The Goal Of Kosen-Rufu

14 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Global PeaceWith talks on-going between the US and China over the continued sabre rattling of North Korea, 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

Time For A Change

15 Dec 2012 4 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

US Gun Laws - Time For A ChangeAs the details of the latest shooting tragedy in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, USA start to sink in, it is surely time for all sane people to get behind President Obama’s heartfelt call for a change to the gun laws.

Those of us outside the United States find it difficult to understand the almost manic determination to protect the second amendment, allowing each US citizen to bear arms. A couple of hundred years ago, when settlers were faced by mountain lions and (understandably) angry native Indians, having a gun was arguably necessary.

That is no longer the case, and the short-sighted politics that allow this situation to continue, is also allowing these incidents of mass murder to continue too. Surely, apart from the arms and ammunition manufacturers, everyone would be far better off without this proliferation of weapons.

Please see sense. Please use the wisdom, courage and compassion necessary to make the changes to your constitution, before we are once again talking about dead innocents. Following the Hungerford shootings in the UK, our gun laws were tightened and although we cannot claim that we have cracked gun crime, the incidence of mass shootings is tiny compared to the US. Surely it really is time for a change.

The US Continue To Drone On

11 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , ,

Another US Drone over PakistanThe BBC Panorama program last night about drone attacks over Pakistan, painted a rather ugly picture of covert operations, run by the C.I.A., against supposed al-Qaeda operatives in the province of Waziristan.

According to the latest data compiled by the New America Foundation from reliable news reports, 337 C.I.A. drone strikes in Pakistan have killed an estimated 1,932 to 3,176 people since 2004, of which 1,487 – 2,595 were reported to be militants.

This means the average non-militant casualty rate over the life of the program is 18-23 percent. In 2012 it has been around 10 percent, down sharply from its peak in 2006 of over 60 percent.

Putting a Buddhist slant on these operations, it can clearly be seen that they are rather lacking in Wisdom, Courage and Compassion. I find it difficult to see any courage in attacking defenceless people, from the safety of a remote control centre, from an unmanned robot aircraft.

There is certainly little or no compassion felt for the innocent bystanders and citizens who are caught up in these lightning strikes, some of whom have been seen to be women and children. And where is the wisdom, when even the most moderate Pakistanis are turning against the U.S. purely because of these cowardly and seemingly often misdirected attacks.

It is past time for President Obama and his advisors to have a serious rethink. The war on terror was never really a war, it was the enforcement of an ideology, and the current methods and operations are only serving to stir yet more hatred, and encourage greater numbers of young Islamic men to rise up against their common foe.

Please have the courage to enter into dialogue with al-Qaeda, the wisdom to see that the emphasis must change from causing destruction to promoting development, and the compassion to stop these terrifying drone attacks on populated areas, no lasting peaceful outcome can ever be found down this path.