Chapter III: Part 3 – Rejoice

Chapter III provides me with many different inspirational passages which have defined my practice of the Lotus Sutra and how I have tried to encourage others.  I am using page 81 from the Murano 3rd edition translation of the Lotus Sutra.  You may have by now noticed a trend or theme in my choices so far.  Mostly I have selected passages which have allowed me to highlight my joy of practice.  This is perhaps a…

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Chapter III: Part 2 – Peaceful as the Sea

In this passage  we have Shariputra telling the Buddha about how confused he was, about how perplexed, and even afraid.  He had begun to suspect that Mara was impersonating his beloved teacher, his doubt had become so great.  As a teacher I have had people react to me in similar and even harsher ways when I’ve not made myself clear and my message has become confusing.  There have been times too, as a student when…

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Determination – April 28, 2013

Spending Founding Day of Nichiren Buddhism in England was a wonderful treat. I am so great full to Rev. Tsukamoto and the London Sangha for allowing me to spend the day commemorating Nichiren chanting Odaimoku at Seicho-ji and the beginning of his unrelenting efforts to spread the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, to Japan and the entire world. Frequently there come times in our lives when we are faced with choices, ones that require a…

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Living with them

Frequently in life we find ourselves living or working or engaging in commerce with people who don’t believe, think, or act like us; and it can be most frustrating.  In almost all things the thing we find most uncomfortable is to be exposed to people different from ourselves.  We find comfort in sameness and likeness. As Buddhist, or any other minority belief, it can be especially challenging when faced with very dogmatic and strident believers…

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