Dharma Wheel

That is a good concise explanation. All of them, except Nichiren perhaps (?), have chinese precursors. It is worth looking into the early chinese buddhist schools also. Nichiren viewed Tiantai & Zhyhi as a substantial part of his lineage. He was a Tendai monk before going off on his own, and he...

Buddhism is on the retreat in Japan. I think its part of the same secularizing tendencies across the developed world. Its a significant concern in the Buddhist community from what I understand. I've seen Matylda refer to this within zen communities. My personal hypothesis is the lack of practice. I...

There are a lot of books that present a survey of Japanese Buddhism. Foundations of Japanese Buddhism is a good one. Very quickly - I think a few of the original 6 Nara schools still exists - Kegon (Flower Garland centric) and Hosso (Yogacara). Tendai is a mix of ordinary Mahayana of the Tiantai va...

I'd suggest getting familiar with other translations before drawing conclusions, Burton Watson's is only one of them. Each reads differently. It might be the case that your reaction to the sutra is an indication of what you are grasping at and what you project onto it.

Or not? Is there any obstacle in Buddhist practice in treating rebirth and the six realms as metaphors? Since they are also illusory like the notion of a Self? Are there any losses? Are there any barriers to enlightenment having this interpretation? Thanks. I've done a bit of studying on the occasi...

Just so.

I'd say as soon as there are ideas it is no longer emptiness.

Its one thing to look at underlying themes, perhaps they are even tropes, but a different thing entirely when the Roshi looks at you for your reply.

It is interesting to consider how much of one's own reaction to become distracted by. I have 3 or 4 different translations, they each read differently. If its really bothering you then perhaps choose a different sutra and come back to this one later- the Lotus Sutra is pretty hard going sometimes.

You can always skip over the names, I often do. Same with the endless descriptions of the various heavens, intervals of time and so on.

I've not heard any hints about that sort of thing so far. I suppose it wouldn't surprise me if there is some evolution of the new gohonzons given to new members.. .or perhaps there might be opportunites for members to get a newer or larger format gohonzon. In the past I've understood that being to p...

Hi everyone, I'm very close to embracing Mahāyāna Buddhism, but I am having some difficulties with the concept of Heaven(s) and Hell(s). I already know that some such as Hakuin Ekaku of the Rinzai Japanese Zen Buddhism viewed Heaven(s) and Hell(s) as a state of mind. I've heard the same about the M...

I find zazen along with engaging with sangha and cultivation of Precepts helps to reduce the tendency to grasp at thought. I prefer that to the alternative. I never had much luck with zazen by itself.

(Speaking as a mod I'm making an exception to the general forum old post rule and continuing the conversation because of the focused nature of the topic) OTOH as a SGI member, many thanks for coming back :) The Nichiren subforums have been quiet for a while, its always great to see the tradition re...

Seems mostly like the same sort of hype and vaporing that took place in the 70's.

We've been grappling with them for a while too. They showed up in late Nov and had something of a population explosion. We're being very careful with sources of moisture and food (only dry stuff exposed in the trash, nothing left out on counters, sink kept clean, a brief splash of simple green in th...

Well like the big book says, "Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer." It doesn't mean things have have to be theistic. Personally I try to keep the 4NT and Vows in one hand and the recovery program in the other. Oh yeah the quality of sponsoring and ...