Zen and Nichiren Buddhism - talk by M. Conway

[Hoshuku]

There is less to say from this talk as I feel that, being inside a Soto Zen sangha, we have a reasonable general knowledge of a lot of this.

I will therefore limit my observations to what seemed new to me + a link to the overall talk. As a Pureland practitioner and academic within the Pureland training system, Michael happily admitted that he was talking as an outsider.

Rinzai Zen - he questioned strongly the general idea that Eisei founded Rinzai in Japan. He was happy with the idea that he founded an important lineage rooted in Kenninji, but he was one of many. He pointed out that Kenninji doesn't refer to him as Eisei but as Yosai, so there isn't even agreement on his name. Rinzai didn't produce a biography of him similar to those printed by Soto and Nichiren. [My comment - during the Meiji Reforms Buddhist sects were told to name their single founder (their Jesus) and founding text (their bible) in order to appear respectable to Westerners, so Rinzai picked on Eisei.]

Soto Zen - Just one comment felt novel - that Dogen was a physically weak and sickly individual. That's why he didn't leave the ship on arrival in China - he needed to recover. It's also why he died so young. The following are the ages at death of the main Kamakura Buddhist leaders: Shinran 90, Hōnen 80, Eisai 75, Nichiren 61, Dōgen 54 & Ippen 51. In Ippen's case, his chosen itinerant life was basically that of an Indian style wandering monk living on alms. In the Japanese climate, that's a major strain on the body - Japan is NOT the tropical clmiate of India and goes well below freezing in winter.

Nichiren - an astonishingly confrontational style that seems an aberration in Japanese society.

General - none of the Kamakura Buddhisms (except some types of Pureland) were numerically successful during the founders lifetimes.

Bows
Hoshuku
Satlah

[Jundo]

My wife's family here in Japan are "Nichirenshu" Buddhists. Not Nichiren Shoshu, or Sokka Gakai/SGI, but mainstream Nichirenshu Buddhists. Thus, we refer to our household as a "mixed marriage."

Like most Japanese, my wife's family would be hard pressed to explain the first thing about the differences between Nichiren Buddhism, Zen, Pure Land, or even much about what Nichiren Buddhists believe, They know that they chant this special chant (Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō), and need to go to the temple once in awhile to have a ceremony or visit the graves to keep the ancestors' spirits peaceful, but not much more. That's about it. Best to keep the Buddhas and ancestors in a good mood.

I am fortunate that they respect my interest in Zen, although probably wonder about it privately as strange (Why would a foreigner be interested in such things? It is a bit like a Japanese moving to America to become a rodeo rider, or to the UK to study "fish and chips." Many Japanese would wonder if I became a priest because I want to perform funerals!) However, my in-laws are very open minded, and several in the family even came with me a couple of times to sit Zazen at Sojiji when I was sitting with the Zazenkai there.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Hoshuku]

Years ago, I asked what type of Buddhism my in laws were associated with. Through my questions we arrived at possibly Nichiren. That was revised on my first visit to the family grave when the ‘Namu Amida Butsu’ on every grave stone showed it was clearly Pureland. When my mother in law died, we had a Shingon funeral, as that priest was free then. On a recent visit to Eiheiji, we had a memorial service for the recently deceased father in law, as we happened to be there so why not.

Bows
Hosuku
Satlah