John A Stuart Posted May 5, 2013 Report Posted May 5, 2013 I have wanted to obtain one of these for quite a while. Got one today. Signed by Nichigo dated 1788. John Quote
Pete Klein Posted May 5, 2013 Report Posted May 5, 2013 John -- I haven't the foggiest about it but I wish it was hanging in my study room. I am desperately trying not to get into sumi-e but am loosing the battle... Quote
John A Stuart Posted May 5, 2013 Author Report Posted May 5, 2013 Here ( http://fraughtwithperil.com/rbeck/2007/ ... ignatures/ ) is a site that explains these Mandala Gohonzon fairly well. I have always been interested in the Lotus sutra, Nichiren buddhism and Tien Tai (Tendai). Pete, I have a few sumie, but, this one is special for me. It's all addictive isn't it. John Quote
Justin Grant Posted May 6, 2013 Report Posted May 6, 2013 John, As a devout Nichiren follower, I am torn by your item. I admire it for the beauty and dedicated hand that inscribed it. However, a Gohonzon should be in a butsudan and not out in the open, after all is it a revered object for Nichiren followers. Thanks Justin Quote
John A Stuart Posted May 6, 2013 Author Report Posted May 6, 2013 Have no fear, Justin. It will not be on display, in fact in an altar chest with offering bowls, stupa, Buddha statue etc. I will not be using a Butsudan, but, the idea is similar. John Quote
christianmalterre Posted May 6, 2013 Report Posted May 6, 2013 just please allow me this question: what is that appealing/fascinating for an westener heading interest into this sect? I do agree the various art forms resulting and available on the antiques market do find an more and more increasing public of devotee- do but wonder what in regard of an westener is that fascinating on those sect(s)... Is it the history behind-or rather the pantheon of hundreds of goods,texts and rituals? Mineself rather am interested into the workmanship,materials,preservation of such religious relicts... I do have an scroll depicting an Shoki(Matabei school)(see somewhere in the past sales section posts...i still do have it as i decided not to part finally) just have read an very fascinating book:Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei... It´s indeed fascinating what cruel passion and devotion is done here-i but do me hard in understanding why especially westeners get such addictet to these beliefs... ??? I but agree of course-your´s painting is exotic and interesting indeed... Christian Quote
John A Stuart Posted May 6, 2013 Author Report Posted May 6, 2013 Well, Christian, for me it is a personal journey that started in the late '60s when I first became interested in Judo, then Wing Chun exposing me to Eastern philosophy. This connectivity of martial arts and philosophy became inseperable and at the time I was actively searching for a daily code of conduct that was compatible with the discipline and conduct expected in training. I was at times quite influenced and at others quite apart from it. So, not shaving my head and taking vows, but, admiring the idea. As to religious objects themselves, it is the beauty, history and devotion in making them that makes them precious to me, not any intrinsic spiritual power they may hold. I still treat them with respect, just like with any art that is perishable. John Quote
Justin Grant Posted May 6, 2013 Report Posted May 6, 2013 just please allow me this question:what is that appealing/fascinating for an westener heading interest into this sect? I do agree the various art forms resulting and available on the antiques market do find an more and more increasing public of devotee- do but wonder what in regard of an westener is that fascinating on those sect(s)... Is it the history behind-or rather the pantheon of hundreds of goods,texts and rituals? Mineself rather am interested into the workmanship,materials,preservation of such religious relicts... I do have an scroll depicting an Shoki(Matabei school)(see somewhere in the past sales section posts...i still do have it as i decided not to part finally) just have read an very fascinating book:Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei... It´s indeed fascinating what cruel passion and devotion is done here-i but do me hard in understanding why especially westeners get such addictet to these beliefs... ??? I but agree of course-your´s painting is exotic and interesting indeed... Christian Christian, If your question was about the following of the Nichiren ways, and why I do so, it is simple, I was raised, read born, into it. My father has been a Nichiren follower since he was a child, under the age of 16 I think. I was from birth raised Nichiren, and I don't see it as a fascination with Nichiren Buddhism. I also do not believe the word Sect should be applied in regards to Nichiren Buddhism. A sect refers to a separatist approach to the master school of thinking, Protestant Christianity is a Sect of Catholic Christianity. All Nichiren followers believe in the total doctrine of Nichiren, and the differences come from post Nichiren death documentation that the various versions follow. Your mileage may very on the use of the word. Just my opinion. @John- I appreciate your respect for the object of worship that the Nichiren followers have for the Gohonzon. It is a very nice one, and the one I have is the one bestowed upon me by the monk when I was 16 in 1985. Quote
John A Stuart Posted May 6, 2013 Author Report Posted May 6, 2013 Justin, It is surprising the amount of interest in the various Buddhist doctrines in Bloomington, IN. I see there is a Nichiren temple on Linda Vista Road. John Quote
christianmalterre Posted May 6, 2013 Report Posted May 6, 2013 Dear mine friends that´s pretty much O.K. for me. Fine. As i wrote,just an simple question from mine very personal standpoint i have. Please do accept and tolerate mine questioning-grounding on personal couriosity-that´s all in fact. Thank you honestly! Christian Quote
Justin Grant Posted May 6, 2013 Report Posted May 6, 2013 @John Bloomington is home to a major university (IU) and we get all religions in this town. The Dali Lama's late brother owned a restaurant (Snow Lion) and was in town on a regular basis. I had the honor of dinner with him once. Although we follow different paths to enlightenment, he is a very wise man. There is a major Tibetan Temple in town that he helped create. I am not familiar with the road or temple you mention. It might be a Shoshu version. Shu followers (me) have a temple in Lexington, KY (closest one I know of). We have many followers in B-Town, but no temple. I'll look it up. @Christian, No worries, I appreciate the questions. It means people are not closed minded when they ask, it is when they don't ask that I worry! Quote
Curran Posted May 9, 2013 Report Posted May 9, 2013 Coming to this hobby from a background in painting, sumi-e is hard to resist. I have two tsuba that I would consider part buddhist religious items. One is a "Haguro" tsuba (NBTHK to "Haguro" or Mt. Haguro priests). It is closely associated with Shugendo, and is a favorite. The other is a large ko-katchushi similar to this one: http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/BM%20G ... 0Tsuba.htm I wouldn't interrupt the course of this thread. Just thought I would share images. Quote
Henry Wilson Posted May 9, 2013 Report Posted May 9, 2013 Very nice Curran. I hope I am not hiijacking the thread, but here are a few tsuba of mine I would consider Buddhist inspired. They are of lotus petals and lotus leaves. Sorry about the pictures sizes. I have a new computer and can't use it well. By the way, is it accurate to call Mandala Gohonzon sumi-e 墨絵? After all it is not a picture. Would 書道 shodo not be me more appropriate? Quote
John A Stuart Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Posted May 9, 2013 Yes, I think 書道 is more accurate for Gohonzon, sutra or any document using only calligraphy. It should be noted that one is often associated with the other, in that, many strokes used in calligraphy are found in the basic techniques of sumie. Too, many sumie have calligraphic poems or prose along with the image. Of course, Henry, I guess it could be argued that ideograms are representational images in the impressionistic (small i) school and could be considered 絵. John Quote
Henry Wilson Posted May 9, 2013 Report Posted May 9, 2013 Hi John Thanks for the reply. I didn't want to split hairs about meaning but I felt it was worth pointing out a difference. The reason being I was not familar with Mandala Gohonzon before reading this thread and the term sumie had me looking for a picture in the scroll. It is very nice by the way. I too have an interest in the Lotus Sutra. Congratulations Quote
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