jeudi 30 septembre 2010

Those who strengthen their faith day by day and month after month are genuine practitioners. Our daily practice of gongyo, therefore, is important, as well as attending meetings every month. We must not let our faith grow weak. We must make it stronger today than yesterday, stronger this month than last. Buddhist practice is a succession of such untiring efforts, the ultimate goal of which is attaining the summit of Buddhahood.
 

mercredi 29 septembre 2010

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.Shakyamuni

mardi 28 septembre 2010

The Goal

The goal of our practice as Buddhists is to purify our inherent cause ( 8th consciousness- alaya) so that there is no potential negative effect (manifest effect) to be experienced ( shadow or latent effect). This is the nature of a Buddha’s life (free of impurities or negative cause). So, regardless of what conditions manifesting in the environment (external cause) of a Buddha, we ( he or she ) has no reason to experience negativity (latent effect) from the expressions of the phenomenal world (shoho jisso). When a person’s 8th consciousness is clear, the pure influence of the 9th consciousness, the Buddha nature can shine through unobstructed to all expressions of one’s life (7th consciousness, 6th consciousness (conscious mind) and down through all the 5senses with complete pure perception and clarity). This is why the Buddha is known as the awakened one, and has the all encompassing wisdom of reality. It is because his view of life is unobstructed from within.

lundi 27 septembre 2010

President Ikeda Directive

Pioneering takes steady dedicated effort; it is advancing surely one step at a time. True Buddhist practice lies in such activities as visiting members, giving personal encouragement, talking to our friends about Buddhism and introducing others to faith. How many members do you take the time to visit and encourage in a month? In a year? True pioneering lies in making precisely such efforts. Our challenge is to deepen the understanding of friends and fellow members toward the philosophy and activities of the SGI through our encounters with them.
 

jeudi 23 septembre 2010


Robin Nagle

[Anthropologist]

Every single thing you see is future trash. Everything. So we are surrounded by ephemera, but we can’t acknowledge that, because it’s kind of scary, because I think ultimately it points to our own temporariness, to thoughts that we’re all going to die.

mercredi 22 septembre 2010

Why practice Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism?

Practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism will make you happy, secure and prosperous.  It will make you more enlightened.  It will let you become one with the Universal Law.

In practical terms, what does it mean to be “one with the Universal Law”?  The answer is nothing remarkable.  Here is a list of hints and clues:

Enjoying life’s challenges, not only the smooth times.  Turning every obstacle into an impetus for personal growth.  Turning one’s sufferings into one’s mission – the mission to overcome the suffering in order to be encouraging to others faced with similar circumstances.

Achieving a balance in daily life.  More appreciation.  More determination.  More optimism.  More energy.  Better relationships.  Caring more about others.  Respecting other people more.  Respecting other life-affirming religions and their practitioners.

Being law abiding.   Not needing to be a substance abuser.  Being ethical - but, from enthusiasm to do the right thing, not from guilt.  Standing up with integrity even in the face of workplace politics and discrepancies.  At the same time, experiencing uncanny protection in one’s work environment - as well as one’s social and natural environment. 

Respecting the natural environment.  Respecting animals - being kind to them, and without condescension.  Realizing that just because it’s a bug, it doesn’t thereby automatically deserve to die (people should nevertheless protect their homes from infestations).

Some people may express more enlightenment by becoming vegetarians.  Others by eating less meat than before, and by avoiding meats where the animals are raised inhumanely. 

Some people may express more enlightenment by refraining from hunting.  Others may express more enlightenment by hunting more carefully - taking pains to become a good woodsman and marksman, so as to make the kill swiftly and surely.  Feeling genuine gratitude for the sacrifice made by the quarry.  Hunting primarily for meat to be eaten, not explicitly for trophies.  Feeling sincerely good about the conservation role of hunting - thinning herds to prevent mass starvation.

(In this sect we have no explicit Precepts or specific rules of conduct.  Behavioral improvements do happen, but they arise from one’s growing inner enlightenment, and are undertaken voluntarily.  That’s because we believe external codes of conduct cannot lead to lasting changes; in the long run, people must become internally persuaded to do better, of their own volition.)

Cherishing life is a sign of increasing oneness with the Universal Law.  And being less afraid of death is an indication of increasing enlightenment.  Cherishing life more and fearing death less, are two improvements that tend to develop together.

Oneness with the Universal Law also means living a natural lifestyle - living as nature intended us to.  Such as rising in the morning, working all day, and sleeping at night (of course, some people have to work the night shift). 

When a young couple is suddenly faced with an unexpected pregnancy and they are barely able financially to support a child, being one with the universal law means accepting the challenge to struggle to upgrade their finances, and having the child despite all difficulties.  This shows respect for the sanctity of human life, which is part of being one with the universal law.  On the other hand, if the couple takes the easy way out and has an abortion, that is slandering the universal law, because it is showing contempt for human life.

Other signs of being one with the Universal Law:  Being self restrained when necessary.  Having exuberance, being joyful, being playful - in measure, and when appropriate.  Being tolerant when appropriate; being relentlessly discerning when necessary.  Controlling one’s anger, refraining from unnecessary violence, yet courageously defending the innocent and the helpless when required.  Exercising.  Quitting smoking.  Taking better care of one’s health.

Being strict yet compassionate with oneself.  Always looking for self improvement, while always forgiving oneself (and others) for being less than perfect.  
Gerald T.Aitken

mardi 21 septembre 2010

In the phrase "consistency from beginning to end," "beginning" indicates the root of evil and the root of good, and "end" indicates the outcome of evil and the outcome of good. One who is thoroughly awakened to the nature of good and evil from their roots to their branches and leaves is called a Buddha.
The Kalpa Of Decrease - WND-1, 1121

jeudi 16 septembre 2010

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls”  Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell Foundation


mercredi 15 septembre 2010

Whatever trouble occurs, regard it as no more than a dream and think only of the Lotus Sutra

Whatever trouble occurs, regard it as no more than a dream and think only of the Lotus Sutra.
Letter to the Brothers - WND-1, 502

mardi 14 septembre 2010

ON ATTAINING BUDDHAHOOD IN THIS LIFETIME Written to Toki Jonin in 1255 from Kamakura-Nichiren

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.

mardi 7 septembre 2010


Dr. Carter talks about President Ikeda