Coke or Pepsi

A few friends reached out to me and asked why I was being critical of the various sects. They were worried I was coming from a negative place and potentially by speaking badly of the sects contributing to division and splits. I am deeply grateful for their concern and respect their point of view. I am lucky to have such good friends.

Please let me assure them, and the reader, that I am not criticizing any specific sect or group. Nor am I denigrating “Nichiren” Buddhism. Far from it. My intention is healing and reconciliation, of all the forms of Nichiren Buddhism. To some, the initial calling attention to the strife and division might appear as negative. But that is not the case, this is simply pointing out we have a problem. To cure an illness a doctor must first diagnose it.

First, I am a “Nichiren” Buddhist, although I no longer call myself that. When someone asks me what kind of Buddhist are you, as a skillful means I will reply, “I am a Dharma Flower Buddhist,” because sometimes people need structure.

And second, sects, temples, groups serve an important function in the community, providing service and solace to people. The world needs churches, temples, community centers, places of practice; it’s one of the Three Great Sublime Dharmas!

And third, I am deeply grateful for the experience of training for the priesthood. My faith and clarity have grown and deepened. I am grateful for the sheer amount of knowledge I learned from others in Nichiren Shu. The experience showed me exactly what path I need to be on. Thank you.

My intention is to offer a recalibration of “Nichiren” Buddhism to what it was at the beginning, simply known as “Hokke” Buddhism – Dharma Flower Buddhism. A recalibration so we can move beyond the sectarianism, tribalism, dogmatism, and fundamentalism. So, we can embrace each other, respecting the various choices they make in who they follow and how they practice.

The whole point of the first half of the Lotus Sutra was showing the arhats that even though they thought they had attained awakening, they in fact hadn’t. To use a modern colloquialism, “they had to have their minds blown.” If one is stuck in their sectarianism, they are simply stuck, and wont spiritually evolve.

The various shu constructs – this kind of Buddhism, that kind of Buddhism - came much later as required by the Japanese Government. Worth repeating: The Government did this. It was not based on any sutras. As scholars have pointed out, sectarianism wasn’t even a thing back then. All the temples were simply considered “Buddhism,” each temple was like a university. Charismatic and knowledgeable priest drew followers.

Another good case-in-point is the Kito Blessing. It is never mentioned in the Lotus Sutra. The closest it gets are the dharanis. Nichiren never mentions it in his writings, he writes many times about offering Daimoku for a follower, but never writes, “I did a Kito Blessing for you.” Rev. Sencho Murano, a well-known and respected Nichiren Shu priest was dismissive of Kito as something unique to Buddhism. If you have ever seen a Kito you will notice how little actual Daimoku is uttered during it. Nichiren Shu, only men are allowed to train and perform Kito.

Any good healer, from any wholesome wisdom tradition can perform a healing/blessing service. All wisdom traditions have a version of the healing/blessing service. Anyone, who is deeply empathic and grounded in a wholesome spiritual practice can do a healing, priest, shaman, lay person.

So, let’s encourage each other, support each other, to get beyond labels, tribes, and sects and just be Buddhist. Endeavor in our own practice and do our best to share with others around us. After all, debating which sect is best is just like arguing over which cola is better, Coke or Pepsi?

I’ll chant and meditate with anyone who has an open heart and mind. Doesn’t matter to me what sect, type, group you are. Nichiren, Zen, Pure Land, Theravada, Christian, Jewish, Muslim… We’re all in this together. And we are stronger united in our desire for awakening for ourselves and all other things.