Dr. Dominick ScarangelloInternational Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai For the past several columns, we have been studying the principle of the Ten Suchnesses with an eye toward eliminating suffering. It goes without saying that as Buddhists, we seek to free ourselves and others from suffering. However, in sincerely pursuing this noble aspiration, we may overlook an important aspect of the wisdom of the Lotus Sutra. Last time, […]
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Ms. Swarna Padmini DelgodaSri Lanka Dharma Center Good morning. Everyone, please guide me. My name is Swarna Padmini Delgoda. I come from the island nation of Sri Lanka, known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. I have the privilege of serving as the general manager of the Sri Lanka Dharma Center and the chairperson of the Rissho Kosei Dhamma Foundation. I […]
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Rev. Nikkyo NiwanoFounder, Rissho Kosei-kai “Forbearance” Is Forgiving Others Ultimately, I think “forbearance” comes down to forgiving others. Someone once said “To love is to forgive,” and those words have remained firmly in my mind. Of course, the natural affection between parents and children or romantic partners falls into a different category, but the love […]
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Rev. Takashi MaedaDirector, Rissho Kosei-kai International Looking back through history, whenever society has undergone major change, there has always been a similar sense of uncertainty. Yet from those times, new ways of living and new forms of society have emerged. When we reflect on this, we realize that we too are living within such a […]
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Rev. Nichiko NiwanoPresident of Rissho Kosei-kai We Make Our Own Suffering From time to time, I have asked all of you, “When a glass is half full of water, how do you view it? How do you perceive it?” The author Seikan Kobayashi says that there are three ways you can view it. First, with […]
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Dr. Dominick ScarangelloInternational Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai This time we conclude our exploration of the Ten Suchnesses by considering “such an effect,” “such a reward,” and “such an ultimate identity.” As Rissho Kosei-kai founder Nikkyo Niwano explained, “When a cause (such a cause) meets the proper condition (such a condition), it produces a phenomenon, which […]
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Dr. Dominick ScarangelloInternational Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai This time, we will consider “such a cause” and “such a condition” and why understanding them is essential to living the Way in our daily lives. In March, we learned that the ultimate cause of our behavior lies within ourselves—the disposition of our minds (such a nature). It […]
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Dr. Dominick ScarangelloInternational Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai Last time we began exploring the Lotus Sutra’s principle of the Ten Suchnesses—ten steps through which all things come into being and events occur. Knowing the Ten Suchnesses is important to practicing the Dharma in everyday life because they help us understand, and thus become aware of in […]
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Dr. Dominick ScarangelloInternational Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai Last time we considered how always “reflecting and correcting”—what many people would call “mindfulness”—is important to practicing the Dharma in daily life. Have you ever wished for a rule of thumb that clarifies how our mindsets give rise to suffering, helping us identify its roots and align our […]
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Dr. Dominick ScarangelloInternational Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai When an unwholesome thought crosses our mind, or when we suddenly feel angry, we can instantly examine ourselves by asking if such thinking is the Way to buddhahood. —Founder Niwano on “Right Mindfulness” (Buddhism for Today, 281) Previously, we learned about the ten realms within our minds. Our […]
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