge = Law of cause and effect

Kyo = Sutra or teaching

What then does myo signify? It is simply the mysterious nature of our lives from moment to moment, which the mind cannot comprehend, nor words express. When you look into your own mind at any moment, you perceive neither color nor form to verify that it exists. Yet you cannot say it does not exist, for many differing thoughts continually occur to you.
"Life is indeed an elusive reality that transcends both the words and concepts of existence and nonexistence. It is neither existence nor nonexistence, yet exhibits the qualitites of both. It is the mystic entity of the Middle Way that is the reality of all things. Myo is the name given to the mystic nature of life, and ho to its manifestations.

"Renge, the lotus flower, symbolizes the wonder of this Law. Once you realize that your own life is the Mystic Law, you will realize that so are the lives of all others. That realization is the mystic kyo, or sutra. It is the king of sutras, the direct path to enlightenment, for it explains that the entity of our minds, from which spring both good and evil, is in fact the entity of the Mystic Law.

"If you have deep faith in this truth and chant Myoho-renge-kyo, you are certain to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. That is why the sutra states, 'After my death, you must embrace this sutra. Those who do so shall travel the straight road to Buddhahood.'"

 

[resinryder]

I agree with you on the spiritual paths mr. guineapig. I never argue religion. Just had some questions that I would not ask in the chanting growers group out of respect for the thread. Just wondering what about Buddhism draws in people.
Thanks for the explination Mr. Babba, Very....... Enlightening.

 

[Babbabud]

My simplified few on buddhism. Respect everything.... recieve respect back. cause and effect.

 

[resinryder]

Seems like the basis for what we all should strive for Mr. Babba.

 

[Guest]

With all due respect;

This post is about information – not confrontation – I state ‘a piece’ of my view as my duty to Christ & my beliefs / I fully respect ones right to there beliefs & to agree or disagree with mine. I have no plans for defending the Christian faith – Christ fights His own battles. May we all find love, peace & joy with our selves & others.
================================
Buddhism FOUNDER: Siddhartha Gautama, a prince from northern India near modern Nepal who lived about 563–483 B.C.

Buddhism is the belief system of those who follow the Buddha, the Enlightened One, a title given to its founder. The religion has evolved into three main schools:

1. Theravada or the Doctrine of the Elders (38%) is followed in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia (Kampuchea), and Vietnam.

2. Mahayana or the Greater Vehicle (56%) is strong in China, Korea, and Japan.

3. Vajrayana, also called Tantrism or Lamaism, (6%) is rooted in Tibet, Nepal, and Mongolia. Theravada is closest to the original doctrines. It does not treat the Buddha as deity and regards the faith as a worldview—not a type of worship. Mahayana has accommodated many different beliefs and worships the Buddha as a god. Vajrayana has added elements of shamanism and the occult and includes taboo breaking (intentional immorality) as a means of spiritual enlightenment.

Buddhism was founded as a form of atheism that rejected more ancient beliefs in a permanent, personal, creator God (Ishvara) who controlled the eternal destiny of human souls. Siddhartha Gautama rejected more ancient theistic beliefs because of difficulty he had over reconciling the reality of suffering, judgment, and evil with the existence of a good and holy God.
Buddhism is an impersonal religion of self-perfection, the end of which is death (extinction)—not life. The essential elements of the Buddhist belief system are summarized in the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and several additional key doctrines. The Four Noble Truths affirm that (1) life is full of suffering (dukkha); (2) suffering is caused by craving (samudaya); (3) suffering will cease only when craving ceases (nirodha); and (4) this can be achieved by following the Noble Eightfold Path consisting of right views, right aspiration, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation. Other key doctrines include belief that nothing in life is permanent (anicca), that individual selves do not truly exist (anatta), that all is determined by an impersonal law of moral causation (karma), that reincarnation is an endless cycle of continuous suffering, and that the goal of life is to break out of this cycle by finally extinguishing the flame of life and entering a permanent state of pure nonexistence (nirvana).

As for me & my house - we will serve the Lord​

I am a firm beliver in Crrist as the son of God -NWM​

Suffering: Buddhists are deeply concerned with overcoming suffering but must deny that suffering is real. Christ faced the reality of suffering and overcame it by solving the problem of sin, which is the real source of suffering. Now, those who trust in Christ can rise above suffering in this life because they have hope of a future life free of suffering. "We fix our eyes not on what is seen [suffering], but on what is unseen [eternal life free of suffering]. For what is seen [suffering] is temporary, but what is unseen [future good life with Christ] is eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18, NIV).

Meaningful Self: Buddhists must work to convince themselves they have no personal signifi- cance, even though they live daily as though they do. Jesus taught that each person has real significance. Each person is made in God’s image with an immortal soul and an eternal destiny. Jesus demonstrated the value of people by loving us so much that He sacrificed His life in order to offer eternal future good life to anyone who trusts Him. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8, NIV). Future Hope: The hope of nirvana is no hope at all—only death and extinction. The hope of those who put their trust in Christ is eternal good life in a "new heaven and new earth" in which God "will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things [suffering] has passed [will pass] away" (Rev. 21:4, NIV). Moral Law: Because karma, the Buddhist law of moral cause and effect, is completely rigid and impersonal, life for a Buddhist is very oppressive. Under karma, there can be no appeal, no mercy, and no escape except through unceasing effort at self- refection. Christians understand that the moral force governing the universe is a personal God who listens to those who pray, who has mercy on those who repent, and who with love personally controls for good the lives of those who follow Christ. "In all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Rom. 8:28, NIV). Merit: Buddhists constantly struggle to earn merit by doing good deeds, hoping to collect enough to break free from the life of suffering. They also believe saints can transfer surplus merit to the undeserving. Jesus taught no one can ever collect enough merit on his own to earn everlasting freedom from suffering. Instead, Jesus Christ, who has unlimited merit (righteousness) by virtue of His sinless life, meritorious death, and resurrection, now offers His unlimited merit as a free gift to anyone who will become His disciple. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph. 2:8–9, NIV). Desire: Buddhists live a contradiction—they seek to overcome suffering by rooting out desire, but at the same time they cultivate desire for self- ontrol, meritorious life, and nirvana. Christians are consistent—we seek to reject evil desires and cultivate good desires according to the standard of Christ. "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Tim. 2:22, NIV).

THE EIGHTFOLD PATH

Right views: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and there is salvation in no one else (Acts 4:12). Right aspiration: Fights and quarrels come from selfish desires and wrong motives (Jas. 4:1–3); right desires and motives honor God (1 Cor. 10:31).

Right speech: A day of judgment is coming when God will hold men accountable for every careless word they have spoken (Matt. 12:36). Right conduct: The one who loves Jesus must obey Him (John 14:21), and those who live by God’s wisdom will produce good acts/fruit (Jas. 3:17).

Right livelihood: God will care for those who put Him first (Matt. 6:31,33), and all work must be done for God’s approval (2 Tim. 2:15). Right effort: Like runners in a race, followers of Christ must throw off every hindrance in order to give Him their best efforts (Heb. 12:1–2).

Right mindfulness: The sinful mind cannot submit to God’s law (Rom. 8:7), and disciples of Christ must orient their minds as He did (Phil. 2:5).

Right contemplation: The secret of true success, inner peace, self-control, and lasting salvation is submission to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and setting your heart and mind on things above where He now sits in glory waiting to bring the present order of sin and suffering to an end (Col. 3:1–4).

Even so - Come quickly Lord​

 

[Babbabud]

Nowhereman i feel there is a large amount of Misinformation in your post. If you wish to comment on buddhism I think it is only fair to take a closer look at which type of buddhism is being studied. Most of the information you have given is misinformation.
The buddhism referred to here is Nichiren Daishonins buddhism. I would never go so far as to tell you what the bible says to you and I would think that you would respect us enough to not try to tell us about something you really know nothing about. I find your comparisons disrespectful to say the least.

 

[resinryder]

Never realized there were 3 forms of Buddhism. The form practiced in Tibet was what I thought was the,(for lack of the correct words), standard beliefs as it's the form I've heard the most about.. Learn something new everyday.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

For the purpose of the conversation....

For the purpose of the conversation....

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
[南無妙法[華経]

The ultimate Law or truth of the universe, according to Nichiren's teaching. Nichiren first taught the invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to a small group of people at Seicho-ji temple in his native province of Awa, Japan, on the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month in 1253. It literally means devotion to Myoho-renge-kyo. Myoho-renge-kyo is the Japanese title of the Lotus Sutra, which Nichiren regards as the sutra's essence, and appending nam (a phonetic change of namu ) to that phrase indicates devotion to the title and essence of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren identifies it with the universal Law or principle implicit in the meaning of the sutra's text.

The meaning of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is explained in the opening section of The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, the record of Nichiren's lectures on the Lotus Sutra compiled by his disciple and successor, Nikko. It states that namu derives from the Sanskrit word namas and is translated as devotion, or as "dedicating one's life." What one should dedicate one's life to, he says, are the Person and the Law. The Person signifies "Shakyamuni," which means the eternal Buddha, and the Law is "the Lotus Sutra," which means the ultimate truth, or Myoho-renge-kyo. According to Orally Transmitted Teachings, the act of devotion (namu) has two aspects: One is to devote oneself to, or fuse one's life with, the eternal and unchanging truth; the other is that, through this fusion of one's life with the ultimate truth, one simultaneously draws forth inexhaustible wisdom that functions in accordance with changing circumstances.

Orally Transmitted Teachings further states: "We may also note that the nam of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a Sanskrit word, while Myoho-renge-kyo are Chinese words. Sanskrit and Chinese join in a single moment to form Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. If we express the title [of the Lotus Sutra] in Sanskrit, it will be Saddharma-pundarika-sutra. This is Myoho-renge-kyo. Sad (a phonetic change of sat ) means myo, or wonderful. Dharma means ho, Law or phenomena. Pundarika means renge, or lotus blossom. Sutra means kyo, or sutra. The nine Chinese characters [that represent the Sanskrit title] are the Buddha bodies of the nine honored ones. This expresses the idea that the nine worlds are none other than the Buddha world.

"Myo stands for the Dharma nature, or enlightenment, while horepresents darkness, or ignorance. Together as myoho, they express the idea that ignorance and the Dharma nature are a single entity, or one in essence. Renge stands for the two elements of cause and effect. Cause and effect are also a single entity.

"Kyo represents the words and voices of all living beings. A commentary says, 'The voice carries out the work of the Buddha, and it is called kyo.' Kyo may also be defined as that which is constant and unchanging in the three existences of past, present, and future. The Dharma realm is myoho, the wonderful Law; the Dharma realm is renge, the lotus blossom; the Dharma realm is kyo, the sutra."

As Nichiren states, namu derives from Sanskrit, and Myoho-renge-kyo comes from Chinese. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is, therefore, not simply a Japanese phrase, but a Japanese reading of a Sanskrit and Chinese phrase. In this sense, it contains aspects of the languages of three countries in which Mahayana Buddhism spread. According to Nichiren's treatise The Entity of the Mystic Law, Nan-yüeh and T'ien-t'ai of China and Dengyo of Japan recited the invocation meaning devotion to the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law, or Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, as their private practice, but they did not spread this practice to others.

In On the Three Great Secret Laws, Nichiren states that the daimoku Nichiren chants today in the Latter Day of the Law is different from that of the previous ages-the daimoku T'ien-t'ai and others chanted in the Former Day and Middle Day of the Law-because the practice of daimoku in the Latter Day of the Law involves chanting it oneself and teaching others to do so as well. Nichiren not only established the invocation (daimoku) of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo but embodied it as a mandala, making it the object of devotion called Gohonzon. In Reply to Kyo'o, he states, "I, Nichiren, have inscribed my life in sumi ink, so believe in the Gohonzon with your whole heart. The Buddha's will is the Lotus Sutra, but the soul of Nichiren is nothing other than Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" (412).

From source: The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism