Hello,

A couple of months ago, I started attending SGI-USA meetings because I am interested in learning about Buddhism. Actually, I like to study religions in general. I don't know if I will ever truely consider myself as believing in one specific religion. Rather, I think that religions have many things in common and I'm in a continual process of discovering my own personal religion and developing my own spirituality.

Anyway, the meeting are bi-weekly and I have attended 4 meetings as well as 2 gatherings at one of the other member's homes where we chanted for a while and then discussed various topics.

In almost all of the readings, I can totally relate and it makes so much sense. The information seems like it contains the obvious things that humans have learned to forget.

It seems to me, though, that many of the members that have been practicing for a log time have that same attitude towards religion that has been a turn-off to me when studying other religions. The attitude that this is the best or only correct religion and that the other religions are somehow "wrong".

Two weeks ago, our topic for discussion was an article by President Ikeda which discussed the dire state of the world, that some people are predicting an upcoming apacolypse, and the belief that apacalpse is not inevitable and that humans can overcome the problems of the world before it is too late. One of the questions up for discussion was HOW we, as buddhists could help to bring the changes necessary to "fix" the world. I was sadly disappointed that the general thoughts and consensus of the group was essentially that we need to "convert one person at a time" to buddhism (they then got into talking about how large the SGI has gotten in recent years, etc). No offense, but how does that solve anything? First of all, it is highly unlikely that the whole world will be converted to buddhism. But, for the sake of arguement, let's assume that everyone does get converted. Then what? How are these people saving the world? These buddhists are still eating the non-organic foods, in the production of which the earth is becoming more polluted. They are still eating regular meats and even eat at McDonalds and such, so they are contributing to the torture of factory-farmed meat animals. These are still the people who waste electricity and don't recycle. They vaccinate their children and use prescription and non-prescription medications.

Yesterday, the discussion was about people who are new to Nichiren Buddhism and one of the things we talked about was why we "need" to chant, and not just meditate. I didn't really understand the explanation. I haven't been studying very long, but it seems to me that chanting, meditating, praying, casting spells (Wicca), etc are just different forms of the same thing, depending on the religion you belong to and essentially perform the same function - which is the focus of the human mind on a specific problem/situation/desire, etc. and is similar to the Law of Attraction. I don't see how I can consider any one form superior to that of other religions.

I don't know if I'm expecting any clarification. I'm just writing this post to let out my frustrations I guess. I still intend to study buddhism because I think it's worthwhile. I guess I was expecting the others to actually live their faith, not just study the philosophies and writings on Thursdays and then go on their separate ways in life the rest of the week, like many Christians and others do - just on a different day of the week.

In one of the readings last month, one of the things that was talked about was that everything is connected - non-buddhist teachings are in fact buddhist teachings, as we are all part of one whole. This is the stuff I believe in. I just wonder why some people need to feel like their book (in this case the Lotus Sutra, for others it is the Bible or the Koran, etc) is the be all and end all of spiritual knowledge. I haven't read the Lotus Sutra yet, so I guess I'm not in a position to disagree. I just wish more people were more open-minded.

Just my thoughts, all comments are welcome -
Tina.