4. Shouldn't We Just Self-Reflect?

Jeff Farr
Associate Editor

Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism teaches the oneness of life and its environment - that our lives are intrinsically linked with the universe around us. When we change ourselves for the better, the environment surrounding us has to improve, too. When we quash negative attitudes, everything responds in the positive.

Given this principle, if the SGI keeps criticizing the teachings of the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood, aren't we forgetting something important about Buddhist practice? Can't the whole temple issue be seen as a reflection of our negativity? These are questions often heard from SGI members.

The concept of the oneness of life and its environment, however, doesn't teach that we can change our environment only through self-reflection. In fact, this Buddhism emphasizes inner change plus self-motivated action.

In the case of the temple issue, what kind of action is appropriate to take? Since 1991, the U.S. temples have been trying to persuade SGI-USA members - especially inactive members - into Nichiren Shoshu. The temples have been teaching, for instance, that ordinary people are lesser beings than priests - especially the high priest, whom the Nichiren Shoshu now says is some kind of a supreme being. This goes against the Daishonin's teaching that all people are equal, that all people are potentially Buddhas. So, what can each of us do about this situation? Following are some guidelines that are positive ways to approach this:

1) Prayer
Each of us can offer strong prayers about this issue as part of our daily practice. We can set our own chanting goals. And those of us who know Nichiren Shoshu members can pray specifically for the happiness of those friends.

2) Study
We can continue to educate ourselves about the differences between the SGI and Nichiren Shoshu. We can study the various materials available on the temple issue, such as the many additional materials available on this website.

3) Outreach
Each of us can visit inactive members whom we know, create friendships with them, and encourage them to participate with us in SGI-USA activities. We can pursue dialogue with Nichiren Shoshu members, and through deepening our relationships with them, lead them to the true practice. We can also teach our guests to meetings the difference between the temple and the SGI as part of the introduction process.

All of these ways of reaching out are compassionate actions. The Daishonin says, "I am fully aware that if I do not speak out, I will be lacking in compassion" (Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 239). He was troubled by all the religious confusion and injustice going on around him, and to alleviate this, he took action: He distinguished all the incorrect practices from the correct practice of chanting Nam- myoho-renge-kyo. He spoke, wrote and proved the truth.

Sometimes the change in attitude that we need to make in our Buddhist practice involves mustering the courage to take action - to do something concrete about our situation. When we do this kind of human revolution, there are no circumstances that we cannot change.

This is not to say that we don't need to self-reflect - we do, always. We continually need to self-reflect about our practice. Again, we need both: inner change plus self-motivated action.

(Originally published in the World Tribune, July 9, 1999)