Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Religions
  5. / Religions A - Z
  6. / Buddhist Religion
  7. / Beliefs

by sujitt on April 23rd, 2009

sujitt

Question

Help answer this question below.

If buddhist do not worship, if they do no believe in any personal god, then why there is chanting so important in nichirin daishonin buddhism,and why the members of sgi use to talk about setting goals and chant to fullfill our desires.

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 2 helpful answers below.

  • by sokuzan on April 26th, 2009

    sokuzan

    .


    I don't practice SGI or chart the Lotus Sutra. Just the same, from my perspective as a practicing Buddhist for over 35 years, we do not worship in the strict sense of the word, yet some approaches such as Pure Land present the idea of not being separate from Amida Buddha in the first place. We practice to see we have never been separated. This is still non-theism. Seeing that the five skandas do not make up a self is the original insight of the Buddha. Everthing is "dependently arisen" as he says in the Rice Seedling sutra. It doesn't come from its own side so to speak, but depends for its reality on every other thing, without exception. When you see that with certainty, you are realized.

    I suppose you could say that the chanting is just a focusing on one thing as in zazen, shikantaza, mahamudra, samatha/vipashayana et al. Basic meditation... is just observing the body/breath or space itself. Just be there and be simple without fancy elaborations. Slowly the mind or awareness settles down and stops separating (desire) from what is. Mantra is just another way. Nobody is right here though many may take issue with this. I do both, in Tibetan and zen traditions.

    Setting goals or trying to get a new Mercedes etc. are just "lower level" ideas. We need to look at, observe "desire" or wanting the world to be different than it is moment by moment. This "goals" idea is just candy for the baby ego to chew on as consciousness becomes one pointed you could say. We all need to start where we are, not where others think we should be. You can't aggressively "get rid of ego or desire" since anything you push on pushes back, making it stronger even though it is not valid. This is a compounding of the second noble truth that the Buddha taught which is Craving. Negative negativity is still negative.

    Sit there and observe...we call this meditation.

    Good luck...

    .

    .

    • Like
    • Report

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • by Sharona Life is a Tale Told by an Idiot on May 30th, 2009

    Sharona Life is a Tale Told by an Idiot

    Buddhists believe that God exists. Any sect that does not recognize God should not call themselves Buddhists.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading If buddhist do not worship, if they do no believe in any personal god, then why there is chanting so important in nichirin daishonin buddhism,and why the members of sgi use to talk about setting goals and chant to fullfill our desires.

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Questions about a great chef
Setting goals in sgi
Buddhism setting goals
If buddhist dont worship god then why do they worship buddha
Sgi setting of goals for prayers

Answerbag

a Demand Media company