The story of my path to Buddhahood through the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin
07 Mar 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Buddhahood, Buddhism, Buddhist Principles, Life-State, Religion
Buddhism does not ask “What religion does this person follow?” but “What is this person’s state of life?”
Buddhism exists to enable all people to cultivate and manifest the world of Buddhahood in their lives.
Society is a realm of discrimination and distinctions, but Buddhism transcends all superficial differences and focuses directly on life.
06 Mar 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Balance, Books, Cancer, Diet, Evidence, HCRV, Integrity, Point Of View, Reading, Trust, Truth, Vegan, Vegetarian
I make no apology for reposting this, in the wake of recent revelations… Having already rid my diet of meat and fish many years ago, I have turned from Vegetarian to Vegan in the past few weeks, hence adding dairy and any animal derived products to my list of ‘banned’ substances. However, having put effort into researching the pros of such a diet, I need to investigate the alternate view.
I have found a few interesting counter-arguments on the internet, belittling the research of Dr Graham or citing other research that appears to reverse the findings used in the book. There is one difference between Dr Graham and his detractors however, they all seem to have some agenda or are trying to sell something.
I am trying to keep an open mind, despite reading evidence that overturns almost everything I have ever been taught about diet and nutrition. I would like to be able to present the truth, but it seems that it comes in a number of various hues.
You may have read my posts about the book. If you would like to read the other viewpoints I suggest you Google (other search providers are available) ‘china study myth’ and take your pick of the articles available.
From my own point of view? Well I didn’t start my HCRV diet because of the book, I fell into the book because of the diet. I feel that the example of Freelee and DurianRiders health and fitness lends at least as much evidence to back the diet as does the book.
I guess it’s a bit like not walking under a ladder, just in case you end up with some unfortunate outcome. Maybe it’s far more complicated than I’m describing, but with all the horror stories surrounding the food industry, I’m sticking to fruit and veg for now.
05 Mar 2014 3 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: Cancer, Diabetes, HCRV, Healing, Health, Illness, Knowledge, Lies, Obesity
Finally, the facts are being told. News of the connection between animal protein and an increased risk of cancer is all over the news and media channels tonight.
What if there was a way to stop you, your children, your family, your friends from developing cancer? What if, having already been diagnosed with cancer, there was a way to stop the tumour from developing further?
What if you knew that both of these have been known since the 80’s, but nothing has been done about it? Would you want to know more, so you could use the information?
Well the answers to these and many, many other questions are in the book The China Study and I would urge everyone to read it. I wrote about this last year, having read about how the diet also prevents and reverses coronary heart disease, but the revelations just keep coming.
I have to admit that I stumbled across the book via Freelee and DurianRiders excellent Facebook and YouTube channels whilst trying to find a sustainable diet to help me continue my weight loss program. But I could never have imagined that I would ever find such a life changing source of information.
Reading the book makes me sad, happy, angry and above all, determined to help more people find out the truth about what they are eating, and what it is doing to them.
There is an old saying, ‘you are what you eat’ and nothing could be closer to the truth. Sadly the saying, ‘you are what you think you are eating’ does not come close to the same truth. We are all told that fat is bad for us, that we should limit the amount we eat. Nobody ever told me, or you I imagine, that it’s not just fat that can harm us, but the animal protein that often accompanies it, in steaks, burgers, chicken, bacon, the list goes on and on.
The book covers many, many studies, experiments and surveys carried out all around the world. One of them, however, makes you really sit up and listen. Experiments on rats, carried out in India had found that animals exposed to a potent carcinogen aflatoxin, a mould found on peanuts, developed liver cancer in the same way humans exposed to the same chemical do.
So what, I hear you say, but there’s an amazing twist. The rats were split into two groups. Half were fed on a diet containing 20% protein, the other half 5% protein. The first group all developed liver cancer, but of the second group NOT ONE developed cancer. When allied to a survey undertaken in the Philippines, where aflatoxin is common, which found that the children of the wealthiest families were far more prone to liver cancer for exactly the same reason, because they consumed more protein, because their families could afford meat.
So again, I urge you to at least investigate this for yourself. There are many reasons for becoming a vegan, but I cannot think of a single one that can be more important than protecting yourself, and those you love, from a potentially life threatening illness like cancer.
I realise that this is rather off topic for a blog about Buddhism, but using Wisdom, Courage and Compassion is encouraged in my faith, and I feel I am employing all three in this post.
04 Mar 2014 1 Comment
in Buddhism Tags: Action & Reaction, Cause And Effect, Changes, Environment, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
When we start changing things through our practice, our life-state, our life-energy, we must expect to encounter a reaction.
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction and these can be rather unexpected in nature.
So as we try to improve ourselves, we change the way we react with the world and sometimes the world, or more often the people within it, aren’t quite ready for that change and it can make for some rather uncomfortable situations.
The main thing to remember is, that if you change, your environment must change too. They fit each other perfectly, just like dropping a piece of putty into water. No matter what shape you make the piece of putty, the water will always adapt to fit around it, it has no choice, it is a law of nature.
Even though the ride might get a little bumpy at times, you should see those reactions as confirmation that the changes you are working towards are really happening, and you should remain resolute in working towards your goals.
Just remember to add a little wisdom, courage and compassion into the mix too, that always helps to smooth the ripples you are causing in your own little part of the universal pond.
03 Mar 2014 4 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: G7, Kosen-Rufu, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Peace, Russia, Sanctity Of Life, SGI, Ukraine, United Nations, War, Wisdom Courage and Compassion, World Peace
With the media alive with recollections of the onset of The Great War in 1914, it is ironic that one hundred years later, Russia has taken control of The Crimea, and Western leaders are warning of dire consequences, should they fail to heed calls to withdraw.
Although reports of the military action are reporting that the local people welcome the move, and that no shots have yet been fired, it would appear, from outside Ukraine at least, that Russia is invading a sovereign country.
With the possibility of dire consequences, if Russian and the West resort to military conflict instead of political dialogue, one can only hope for calm heads in both camps to prevail. William Hague has already called the situation ‘Europe’s biggest crisis of the century‘.
With northern Ukraine seeking to form closer ties to the European Union whilst the southern Crimea region remains firmly allied to it’s former Soviet overlord, there would appear to be a strong possibility of civil war, should a political solution not be found.
A military conflict cannot be the way forward for either parties. But as Putin flexes his muscles, and takes control of the area surrounding their Black Sea bases, it is left up to the G7 leaders and President Obama to show wisdom and rational thinking in the weeks ahead.
02 Mar 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Decisions, Karma, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
As one of my recent posts said, having the wisdom and courage to make a difficult decision is to be admired and saluted. Even though that decision might be painful, if it is made for the right reasons, it should never be regretted.
At times, we follow the same path as others for many years, sometimes our paths cross very briefly. Either way, the outcome can be beneficial for both parties and have deep and far reaching results.
Karma works in ways we sometimes do not understand.
So do not regret those decisions that might have left you in a slightly unsettled situation. Think rather about what the outcome may have been had you not used your wisdom, courage and compassion, at that time, and remember that hindsight is always 20-20 vision.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could run our lives through a ‘what if’ machine, where we could input every situation and foresee the outcome of each and every decision. Would we always make the right decision, given that circumstances change over time? I somehow doubt it.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
01 Mar 2014 2 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: Buddhist Practice, Determination, Human Revolution, Self Awareness, Self Discipline, Self Improvement, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
Self awareness, the realisation of who, or what you really are, comes to some people with age, but for me, it came at a point in life where I was at my all time low. Seeing my true reflection in the mirror was a long and painful process, there’s no joy in realising that you are someone you don’t really like, but it lead me to the turning point that has allowed me to change for the better.
It is said ‘that we hate in others, what we refuse to see in ourselves’ and I suddenly understood what that meant. Things that annoy us about other people, are sometimes the very things in us that annoy others. Being honest enough with ourselves, to admit our failings or less attractive traits, can be the start of a process of self improvement.
In Nichiren Buddhism we refer to that process as Human Revolution, the nurturing and growth of self improvement through the acquisition of wisdom, courage and compassion. It is achieved, over time, through a determined adherence to our practice and continued learning.
So next time, before you go criticising others, take a long, hard and honest look in that mirror, and have the courage to see the faults you are so desperate to hide from yourself. It will be a painful process, but you will emerge on the other side, like a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, a better and more beautiful being for doing it.
28 Feb 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Buddha, Buddhahood, Buddhist Practice, Buddhist Teaching, Siddhārtha Gautama, Ten Worlds
The purpose behind my Buddhist Practice is to bring me a little closer to Buddhahood, each and every day.
That is to say, to emulate, as closely as possible, the Buddha himself, in the way he was able to see all things in a pure clarity.
Siddhārtha Gautama was a man, albeit a prince, who forsaking his life of comfort and position, went out into the world to meditate on the causes of, and ways to reduce or remove, the suffering of life.
In Nichiren Buddhism we learn about the Ten Worlds, from Hell to Buddhahood.
The Buddha state originates from the very depths of life, called the amala consciousness, meaning the fundamentally pure life force or consciousness. The function of the Buddha state is to bring out the positive side of the other nine worlds.
The principle of the Ten Worlds shows that the Buddha state is a naturally occurring condition of life in every living being. The purpose of Buddhist practice is to enable us to cause the Buddha state to appear; to have it working strongly in us.
In Nichiren Buddhism, therefore, the Buddha is not some perfect, ideal being, but is rather an ordinary person living in rhythm with the law of the universe, taking wise, courageous and compassionate action for the benefit of others, through the functioning of the nine worlds in daily life.
The more I practice, the closer I come to Buddhahood, and I think that is a very positive thought for today.
27 Feb 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Kosen-Rufu, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Russia, Sanctity Of Life, SGI, Ukraine, War, World Peace
With Russian troops being put on high alert in Ukraine, as a result of the recent political unrest, it is clear that the goal of world peace, Kosen-Rufu, still requires much effort if it is ever to come to fruition.
The sanctity of life is known to everyone. At the same time, there is universal confusion about the essential meaning of life’s sanctity.
If the sanctity of life can become a solid touchstone of wisdom for all people, then humankind’s destiny to experience war and misery repeatedly can be transformed.
As Sensei explains it: “Kosen means ‘to widely declare.’ Widely implies speaking out to the world, to an ever-greater number and ever-broader spectrum of people. Declare means ‘to proclaim one’s ideals, principles and philosophy.’ The ru of rufu means ‘a current like that of a great river.’ And fu means ‘to spread out like a roll of cloth.’
“The teaching of the Mystic Law has nothing to do with appearance, form or pride. It flows out freely to all humanity the world over. Like a cloth unfolding, it spreads out and covers all. So rufu means ‘to flow freely, to reach all.’
“Just like a cloth, kosen-rufu is woven from vertical and horizontal threads. The vertical threads represent the passing of Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching from mentor to disciple, parent to child, senior to junior. The horizontal threads represent the impartial spread of this teaching, transcending national borders, social classes and all other distinctions. Simply put, kosen-rufu is the movement to communicate the ultimate way to happiness—to communicate the highest principle of peace to people of all classes and nations through the correct philosophy and teaching of Nichiren”It is toward this end, towards Kosen-Rufu, that we Nichiren Buddhists are struggling.
It is toward this end, towards Kosen-Rufu, that we Nichiren Buddhists are struggling.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
26 Feb 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Corruption, Money, Politics, Responsibility, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
Every day, online, in the press, on radio and TV, we hear reports of people in positions of power or authority, abusing those positions in order to gain yet more wealth or power. It is said that power corrupts, and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. It seems, with the ever growing gap between rich and poor, that responsibility and being held to account, are fast fading traits from a bygone age.
As Daisaku Ikeda says, “We must establish the correct standard of value upon the foundation of the dignity of life. Leaders of society, including politicians and schoolteachers, should teach children the distinction between good and evil and lead society in the direction of goodness. Today, however, the higher the status that people achieve, the more wrongdoings they tend to commit. Those in high status think only of their selfish interests while exploiting ordinary people. The “me first” attitude prevails. Looking at those adults, children cannot possibly grow upright. Such social trends, in a sense, are destroying our children. Adults must first reflect on their own way of life. Without self-reflection, adults are not qualified to scold children.”
History shows us, that given sufficient provocation, citizens who feel a total lack of power or hope for their future, will take matters into their own hands, often with catastrophic consequences. Remember the French and Russian revolutions, bloody events where the citizens of the country took back control.
How long will it be before we begin to see, that our leaders, and those with wealth and power, have started to heed the lessons of history, and are using wisdom, courage and compassion to reverse the ugly trend towards increasing greed, selfishness and elitism?
The Search For Enlightenment 
Recents Comments