#rev. murata

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The Essence of Buddhist Practice: MONICA GUPTA - BUDDHIST IN AMERICA

After finding her passion for fashion design in India, Monica Gupta moves to Los Angeles, where she attends fashion school and becomes a head fashion designe...

According to the Myosenji Temple website, its chief priest Rev. Murata, "gave a lecture on the basic concepts of Buddhism and how Nichiren Shoshu believers chant and recite the Sutra."  After his lecture the website states the students came up with  many questions. The website listed a sample of their questions:

What does tonsure mean?

What is the significance of the Buddhist prayer beads?

What is the daily life of a Buddhist priest in America?

What does Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo mean?

Can I chant at home?

Why does the Assistant Priest beat on the Taiko drum?

This constitutes spiritual malpractice:  after the priest's lecture on Buddhism the students came up with six questions, only two of which were significant.  How wrong that these students walk away thinking that tonsure, beads, drums, and priests represent the significance of  Buddhism.

It would have been far better for them to view the video of SGI-USA member Monica Gupta.  On the basis of her Buddhist practice Ms. Gupta is revolutionizing the fabric and fashion industry of India, providing living wages to factory workers.

Brava, Ms. Gupta!

How disappointing, Mr. Murata!

[viewsonmyosenji]

The latest article on the Myosenji website is about anger.  It can be summarized as, "Hey, have you ever been angry?  Learn to change poison to medicine. Come to our meeting about the Ten Worlds."  

It even offers a quote from Rev. Murata's lecture on June 10th, 2012 (wow, that must have been a noteworthy one!)

A theoretical explanation about the Ten Worlds is fine.  But the Myosenji webmasters do not mention the purpose of the Ten Worlds: learning how to become happy.

How could they miss the entire point?

The essence of the Ten Worlds is that we can become happy right here and now, exactly as we are.  To do so we must walk the path of self-transformation, described in the SGI as "human revolution."

Myosenji members, check out the video linked above. Debra, a young woman from Orlando, interviews local residents to probe "Where is the happiest place on earth?" 

[viewsonmyosenji]

Myosenji Temple of Washington, DC: The Capital of Capital Letters

Dear Myosenji webmasters, For some reason you do not publish your chief priest's sermons. Do they embarrass you? Perhaps so. We obtained a copy of Rev. Murata's October "Oeshiki" lecture in which he states: "When we study the life of Nichiren Daishonin...we cannot help but be moved by His tenacity and perseverance....From the moment He proclaimed True Buddhism on April 28, 1253 until He peacefully passed away...Nichiren Daishonin spent His every moment in establishing and propagating the True Law... " What is the message behind so many uppercase references to the Daishonin: "His" tenacity, "He" proclaimed, "He" peacefully, "His" every moment. Is your priest trying to elevate Nichiren into a deity or figure of royalty? Where in his writings does Nichiren indicate he wants to be so distanced from other people? Every time Rev. Murata intentionally elevates Nichiren to a platform of deity he consequently denigrates all living beings. Why do you remain complicit in this act?