Transition – Life’s Biggest Transition

Transition – Life’s Biggest Transition Every day we go through transitions, most of the time completely unaware. It is easy to spot and experience the big ones, such as graduation, moving from home, changing a job, a birthday, or any number of equally large and easily marked transitional moments in our lives. Also people frequently are repeating the phrase “today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Yet life itself is a…

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Detachment an Excuse for Indifference?

Detachment an Excuse for Indifference? Engaged Buddhism I was asked the other evening if I believed that the concept of Engaged Buddhism was genuinely Buddhist or whether it was some Western idea of charity and good works being applied to Buddhism. I explained to him that I honestly felt that Buddhism at its core is all about social involvement and charity and all the things we now identify as Engaged Buddhist activities. I explained how…

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Fantasy World – Avoiding the Big Question

Fantasy World – Avoiding the Big Question There have been occasions where I have been talking to people and I am asked the question what should I pray for when I chant to the Gohonzon? Perhaps several years ago I would not have thought twice about how to answer this, saying something like chant for whatever will make you happy. Now however, I am almost left speechless or at least at a somewhat loss for…

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How Do I Get A Gohonzon?

How Do I Get A Gohonzon? I am frequently asked by folks, especially those transitioning from other Nichiren denominations, how they can get a Gohonzon in Nichiren Shu. So, I am taking this opportunity to try to answer this question as best as I am able. Hopefully you will find this helpful as you learn more about practicing the Lotus Sutra correctly. Let me state that this short article represents only a brief answer to…

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