24-Jun-2012, 06:05 PM
Hi,
This is my first post on this forum and this is pertaining to a certain form of buddhism known as Nichiren's Buddhism (also known as Buddha of latter day of law) under the aegis of group known as Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and whose main themes are Lotus sutra and chanting of phrase "Nam myoho renge kyo".
One of my friend is a big proponent who introduced me to this practice a couple of months back and asked me to take a look at that. Skeptic as I am of such practices/cults i decided to check for myself what exactly this thing is. So after having taken a brief introduction I decided to attend one of their local chapter (Its organized as local chapters which consists of people staying in nearby areas who support each other in practising this law and chanting of nam myoho renge kyo) in Delhi
(*I would like to add a disclaimer that since I have been exposed to this thing just for few months my knowledge might not be complete about functioning or purpose of this group)
U can read about these things here:
http://www.buddhistcentre.net/information/topic_023.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichiren
http://www.sgi.org/
Here I would like to say there is (might have limited knowledge) difference between philosophical and spiritual (like AOL) groups because SGI propounds itself to be a philosophical group. The main point is chanting of "nam myoho renge kyo" and its propounded benefits.
Verbatim copy paste
"How does chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo work?
SGI members often speak about the positive impact that chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has on their lives. This is hard to comprehend and is something that can only be experienced on an individual basis. Often people trying the practice are encouraged to try chanting even a small amount regularly for a while, in order to see the effect it has. The 13th-century priest Nichiren established the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. He concluded that the Lotus Sutra contains the full truth of Buddhism: that everyone without exception has the potential to attain Buddhahood. The title of the Lotus Sutra in its Japanese translation is Myoho-renge-kyo. By chanting "Nam," or devotion to the essential message of the Lotus Sutra, we activate the state of Buddhahood in our lives. Rather than being a prayer to an external being, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is an expression of the determination of the human spirit, seeking to come into rhythm with the reality of the universe. Through continuing in this practice of determined intention we bring forth our highest potential from within our lives."
Regarding experience of visiting chapter based in a posh area in Delhi. It was a big auditorium which was booked. I found mostly smartly dressed (typical upper middle class or upper class ladies' with goggles on, costly handbag and modified english accent) ladies. It started with some speech, some music & dance by children and then few people coming on stage and sharing experience on how this "practise - mainly of chanting " has changed their lives.
My observations (and counter arguments by my friend also) have been produced below:
1. Rich Women Club - My first impression was that it is a rich woman's (mostly housewives) club who have enough time and money to spend, which they spend this way by meeting and interacting different people. Friend's counterargument - Since you have visited a chapter which is located in one of posh locality there are bound to be rich families and people who are member. At other not so rich area chapters' the situation would be different. I am yet to verify that by visiting some other chapter.
2. Experiences - Now many people shared experience on how their health improved after chanting, how they got desired success (money, career, education etc etc) after chanting. Even if i negate the act of planting such people in audience and assume them to be genuine, my reasoning was that you propound that this chanting has an effect without any time bound limitation to that. So if a person with some problem starts chanting, after 3 months he hasnt got any result you say to him be patient, there will be result...after 6-9 months he/she gets the desired result and problem solved. Isn't this natural progression, a problem (job loss, bad boss, health, disputes etc) might take its own natural course of action to solve and in absence of any chanting it would have taken same amount of time. Additionally, by that time your perceived difficulty level (since you get used to it) goes down leading to perception of problem being less server then it was 5-6 months back. Naturally as an act of free will (happiness on problem being solved) or to conform with group they tend to list their experiences
3. Drop-Outs - No body mentions how many people started the exercise and left it mid-away after getting frustated on not getting desired results. 100 started, may be 70 dropped out and 30 people got their problem solved due to natural progression of life and events. There could be case of false attribution.
4. Reliance on Cause and Effect (Karma in hindi). You present problems are due to your karma and you can negate that karma by chanting.
5. Link between chanting "Nam myoho renge kyo" and supposedly wiping of bad karma or bringing good luck.
6. Money - This is interesting. Unlike AOL, there is no fee to be member of group or attend local chapters, atleast not that i know of till now.
People who have knowledge about this group may put their perspectives and opinions.
This is my first post on this forum and this is pertaining to a certain form of buddhism known as Nichiren's Buddhism (also known as Buddha of latter day of law) under the aegis of group known as Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and whose main themes are Lotus sutra and chanting of phrase "Nam myoho renge kyo".
One of my friend is a big proponent who introduced me to this practice a couple of months back and asked me to take a look at that. Skeptic as I am of such practices/cults i decided to check for myself what exactly this thing is. So after having taken a brief introduction I decided to attend one of their local chapter (Its organized as local chapters which consists of people staying in nearby areas who support each other in practising this law and chanting of nam myoho renge kyo) in Delhi
(*I would like to add a disclaimer that since I have been exposed to this thing just for few months my knowledge might not be complete about functioning or purpose of this group)
U can read about these things here:
http://www.buddhistcentre.net/information/topic_023.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichiren
http://www.sgi.org/
Here I would like to say there is (might have limited knowledge) difference between philosophical and spiritual (like AOL) groups because SGI propounds itself to be a philosophical group. The main point is chanting of "nam myoho renge kyo" and its propounded benefits.
Verbatim copy paste
"How does chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo work?
SGI members often speak about the positive impact that chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has on their lives. This is hard to comprehend and is something that can only be experienced on an individual basis. Often people trying the practice are encouraged to try chanting even a small amount regularly for a while, in order to see the effect it has. The 13th-century priest Nichiren established the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. He concluded that the Lotus Sutra contains the full truth of Buddhism: that everyone without exception has the potential to attain Buddhahood. The title of the Lotus Sutra in its Japanese translation is Myoho-renge-kyo. By chanting "Nam," or devotion to the essential message of the Lotus Sutra, we activate the state of Buddhahood in our lives. Rather than being a prayer to an external being, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is an expression of the determination of the human spirit, seeking to come into rhythm with the reality of the universe. Through continuing in this practice of determined intention we bring forth our highest potential from within our lives."
Regarding experience of visiting chapter based in a posh area in Delhi. It was a big auditorium which was booked. I found mostly smartly dressed (typical upper middle class or upper class ladies' with goggles on, costly handbag and modified english accent) ladies. It started with some speech, some music & dance by children and then few people coming on stage and sharing experience on how this "practise - mainly of chanting " has changed their lives.
My observations (and counter arguments by my friend also) have been produced below:
1. Rich Women Club - My first impression was that it is a rich woman's (mostly housewives) club who have enough time and money to spend, which they spend this way by meeting and interacting different people. Friend's counterargument - Since you have visited a chapter which is located in one of posh locality there are bound to be rich families and people who are member. At other not so rich area chapters' the situation would be different. I am yet to verify that by visiting some other chapter.
2. Experiences - Now many people shared experience on how their health improved after chanting, how they got desired success (money, career, education etc etc) after chanting. Even if i negate the act of planting such people in audience and assume them to be genuine, my reasoning was that you propound that this chanting has an effect without any time bound limitation to that. So if a person with some problem starts chanting, after 3 months he hasnt got any result you say to him be patient, there will be result...after 6-9 months he/she gets the desired result and problem solved. Isn't this natural progression, a problem (job loss, bad boss, health, disputes etc) might take its own natural course of action to solve and in absence of any chanting it would have taken same amount of time. Additionally, by that time your perceived difficulty level (since you get used to it) goes down leading to perception of problem being less server then it was 5-6 months back. Naturally as an act of free will (happiness on problem being solved) or to conform with group they tend to list their experiences
3. Drop-Outs - No body mentions how many people started the exercise and left it mid-away after getting frustated on not getting desired results. 100 started, may be 70 dropped out and 30 people got their problem solved due to natural progression of life and events. There could be case of false attribution.
4. Reliance on Cause and Effect (Karma in hindi). You present problems are due to your karma and you can negate that karma by chanting.
5. Link between chanting "Nam myoho renge kyo" and supposedly wiping of bad karma or bringing good luck.
6. Money - This is interesting. Unlike AOL, there is no fee to be member of group or attend local chapters, atleast not that i know of till now.
People who have knowledge about this group may put their perspectives and opinions.