Search found 411 matches

by markatex
Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:09 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: I read Ongi kuden chapter 16, and it left me a little perplexed..
Replies: 88
Views: 38598

Re: I read Ongi kuden chapter 16, and it left me a little perplexed..

My question is, is Nichiren saying that the cycle of birth and death goes on for all eternity? I don't think so. I think he's talking about the arhat ideal vs. the bodhisattva ideal. Also, the Ongi Kuden may or may not have actually been taught by Nichiren. This particular passage seems to strongly...
by markatex
Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:00 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: How does Rissho Kosei Kai view Nichiren?
Replies: 1
Views: 2463

Re: How does Rissho Kosei Kai view Nichiren?

No, that’s silly. Niwano was their founder and they have reverence for him, but it’s not anything like that.

RKK is not a strictly Nichiren Buddhist organization anymore. They lean toward a more Tendai approach and have for a while. I’m not sure about how they view Nichiren specifically these days.
by markatex
Sat Nov 20, 2021 3:18 am
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: If one cannot find the right Nichiren sect to be a part of, then is going ones' own way the best route?
Replies: 24
Views: 10052

Re: If one cannot find the right Nichiren sect to be a part of, then is going ones' own way the best route?

Hey mark, it's not about the people. Diff groups and sects believe and practice diff and finding which one resonates with me hasn't been fruitful. Hmm....I don't know if I have any advice for that. In general, I worry that with an "independent" approach, there's a tendency to default to y...
by markatex
Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:14 am
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: If one cannot find the right Nichiren sect to be a part of, then is going ones' own way the best route?
Replies: 24
Views: 10052

Re: If one cannot find the right Nichiren sect to be a part of, then is going ones' own way the best route?

I think people have unrealistic expectations of what a sangha, temple, sect or group is or should be. When they’re inevitably disappointed, they become disillusioned and walk away. You’re not going to find a bunch of enlightened people. You’re going to find people with egos, neuroses, bad habits, nu...
by markatex
Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:58 am
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: How did Nichiren view the Dhammapada?
Replies: 8
Views: 4112

Re: How did Nichiren view the Dhammapada?

Nichiren would’ve been familiar with the Agamas (I’m not sure if 13th century Japanese Buddhists would’ve even known of the existence of the Pali Nikayas) and I’m not sure if there’s an equivalent to the Dhammapada there. At any rate, he would’ve considered it a provisional teaching; a teaching of t...
by markatex
Fri Sep 03, 2021 4:25 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Is anyone here familiar with Reiyukai?
Replies: 11
Views: 1087

Re: Is anyone here familiar with Reiyukai?

Only vaguely. IIRC, they focus heavily on ancestor veneration as a way to understand Dependent Origination, which is interesting. And Rissho Kosei Kai is an offshoot of Reiyukai.
by markatex
Sat Aug 07, 2021 9:45 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Emotionally neglectful and indifferent Mother - acceptance, compassion and distancing
Replies: 4
Views: 619

Re: Emotionally neglectful and indifferent Mother - acceptance, compassion and distancing

Mod note: This post was split from this old topic: https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?p=446342#p446342 And years later this comment still helps me along. Though these days I'm far less affected by it. I've come to a place of acceptance, compassion and distance. Oh, gosh…I’m so glad to hear t...
by markatex
Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:34 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Amida Butsu
Replies: 29
Views: 2535

Re: Amida Butsu

I’d have to go dig up the exact quotations, but Nichiren certainly believed that Amida Buddha was real, that his Pure Land was real, and that Pure Land practice (at least as it was taught in China and in Japanese Tendai; Honen’s teachings were another story) was perfectly valid prior to the Age of t...
by markatex
Tue Jun 08, 2021 1:59 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Re: buddhas achieve enlightenment through LS (Was "Which has primacy, Buddha or Dharma"?)
Replies: 268
Views: 14084

Re: "Which has primacy, Buddha or Dharma"?

narhwal90 wrote: Tue Jun 08, 2021 1:53 am Since the context of the discussion relates to Nichiren this seems as good a place as any, though general Mahayana might be more appropriate.
That’s fine, but since it’s here now, I’ll present the Nichiren view and expect that to be respected here.
by markatex
Tue Jun 08, 2021 1:58 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Re: buddhas achieve enlightenment through LS (Was "Which has primacy, Buddha or Dharma"?)
Replies: 268
Views: 14084

Re: "Which has primacy, Buddha or Dharma"?

In Nichiren Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra is regarded as the Sutra by which all Buddhas attain enlightenment. You can disagree all you like, but that is our position. Ekayana in Nichiren Buddhism is understood in a very different way than it is in other traditions. Our understanding is that the upaya of...
by markatex
Tue Jun 08, 2021 1:49 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Re: buddhas achieve enlightenment through LS (Was "Which has primacy, Buddha or Dharma"?)
Replies: 268
Views: 14084

Re: "Which has primacy, Buddha or Dharma"?

I understand that (although I’m not sure why that was done) but beyond this thread, I’ve noticed a disregard for the idea that in tradition-specific sub forums, that tradition’s teachings are given respect. I’d be willing to bet money this is only happening in the Nichiren forum.
by markatex
Tue Jun 08, 2021 1:44 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Re: buddhas achieve enlightenment through LS (Was "Which has primacy, Buddha or Dharma"?)
Replies: 268
Views: 14084

Re: "Which has primacy, Buddha or Dharma"?

This is still the Nichiren forum, isn’t it? Has there been a rule change that allows anyone to go to any tradition’s sub forum and argue that said tradition is wrong?
by markatex
Sat Jun 05, 2021 6:48 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Vajrayana as an aspect of Nichiren practice
Replies: 104
Views: 7658

Re: Vajrayana as an aspect of Nichiren practice

No, not that early. It’s from 1259, I think…before Rissho Ankoku-Ron. There’s a NOPPA translation from the early ‘90s and one from the University of Hawaii Press series.
by markatex
Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:11 am
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Vajrayana as an aspect of Nichiren practice
Replies: 104
Views: 7658

Re: Vajrayana as an aspect of Nichiren practice

My personal opinion, and this is all it is, I think Nichiren had a much deeper interest in Shingon than he admits. Other than Kukai's judgment that in terms of profundity of teaching the Lotus ranks third (Avatamsaka second), he doesn't have much criticism to offer. It's been a long time since I've...
by markatex
Thu May 06, 2021 5:51 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: How Nichiren Shonin could be the Eternal Buddha
Replies: 144
Views: 7413

Re: How Nichiren Shonin could be the Eternal Buddha

I suppose I should read the whole thread before I post…
by markatex
Thu May 06, 2021 5:47 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: How Nichiren Shonin could be the Eternal Buddha
Replies: 144
Views: 7413

Re: How Nichiren Shonin could be the Eternal Buddha

What book are you referring to? I don’t think I’m familiar with it.

There’s a sense in which we are all emanations of the Eternal Buddha. That doesn’t point to Nichiren being a Buddha that subsumes Shakyamuni, as Nichiren Shoshu teaches.
by markatex
Wed May 05, 2021 1:12 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: The Life Span of the Tathagata: Before and after Gaya.
Replies: 135
Views: 8255

Re: The Life Span of the Tathagata: Before and after Gaya.

Yeah, that’s a god-awful interpretation.
by markatex
Sat Apr 24, 2021 11:26 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: The Life Span of the Tathagata: Before and after Gaya.
Replies: 135
Views: 8255

Re: The Life Span of the Tathagata: Before and after Gaya.

The Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha was enlightened all along. His enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, as well as his previous lives, were all expedients, teaching devices. He says in the Lotus Sutra that he is always considering how to lead all beings to Buddhahood. That’s what he’s been doing since the remotest...
by markatex
Tue Apr 13, 2021 4:24 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: lockdowns on Nichiren site .
Replies: 26
Views: 2311

Re: lockdowns on Nichiren site .

If y’all wouldn’t be so hostile and argumentative, they wouldn’t need to lock the threads. And I might be more inclined to visit this forum more often. 🤷‍♂️

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