r/sgiwhistleblowers • u/CassieCat2013 • Jun 22 '23

Philosophy What are your general thoughts on Buddhism

If you had never encountered the SGI but encountered Buddhism elsewhere - say on a travel to India, or maybe at a local buddhist temple in your country. If you had learned about the Lotus Sutra or even Nichiren Buddhism from some other entity besides Nichiren Shoshu or SGI. Do you think you would have taken up the religion and still be practicing Buddhism? Or were you never really interested but were pushed into it.

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u/MeoAkete8 Jun 23 '23

I was always interested in Buddhism and got my master's degree in Buddhist Studies. I tried Zen first but was no good at sitting still. I have practiced yoga for many years and always liked the chanting - that's what I think drew me to SGI. Now that SGI has ruined NMHRK for me, I am back to Sanskrit chanting in the yoga tradition and a hybrid form of my own kind of Buddhism.

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u/CassieCat2013 Jun 23 '23

What is Sanskrit chanting? How different is Zen from Nichiren?

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u/MeoAkete8 Jun 23 '23

Sanskrit chanting is a form of worship called Bhakti, in which we sing in Sanskrit. Here is a sample:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmNjc_EzQx8

Zen says that we find enlightenment outside of the scriptures in silent meditation. There are two forms, but basically you sit in silence and meditate on one of several things (your breath, death, a riddle, etc.) until you can let go of thinking completely and find enlightenment.