Category: Sangha Building

Specific Versus General – Part 2 – Sangha Building – Dharma Talk – October 21, 2019

“Thereupon the World-Honored One said to Gautami (a woman): ‘Why do you look at me so anxiously? You do not think that I assured you of your future attainment of Anuttara-samyak-sam-bodhi because I did not mention you by name, do you? Gautami! I have already said that I assured all the Sravakas of their future attainment of [Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Now you wish to know my assurance of your attainment [of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi].’” Lotus Sutra Chapter XIII To…

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Oeshiki 2019 – Sunday, October 13, 2019

Today at the temple we commemorated the death of our founder Nichiren Shonin. At the time of Nichiren’s death is it said that the cherry trees bloomed out of season. Nichiren died at Ikegami Japan on October 13, 1282. He had been ill for a while previous at Mount Minobu where his retirement hermitage was located. On the advice of Shijo Kingo, Nichiren’s faithful samurai follower who also advised Nichiren as his physician, Nichiren traveled…

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Righting the Ship – Sangha Building – Dharma Talk – September 18, 2019

Righting the Ship – Sangha Building Sometimes even with our best intentions and our most skillful actions situations arise which affect the entire Sangha in a negative and potentially harmful way.  What I am mostly thinking of in this moment as I write this is about harmful behaviors either from a group of members, single individuals, or leadership including the priest or lay-leader of the Sangha. There needs to be a way to manage these…

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Exile and Banishment – Sangha Building – Dharma Talk – September 17, 2019

Exile and Banishment – Sangha Building These two words and the many synonyms of these words may seem to be contrary to some of my posts about Sangha Building.  In past posts I’ve written specifically about actions I believe the Sangha should embrace.  These two words and this post will address some of the complicated reasons which may impact and affect the nature of individuals who wish to approach the Sangha. People are exiled and…

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