Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!lethe!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!uflorida!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!sun13!locus.com From: acosta@locus.com (Joseph Acosta) Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern Subject: Re: Is Nicherin Shoshu Buddhism? Keywords: A query to a Ch'an monk Message-ID: <1991Feb12.215040.782075@locus.com> Date: 12 Feb 91 21:50:40 GMT References: Sender: news@sun13.scri.fsu.edu Organization: Locus Computing Corporation, Inglewood, CA Lines: 69 Approved: mayne@nu.cs.fsu.edu Len, I wish to elaborate on a few points bassed on your inquirey from "Old Frog". As a Nicheren Shoshu believer I wish to discuss these points rationally as possible and point out items that are not correct as far as my own undrestanding is concerned. I welcome the opportunity for dialog on the concerned subject matter. In article moskowit@paul.rutgers.edu (Len Moskowitz) writes: >From: Old Frog Rec'd Sent >To: Len Moskowitz Msg #765, 12:33pm Feb-06-91 >Subject: Re: Inter-sect rivalries > >The militant proselytizing of the Nicherin Shoshu cult fails the first >two tests in that they take refuge in their teacher Nicherin >Daishonin, >who was kicked out of his own country for his radical >political views and aggressive militancy (he espoused taking arms >before one even came to a sea of troubles...) This is not quite correct, Nicherin Daisonin was exiled to Sado Island (the Japanese Equivalent to Siberia) bassed on his remonstration with the Kamakura Govt. His remonstration was against the Pure Land sect or Nembutsu. In this remonstration he stated that the ill's suffered by the Japanese nation at that time period (~ 1240 AD) we due to the pratise of misleading religions and at the time the Nembutsu Sect was more or less a state sanctioned religion. This remonstration and related subject matter can become a long discussion so I will only sumarize here. Anyway as a result of this remonstration he (Nichiren Daishonin) was exiled to Sado Island. He never "espoused taking arms" at any time. After being exiled for about 2 years (I think it was 2) he was pardoned by the same Govt which exiled him. He returned to remonstrate with the Govt one last time and when the Govt refused to acknowledge him he retired to Mt Minobu (ie in Japan). His desire was the establisment of peace through the practice of true buddhism, not on "taking arms". >and they do not practice >the Eightfold Path. What few Westerners know is that $$$ from >contributions to the Nicherin Shosho Sect (in Japan) are given to the >Sokka Geikai - an ultra rightwing political party (yep, same views as >got the founder exiled) in Japan. That's Soka Gakkai, anyway the Soka Gakkai is an organization of lay believers who practise Nichern Shosu Buddhism. It is an organization which allows members to pratise these version of buddhism correctly and obtain as many benifits as possible. The Soka Gakkai raises money to support it's many community centers throughout the world and and raises money to support the Priesthood. An "ultra rightwing political party" it is not. >The Sokka Geikai is on record as >believing in the renunciation of the Japanese Constitution >(specifically as regards Japan creating Armed Forces [i.e. Army, Navy, >etc.]), tariff protectionism, Japanese ownership of the Okinawan >islands (and parts of the Phillipines), second class citizenship for >'non-ethnic Japanese' (Koreans, etc.).... generally they are the KKK >of Japan. > This are some big accusations I believe all of these to be false and will talk about them later. I know this is a second party post but I donnot agree with the accusations stated here and like to inquire further about the details/proof of these accusations. >That "...long winded, but finished for now..." Old Frog >Len Moskowitz Thanks Joe Acosta