Dec 8, 2011 -- 6:27AM, lowbrim wrote:

I have recently read a few books centering on Nichiren's teachings.  This is my question...if I want to learn and practice Nichiren Buddhism and dedicate myself to the Lotus Sutra, can I realistically expect to benefit from the only local buddhist sanghas in my area, which are Zen and Tibetan.  I could be wrong in thinking that by having four local centers in my area, I am being selfish and aloof by abstaining from the "company" of these other buddhists.  However, I also concerned about what will happen if I practice within a fusion of traditions.  Any help will my problem, or else does anyone really find themselves at such odds in their own area?

This is an excellent question.  The following answers are provided by me, a 30 year practitioner and a leader of Nichiren Buddhism in my community.

The Lotus Sutra is the deepest and most extensive teaching of the Buddha. This is not my opinion but is actually stated in the Lotus Sutra itself.

Why is the Lotus Sutra the most extensive teaching of the Buddha?  It is is the only teaching of the Buddha where the entity and function of the Buddha's wisdom is directly opened up and displayed in all its vast wonder and splendor. In addition the Lotus Sutra explains the direct cause and the direct effect of the Buddha's enlightenment into the eternal Law of Life.And further to this, it also explains all the ways and means of all the provisional gateways that were provided in all the prior teachings of the Buddha, the original gateway and the reasoning and the relationship between all the provisional gateways and the original gateway. While the provisional gateways are always temporary, the original gateway is ever present and resides in the primordial infinity within the deepest aspect of LIFE itself.

What is the eternal Law of Life?  It is the direct cause and the direct effect of the awakening of the Buddha nature present in ones life. It is the teaching implicitedly expressed in the 16th chapter of the Lotus Sutra.

What is the Buddha nature? The Buddha nature is the Entity of the Mystic Law of Cause and Effect that is the essential Dharma basing and governing the functions of all phenomena. --> http://www.sgilibrary.org/pdf/047_0417.pdf

How is the Buddha nature awakened in one's life?  By contemplating and putting into practice for oneself the causes and effects of the Buddha's way of life. Nichiren taught that the most correct way to perform this function in a single lifetime beset within myriad layers of negative karma is to recite the phrase Nam Myoho Renge Kyo ( devotion to the mystic law of cause and effect as contemplated and practiced by all Buddhas) before the mandala of the Lotus Sutra (Gohonzon).   

What is the Buddha's way of life?  The Buddha's way of life is to forever observe and uphold the pristine purity and wonder of the Buddha nature that is inherent within himself and within all living beings. This again is the mandala of the Lotus Sutra known as the Gohonzon. 

What is the practice called? It is called the practice and observance of the Lotus Sutra. A more precise and quite intruguing translation is offered by a Chinese tranlsator of the Lotus Sutra by the name of Martin Bradly who offers the following translation "‘The consecration and founding of our lives on the vertical threads of the sutra where existence takes place into which is woven the filament of the simultaneousness of cause and effect of the entirety of existence that are the utter limits of the one instant of mind containing three thousand existential spaces.' Then of course we can translate Nam myôhô renge kyô literally which is, ‘To consecrate and found our lives upon the Sutra on the Lotus Flower of the Utterness of the Dharma'," ---->www.hokkeko.de/hokkeko.ca/intro7.htm

What is the fundamental practice of the above principle as taught by Nichiren of the Nichiren school himself? It means to recite the phrase Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the two most important chapters of the Lotus Sutra from the standpoint of the Dharma of Lutus or Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

How can you enter the path of this practice and its community of practitioners most effectively today. Go here -------------> www.sgi-usa.org/buddhism/thesecrettohapp... Surf this website.  Go to the contact pages, call them and ask them where is the nearest center closest to your house. 

Why do I suggest that you go to this web site rather than simply attend the schools of Tibetan and Zen Buddhism in your area?  These schools do not directly teach the principles, practices and wisdom of the essential teachings of the Lotus Sutra. They simply follow their own traditions. While these traditions are deep and intriguing in their own right (all teaching of the Buddha are deep and intriguing in their own right);  these traditions fall within the provisional gateways. The provisional gateways are the gateways that are recorded in the other Sutras such as the Shuramgama Sutra, the Lankavatarra Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra and the Prajna Paramita Sutra. None of these sutras reveal the causes and effects of the unparalleled principles that are disclosed only in the Lotus Sutra. Such unparalleled principles that are found only in the Lotus Sutra are the the principle of the

1) infinite meanings derive from one law.

2) The enfolding of all the provisional gateways within the single gateway of the Lotus Sutra and the fundamental reasons why are all explained in the Lotus Sutra.

3) The prophesy of all voice hearer disciples attainment of the perfect and immediate enlightenment in a single lifetime and an explaination as to the reasons why. 

4) The original point at which the Buddha planted the seeds of Buddhahood in the lives of disciples in the remote past and why it is that they had become unaware of this within the intervening periods lifetime after lifetime. 

5) The appearance of the Treasure Tower with the Buddha Abundant Treasures of the ancient past sitting inside it and the reasons behind such a manifestation.

6) The revelation of the Buddha's original disciples known as the Bodhisattva's who appear from beneath the Earth and the purpose for their appearance. 

7) The revelation of the Buddha's original attainment of enlightenment in the primoridal infinity. This revelation accomplishes the completion of the purpose for the Buddha's appearance in the world and brings to fruition the meaning and purpose for the revelation of all the provisional gateways or ways and means.

What is the fundamental Buddhist tenet represented by all these teachings? It means to uphold the principle that all living beings without discrimination possess deep within themselves the Buddha nature, the capacity to attain Buddhahood and the prophesy that by virtue of their appearance as living beings, they will attain Buddhahood in the future.

Please do your best and exert yourself in the practice and study of true Buddhism.

Best of the Best to You.

Gassho

I too am in a desolate area, there are only about 4-5 Nichiren Buddhists in my town.  In some places you might be the only one.  However I would point out succinctly that "Buddhism" is not always Buddhism.  In other words, there is no logic in going to a zen temple/meeting if you seek the Lotus Sutra.  You would do just as well to go to a christian church.  The fivefold comparison teaches why the Lotus Sutra (Gohonzon), and rather Nichiren's teaching is the superior teaching.  He is also very strict in his writings about other sects.  For example, he actually says Zen leads to hell if I recall correctly.  

You can practice alone just fine and find community on the internet until you find a group within your reach.  This Buddhism is the correct teaching.  Once you obtain actual proof of this teaching, by reciting the Lotus Sutra and chanting the daimoku, you will understand why you will not find Buddhism elsewhere.

And Etoro, my post inherently says the same-unless you don't know the five-fold comparison.  And as far as a "mystic relationship" between mentor and disciple-I'd like a gosho reference on that.  Because Nichiren's life is inscribed in sumi, anyone who chants sincerely to the Gohonzon achieves that relationship, it is kyochi myogo.  

Now if you have some gosho references or at least one for your inference about the necessity of President Ikeda for my practice?  I'll be happy to await those references.  Otherwise, that is wishful thinking or speculation, but not Buddhism.

In the future, please read my posts before arguing with them.  Empty arguments are a distraction, not a dialog.

Jan 26, 2012 -- 6:11PM, etoro wrote:

There is no knowledge and practice of true Buddhism apart from the mentor disciple relationship.  Buddhism is not an abstract philosophy and dependent origination is the true nature of life.  The Buddha in the Lotus Sutra proclaims himself to be the father of all living beings. He also states that he is here always preaching the law.  The Buddha also transmits the essence of the Lotus Sutra to the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. Nichrien also practiced in oneness with his disciples.  The Soka Gakkai was established on the basis of the same principle basis and relationship between Mentor and Disciple. The aforementioned principles do not proclaim themselves.  The teaching must be proclaimed and validated by actual human beings, teachers of the Law (LS chapter 10) . This is how people in any age here of the correct doctrine. They must encounter a correct teacher of the Law.Today the correct teachers of the Law have been the three Presidents of the Soka Gakkai.

The concept of mentor begins with the Law and the person who practices to that Law.  Without the person there is no understanding of the law.  And without the spirit of saving others through awakening them to the Law there is no Bodhisatttva practice. ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Sutra   A Buddha's life also consists of the awakening to the oneness of the three existences, past, present and future.  This is an aspect of the Buddha's wisdom and self identity.  Therefore a Buddha always operates from the standpoint of the wisdom of the past, present and future.  The Lotus Sutra itself is replete with the stories of the mentor disciple relationship spanning vast time frames and the wisdom of transcending the conditional nature of temporality as the very basis for how the wide spread propogation and wide spread awakening unfolds after the Buddha's passing.

This above merely touches upon a truly vast subject of Buddhist knowledge and understanding regarding the oneness of mentor and disciple as the essential form by which the true Buddha wisdom (aka Lotus Sutra) is correctly transmitted from past to future lives.

An interesting read, but I asked for a Gosho reference.  I'm not a Tendai Buddhist, I'm a Nichiren Buddhist-oh right, it's even the Nichiren Buddhist forum-so Gosho is the most important doctrine on this board.  Either way, I think your several paragraphs answered the challenge with a "there is none".

Jan 27, 2012 -- 8:58PM, Bob_the_Lunatic wrote:

Jan 26, 2012 -- 6:11PM, etoro wrote:

There is no knowledge and practice of true Buddhism apart from the mentor disciple relationship.  Buddhism is not an abstract philosophy and dependent origination is the true nature of life.  The Buddha in the Lotus Sutra proclaims himself to be the father of all living beings. He also states that he is here always preaching the law.  The Buddha also transmits the essence of the Lotus Sutra to the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. Nichrien also practiced in oneness with his disciples.  The Soka Gakkai was established on the basis of the same principle basis and relationship between Mentor and Disciple. The aforementioned principles do not proclaim themselves.  The teaching must be proclaimed and validated by actual human beings, teachers of the Law (LS chapter 10) . This is how people in any age here of the correct doctrine. They must encounter a correct teacher of the Law.Today the correct teachers of the Law have been the three Presidents of the Soka Gakkai.

The concept of mentor begins with the Law and the person who practices to that Law.  Without the person there is no understanding of the law.  And without the spirit of saving others through awakening them to the Law there is no Bodhisatttva practice. ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Sutra   A Buddha's life also consists of the awakening to the oneness of the three existences, past, present and future.  This is an aspect of the Buddha's wisdom and self identity.  Therefore a Buddha always operates from the standpoint of the wisdom of the past, present and future.  The Lotus Sutra itself is replete with the stories of the mentor disciple relationship spanning vast time frames and the wisdom of transcending the conditional nature of temporality as the very basis for how the wide spread propogation and wide spread awakening unfolds after the Buddha's passing.

This above merely touches upon a truly vast subject of Buddhist knowledge and understanding regarding the oneness of mentor and disciple as the essential form by which the true Buddha wisdom (aka Lotus Sutra) is correctly transmitted from past to future lives.

An interesting read, but I asked for a Gosho reference.  I'm not a Tendai Buddhist, I'm a Nichiren Buddhist-oh right, it's even the Nichiren Buddhist forum-so Gosho is the most important doctrine on this board.  Either way, I think your several paragraphs answered the challenge with a "there is none".

It is strange that you claim to be a a studious student of Nichiren Buddhism yet seek to challenge that the principle of mentor and disciple is not taught in the writings of Nichiren.  The entire purpose of the collection of Nichiren's writings is to foster a correct relationship between mentor and disciple throughout all times and places. The mentor serves as the model and example in actual reality here in this world for all to follow. This phenomena (the appearance of mentor and disciple) is also an actual manifestation of the mystic law just as all other things constituting reality are. The appearance of the Soka Gakkai International itself is a manifestation through cause and effect derived from the seeds of propogation planted by the Votary of the Lotus Sutra. Regarding the relationship of the oneness of mentor and disciple here is a quote directly from the Gosho as you requested. In the Gosho entitled "The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life" Nichiren states,

"It must be ties of karma from the
distant past that have destined you to
become my disciple at a time like this.
Shakyamuni and Many Treasures certainly
realized this truth. The sutra’s
statement, “Those persons who had
heard the Law dwelled here and there
in various Buddha lands, constantly reborn
in company with their teachers,” (LS- ch10)
cannot be false in any way."  WND pg 217

"The important point is
to carry out your practice confident
that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo alone is
the heritage that was transferred from
Shakyamuni and Many Treasures to
Bodhisattva Superior Practices." WND pg217

Replete throughout the Gosho and therefore needless to say.

Gassho