Waking the Lion

I was window-shopping downtown when a notice caught my eye. “Free Buddhist Seminars,” it read.  “Everyone welcome.”  I’d done a fair amount of reading about Buddhism over the years — some Zen, some Dalai Lama — but I’d never heard of Nichiren Buddhism before.  Not that it mattered — I figured it was all the same, anyway.  Still, my interest was peaked.

So the following Sunday — twelve days before my 53^rd birthday — I went to sit in the back of a room (I thought) and listen to people expound on loving kindness and the eightfold path.  (Wrong again.)  Instead, I found myself chanting for the first time in my life.  “Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, Namu-myoho-renge-kyo.”  A bit strange at first, but not at all unpleasant.

Afterwards we had refreshments, and conversation around a circular table.  I heard an explanation of Buddhism I’d never encountered before: the ten worlds as conditions of everyday life.  Enlightenment that was not only real, but attainable in this lifetime.  And a religion that was provable — that actually challenged you to put it to the test.  Was this for real? 

Despite my doubts, I accepted the challenge of chanting a half hour per day for the next three months.  I can’t tell you what made me give it a try.  Maybe it was the atmosphere these people projected, or the certainty with which they spoke.  Maybe — as I would read later in Nichiren - I had a previous connection with the Lotus Sutra.  Maybe I saw it as my one last chance.  Or maybe I was just finally ready. 

In any case, here I am three years later — still chanting.  Why?  Because it works!  No, I didn’t win the lottery or learn astral travel.  Chanting the daimoku brought me something much more valuable.

For the truth is, I came to Nichiren Buddhism after 30 years of spiritual drought.  The God of my youth had long since gone the way of Santa Claus — leaving me, I thought — with an amoral world stuck on automatic.  (Or was it chaos?)  Life had no real meaning, no purpose, no direction.  To paraphrase a song, there was a big black hole in the center of my pretty life… until I found Nichiren Buddhism. 

Change is always hardest to see in yourself.  But after a while even I couldn’t deny it.  This is how I explained it to a friend:

I’ve had a heck of a hard time getting depressed of late.  And I used to be so good at it….  It was probably about a week ago that I realized I was feeling really good — one of those days you just want to stretch your arms towards the sun and sky and yell, “Yes!” —and that I’d been feeling this way for an inordinate number of days.

Life began making more sense.  I was finally finding its purpose and my direction.  Sure - it took time to overcome the years of fear and doubt, but the more sincerely I chanted, the more impossible it became to ignore my true self.

A year and a half ago, I took a vow to be a Bodhisattva of the Earth.  A few months after that, I entered Nichiren Buddhist Association of America’s seminary program.  Writing these study guides is a part of that program.

Yes, it started as an assignment - one, I knew, meant to help me understand Nichiren for myself.  But the guides have taken on a life of their own.  Or perhaps I should say - they have become an important part of what I now see as my life’s mission.  Little by little, I become part of these goshos (writings or letters), and they of me.

Have the last three years been all filled with sweetness and light?  No.  Working through one’s karma is never easy.  Nor pretty.  But that’s okay.  I’ve weathered numerous storms of doubt and skepticism, replaced my Piglet mentality with courage, and my black hole with purpose and direction.  And-- I find myself smiling a lot more these days--.

A few things you should know before using this book.  First, one main reason it’s being published is to get you to read The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin (see bibliography).  Nichiren’s writings are, after all, our documentary proof of correct practice.  I challenge you to find out for yourself what Nichiren says - to read the corresponding gosho as you read each guide.

Secondly, understanding the writings of a 13^th century Japanese priest does have its challenges.  Hopefully these guides will help you better understand Nichiren’s teachings as well as his reason for writing these letters.