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From: tilley@acl.kodak.com (David Tilley)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Buddha Dharma and free thinking
Message-ID: <1990Dec15.013047.26138@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 15 Dec 90 01:30:47 GMT
Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov
Organization: NAS Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
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Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov


In article <1990Dec14.033942.1988@nas.nasa.gov> mayne@sun10.scri.fsu.edu (William (Bill) Mayne) writes:
>
>In article <1990Dec12.061626.10201@nas.nasa.gov> tilley@cs.rochester.edu (Dave Tilley) writes:
>>In article <1990Dec11.022212.10949@nas.nasa.gov> mayne@sun10.scri.fsu.edu (William (Bill) Mayne) writes:
>>>
>
>I'm actually glad and not surprised to learn from someone who knows
>something about it that the Nichiren interpretation as put forth by
>Mr. Evans is suspect. It is like learning the violence done to the
>Bible by Christian fundamentalists.
>

I would like to say that my involvement with Buddhism at all is due in
large part to the goodness of a member of NSA (Nichiren Soshu of America).
Tim (my NSA friend) gave me books, introduced me to his group, drove
me to NY City to get a Gohonzen (sp?) and deeply encouraged me to chant.

I also met Phillip Kapleau (sp?) at the rochester Zen Center. He
gave me the encouragement for Zazen. I recently talked with Gary Snyder
and have been greatly encouraged by him and his writings to be involved
in Buddhist Action.

Although I have turned away from NSA I am greatful for their work in
helping me find Buddhism at all.

I say all this because I feel I have been only critical of Nichiren
beliefs. and that is a bit one sided.



>...........
>How true. And I agree with pleas to lower the thermastat in this
>newsgroup, though hopefully by appeal to our better instincts
>rather than through censorship. (Are you listening, moderator?)
>I got involved in this only because, like others, I saw the teaching
>of the Buddha, at least all sects other than Mr. Evan's being
>repeatedly attacked any time an orthodox Buddhist explanation was
>given in response to a question about Buddhism.
>
>Your interesting perspective on the Lotus Sutra shows me that some
>good has come out of all of this. Thanks.

No prob.  For some note I would like to say that both Kapleau Roshi and
Thich Naht Hahn (sp?) list the Lotus Sutra as a good reference.


>
>Bill Mayne


Dave