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20 years ago today.........
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20 years ago today......... I became Buddhist....20 years ago today. It's probably one of the best things I've ever done for myself...cuz I don't think I could've made it otherwise. <<~~~~~ This picture is of a Butsudan (Japanese: Buddha House) is the cabinet where you enshrine your Gohonzon to protect it. This is very, very similar to the alter I have in my home...not exact but pretty close. I had mine built 19 years ago. Hopefully, next week (Monday) when Duststormdiva comes to visit ...I can show it to her...(we're going to the Elizibeth Arden "Red Door Spa" for a day of pampering...can't wait. Anyway...I follow "The Liturgy of the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin"....and I chant NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO and twice a day, every day... I recite our morning and evening prayers. Gongyo....and we face our Gohonzon...In Japanese, "go" means worthy of honor and "honzon" means object of fundamental respect. Nichiren defined the universal Law permeating life and the universe as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and embodied it in the form of a mandala. In the Gohonzon, a scroll on which are written Chinese and Sanskrit characters, Nichiren symbolically depicted the life state of Buddhahood, which all people possess. In the morning it consist's of 5 silent prayers... First prayer is for Appreciation for life's protective forces. (shoten zenjin) Second prayer is for Appreciation for the Dai-Gohonzon. It's the scroll or mandala we focus on when we chant. Third prayer is for Appreciation for the three teachers. Fourth prayer is for the attainment of kosen-rufu. Which means "World Peace". This prayer also is where we pray for fulfillment of our personal wishes/goals. Fifth prayer is for Appreciation and prayer for the deceased. In the evening version of the prayers we only recite the 2nd, 3rd and 5th prayers. We use many offerings on our alters...and they mean/symboliz the following: The ringing of the bell during gongyo serves to offer a pleasing sound to the Gohonzon and life. Candles stand for the truth of non-substantiality or the latent potential of life. They also represent the property of wisdom or the Buddha's enlightened spiritual property and they symbolize the potential wisdom to become aware of our innate Buddha nature. A cup of fresh water is placed before the Gohonzon each day prior to morning gongyo, it is removed just before evening gongyo. Traditionally water was offered as something of great value in the hot country of India where Buddhism began. It's offered, as if you would offer a drink to a visitor in your home. It also has the property to purify. "Greens" symbolize the "property-of-action", the Buddha's enlightened physical property or his compassionate action and the potential to form a correct relationship with the environment that allows us to manifest our Buddha nature. The greens are used to adorn the space before the Gohonzon, which is eternal and supreme. Therefore, they should be something symbolic of permanence and purity. Food and/or fruit or other non-animal foods can be another offering to the Gohonzon. Cooked food, such as rice, is sometimes offered on special occasions, such as New Year's Day. When offering food, we ring the bell three times, place our palms together and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo three times as a gesture of deep gratitude and appreciation. FYI..I have a bottle of Champayne as my offering....lol. Incense represents the truth of the Middle Way, the essential property of the Buddha's life or the property of the Law, and the potential of our innate Buddha nature. One to three sticks of incense are burned in a flat position so as to help engender a feeling of serenity before the Gohonzon. The incense burner is placed in the center of the altar, and incense is burned from left to right. Incense serves to create a fragrant atmosphere. I continue to practice and the only reason for that is the proof I have seen in my life and others who practice. We call it "Actual Proof"...and it's the only reason we continue....proof in the pudding as some people say. It's the only philosophy or religion I've ever found that shows me proof....course you have to do it...it isn't magic....and most importantly.... You get what you need not what you want, as you grow from the inside out. This practice was introduced to me by my Aunt Sandi...who passed away from breast cancer...11 years ago...on the 27th of this month. She was only 6 years older than me and we were more like sisters than Aunt and neice. I am grateful to her and have far more appreciation than I know how to express to her sharing this Buddhism. That's why I am Buddhist...hopefully my little pebble I've thrown in the pond will ripple out and touch others with all that is good. I won't see world peace in my lifetime..nor will my or grand ..but someday...it will happen. I can only hope for peace in my life and w/in my circle of family, friends...and people I come across in day to day life and as long as I don't contribute to the bad stuff...then it's all good. Try to anyway... as best as I can...with the tools I have. Thanks for letting me share this with you. {=} Slide.  ~~~ Just me, poppin to say HI! ~~  |
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WOW thats amazing!!! live more, laugh often, love much
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2/22/2006 4:12 pm |
Someone told me you were a real nice person and I'm not too bright sometimes, but I think they were right. 
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2/23/2006 4:18 pm |
If it works for you, by all means do it. Later kpb
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I think that is wonderful, Slide. I'm so glad to learn this about you. I knew there was a reason I just had to stop by to see you today! Of all the religions that I have ever studied, Buddhism has always seemed the best fit for me. And Zen seems the best of all for me. I enjoy zazen, the challenge of sitting in full lotus position and counting my breaths for twenty minutes. Allowing the thoughts in my head to simply pass thru. It is difficult but rewarding. One thing that has been missing in my practice has been the prayers. I have studied some Tibetan and found it fascinating and so richly embellished. The spartan nature of Zen can get a bit difficult to handle at times. I would welcome any books that you might recommend to me or to all of us, Slide. Do you incorporate any meditation in with your practice? Most people are other people... FUCKING CHARACTER LIMIT!!! ~Oscar Wilde
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peace always begins with us... thank you for sharing this Slide... beautifully written for all {=} Just a little food for thought............. If you really want to be happy, nobody can stop you... {=}
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mzhunyhole ~~ Thanks huny...glad you found it to be interesting. citizen_five ~~ 5'r...it's good to share bit's and pieces every now and then. vanna4u ~~ Thank you and welcome to my blog. kyplowboy22 ~~ Yep, if it works it works. We all have to find what works for each of us. spinmedown ~~ Thank you. Chanting is meditation....and can be done at any time and anywhere... I've even done it driving...but when there are times that I can't actually say outloud the chanting....then I do it in my head...like when I'm at the doctors office and I want to lower my blood pressure right away...or during sex with someone who isn't familiar with it....but the best place of course is at home or at another member's home in front of Gohonzon. You might like to google any of the terms I've mentioned...Gohonzon or Nam Myoho Renge Kyo..and you'll find plenty of information to lead you to publications and/or more info. If you know 5'r's yahoo or Trav's you can ask them for mine...or Safira...several bloggers have it. goddess1946 ~~ Thank you..yes it does start within each of us. ~~~ Just me, poppin to say HI! ~~
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