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 Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 5:32 pm
Wow, that really helped, I just recently found Buddhism, and this whole forum is one big help.
*Gives one big hug to the guild*
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:23 pm
Some folks asked about Nichiren Buddhism. I'll let Wikipedia explain it: "Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century Buddhist monk named Nichiren. In his priestly studies, Nichiren discovered that the highest teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha (563?-483?BC) were to be found in the Lotus Sutra. The mantra he expounded, "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo," expresses his devotion to that body of teachings, and is chanted by his followers to this day. In his life he stridently believed that the contemporary teachings of Buddhism taught by other sects (such as Zen) were mistaken in their interpretations of the correct path to enlightenment and therefore refuted them publicly and vociferously. In doing so, he provoked the ire of the ruling Japanese feudal lords, and was subjected to exiles and persecutions for his propagation efforts. His personal communications and writings to his followers (called "Honorable Writings," or "Gosho") detail his view of the correct form of practice for the "Latter Day of the Law" (mappo), and many are preserved to this day. In marked contrast to other Buddhist schools, Nichiren Buddhists believe that personal enlightenment can be reached in a single lifetime. Central to their practice of "Daimoku" is the repeated recitation of the phrase, "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo", often transliterated as "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo." Today, Nichiren Buddhism is not a single school or sect. It is manifested in several different branches. Some of the larger examples of schools based on Nichiren's teachings are the Nichiren Shu, Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai schools." source: Wikipedia's article on Nichiren Buddhism
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 8:55 pm
I've heard the use of the certain phrase in Nichiren Buddhism equated to basically being like the little engine saying "I think I can I think I can" until he finally reached enlightenment. That it in a nutshell?
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:12 am
Akanishi Makoto Well, since this was brought up eariler, I guess it would merit its own thread. I'd like to know, what are the different disciplines, and what are the major differences between them, for example: Zen vs. Tantric, or Mahayanan vs. Theravadan. And, if applicable, what is the core teaching or Sutra? I have a guid book to the developement of Buddhism in Nepal and it explains this. Something about different forms of practice vs rightful living. I'll look it up.
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Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:57 pm
Nice, description Harry. I think I like Therevada the best but I am not sure. I have one question though. When you reach enlightenment and become a buddha, you leave samsara but where do you go, do you just disappear or do you go to a heaven type place, because wouldn't that become boring?
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:14 am
Bogwai Nice, description Harry. I think I like Therevada the best but I am not sure. I have one question though. When you reach enlightenment and become a buddha, you leave samsara but where do you go, do you just disappear or do you go to a heaven type place, because wouldn't that become boring?
"Nirvana" and "Samsara" are not places in the same way that Europe and Australia are places that you can physically go between. Rather, they exist simultaneously beside each other, not as places, but as states of being.
Enlightenment shifts you into nirvana, wherein there is no more suffering. There are many enlightened masters presently on Earth who are very much here in the physical. The celestial buddhas are believed to exist "here" but "higher," possibly on a "higher vibrational frequency" or something. I'm not sure about that last point, so don't take my word for it.
Also, enlightenment is not the end. You don't reach enlightenment, and then that's it. It's a continuously unfolding process. It's not something that you "acquire" and then you "have" it. It's something you engage in, something you are. You continuously "do" or "be" it. An appropriate image comes to us from Hinduism as the thousand-petaled lotus. It's a lotus that is continuously blooming, always opening, over and over again, forever. Enlightenment is like that - it's forever blooming in nirvanic bliss.
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 4:56 pm
I would like to thank all of you who contributed to this sticky. I joined this guild primarily to find the different sects of Buddhism, and now I realize my beliefs reflect the Mahayana discipline more then the others. Now I can get some books on this particular type of Buddhism, and learn more about it. Again, thanks everyone smile
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:02 pm
Harry, good explanations but I think you have to make slight corrections on Pure land explanation that you made. Actually, I dont think Pure land consider themselves "the only" way to enlightenment...it is just for those who are not able to cultivate "traditional" paths such as Theravada, Zen, etc. Once reborn in Pure land, under the guidance of Bodhisattvas and Amitabha Buddha, one can get closer to Buddhahood/enlightenment there. Pure land is somewhat like a "stepping stone" towards enlightenment.
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:22 am
Harry's big post was very helpful, but I'm still trying to pick between Mahayana and Theravada. D: any more information that differenciates the two?
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:15 pm
Red and White tantra is a Hindu thing.
After all, red and white itself is a duality.
in vajrayana, there is outer, and inner tantras. Outer tantras are "white"
and inner tantras are "red".
Also, in vajrayana, the inner tantras are all symbolic, and not carried out litterally like in hindu red tantra.
metta,
Sherab
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:17 pm
Nirvahara Bogwai Nice, description Harry. I think I like Therevada the best but I am not sure. I have one question though. When you reach enlightenment and become a buddha, you leave samsara but where do you go, do you just disappear or do you go to a heaven type place, because wouldn't that become boring?
Enlightenment shifts you into nirvana, wherein there is no more suffering. There are many enlightened masters presently on Earth who are very much here in the physical. The celestial buddhas are believed to exist "here" but "higher," possibly on a "higher vibrational frequency" or something. I'm not sure about that last point, so don't take my word for it.
Also, enlightenment is not the end. You don't reach enlightenment, and then that's it. It's a continuously unfolding process. It's not something that you "acquire" and then you "have" it. It's something you engage in, something you are. You continuously "do" or "be" it. An appropriate image comes to us from Hinduism as the thousand-petaled lotus. It's a lotus that is continuously blooming, always opening, over and over again, forever. Enlightenment is like that - it's forever blooming in nirvanic bliss.Note that this is a "very Mahayana" view of Nirvana. To my knowledge, the Theravada and related "southern school" Buddhists see Nirvana as a blissful, "blacking out," while we Mahayanists see it as a very Awake, energized blissful state that doesn't exclude "emanating" to aid other suffering beings. "Nirvana is Samsara" but its realization requires the elimination of the Three Poisons, thereafter lies complete Freedom.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:51 pm
0_o
Wow, guys, this thread is enough to make me want to major in Asian Studies. mrgreen 'Specially since one of my University picks has a study abroad program in India at a Buddhist Monastery. And you get to talk to the Dalai Lama YAY!
Thanks everybody!
Still a good bit confused, but maybe if I read it over again I'll get it.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:32 pm
Shokai Harry, good explanations but I think you have to make slight corrections on Pure land explanation that you made. Actually, I dont think Pure land consider themselves "the only" way to enlightenment...it is just for those who are not able to cultivate "traditional" paths such as Theravada, Zen, etc. Once reborn in Pure land, under the guidance of Bodhisattvas and Amitabha Buddha, one can get closer to Buddhahood/enlightenment there. Pure land is somewhat like a "stepping stone" towards enlightenment. True. According to my readings of the Pure Land Tripitaka (The Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life [Larger Sutra], the Sutra on Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life [Contemplation Sutra], and the Sutra on Amitayus Buddha [Smaller Sutra]), the Pure Land path is a means of greatly shortening a Bodhisattva's 'advancement' toward enlightenment. Through connecting one's mind to Amida-Buddha and his emanated Buddha-Land, one is said to gain rebirth in the Pure Land that is Nirvanic in that the everyday reality points toward the Truth. Everyone who lives in the pleasant realm cannot help but advance in the practices and understanding of Buddhism over the expanse of their long lives. However, it is only a stepping-stone that is generally held to still lie within Cyclic Existence.
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:55 pm
Does anyone know of a book or a website that talks about the differences more in depth? (not that this isn't deep enough)
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:52 am
Yukio-Vil Does anyone know of a book or a website that talks about the differences more in depth? (not that this isn't deep enough) A couple years back I came across a university library book that briefly detailed the background of the major sects and had selections of their writings. Sadly, I don't recall the title or authors cry In my experience, university libraries are the best sources of popular and scholarly writings on Buddhism and other religions. However, that only really helps if you are in college...Since it appears you are in college, take a good part of an afternoon to check the Religion section of the campus library! Also try Googling for quality websites on Buddhism, as there's bound to be websites detailing the differences.
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