Nichiren

jupitermadcat

Hello,

Just trying to gain some insight on various Buddhist sects/Schools What are your thoughts on Nichiren Buddhism i know they do some kind of chanting and i heard about soka gakki? any thoughts

SherabDorje

Why don't you Google it? You should get plenty of information and opinion by doing that. From your OP, it looks like we'd have to explain it to you and/or do your homework for you before beginning to discuss.

"I know they do some kind of chanting." Lots of schools of Buddhism do some kind of chanting. IMO, you could come to these discussions a little better prepared. Just IMO.

jupitermadcat

Ok... I guess next time I need an opinion on something I'll just Google thanks!

SherabDorje

You know that's not how I meant it. You should give some indication that we don't have to provide all the information about it too. Opinions are what this site is for, but you could ask clearer and better-prepared questions.

My opinion is that Nichiren is almost a little cultish, not real hard-core cultish, but the followers seem to follow a little too "strongly", and, if I remember right, they proselytize, which is something that's frowned upon in mainstream Buddhism.

jupitermadcat

That is odd for Buddhism.

zombiegirl

My opinion is that Nichiren is almost a little cultish, not real hard-core cultish, but the followers seem to follow a little too "strongly", and, if I remember right, they proselytize, which is something that's frowned upon in mainstream Buddhism.

ditto. i practiced nichiren buddhism for a few years and was involved with the SGI for over a year. my experiences with them led me to stop practicing this form of buddhism altogether. they do proselytize very vehemently. it is called "shakubuku" look it up. but to be fair, i am not entirely sure where some of their beliefs come from because i did not interpret much of nichiren's works in the way that they apparently did. thus the reason i eventually left. i have heard that other nichiren sects are very different.

one of my main problems was when i was told that i could not have an image/statue of the buddha near/on my shrine because it would encourage idol worship, however, it was encouraged that i keep a photo of daisaku ikeda(the current sgi president) on my shrine.

but of course, you should make your own conclusions. i did meet some very inspiring people in my little group, some of which i still keep in rather loose contact with. after i left, they tried to sway me back several times but have since given up. there wasn't any animosity, however. perhaps just disappointment.

jupitermadcat

I was just curious thank you for your insights.

pparisi

There are several branches of Nichiren buddhism. One in particular (I will name no names) has been branded a cult, rightly or wrongly. The branch represented at the following link, however, seems entirely legitimate: www.nichiren-shu.org. I am not a member of any branch of Nichiren buddhism but am interested in it and in Zen buddhism and have read broadly about both sects. Both are products of medieval Japan: the fact that they have persisted suggests to me that they fulfill the spiritual needs of their practitioners. Cults generally don't outlast their founders. Incidentally, there have been informative articles about practitioners of various Nichiren groups in the Summer and Fall 2011 issues of Tricycle Magazine.

jupitermadcat

The only Nicherin groups I see in my area are SGI and I think that I will pass on them, I purchased the fall edition of tricycle yesterday and they did have some good articles on Nicherin Buddhism.