Monday, June 22, 2009

Speaking of the Lotus Sutra

It's evidently not for nothing that I'm not quite a Nichiren Buddhist. From a commentary in their translation of the Lotus Sutra...

Some Buddhist sects prohibit their priests and followers from practicing supernatural powers, but the Lotus Sutra encourages the showing of the powers in order to cause all living beings to rejoice. Therefore, Nichiren Shu issues amulets and ofuda and we perform kito. However, we must know that supernatural powers are only expedients to cause people to rejoice. The final aim is to attain Buddhahood, the salvation from all sufferings.


I suppose it's an expedient means to have these things in temples, but I'm not quite a guy who hobnobs with folks with supernatural powers.

Not like in the comic books.

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