My Gohonzon is better then YOUR Gohonzon! (A letter)

Dear Robby

First off, thank you for the series of videos on YouTube, as a new pupil of Nichiren Buddhism your clear explanations are very helpful to me. I noticed that some of them were recorded in 2009.

My name is Marcel Berkien, from Rotterdam the Netherlands. Not entirely new to buddhism (mainly Tibetan forms and later also embraced Zen practice). A long time ago, I came across Nichiren Shoshu buddhism and learned about the chanting practice. More recently, I joined a SGI group in Rotterdam and have a sturdy confidence about being on the right track.

The Venus Project - A CLEAR VISION for the future.

Tomorrow's cities: How the Venus Project is redesigning the future

Is it possible to create a radically different society? One where material possessions are unnecessary, where buildings are created in factories, where mundane jobs are automated?

Would you want to live in a city where the main aim of daily life is to improve personal knowledge, enjoy hobbies, or solve problems that could be common to all people in order to improve the standard of living for everyone?

Some may think it is idealistic, but 97-year old architect Jacque Fresco is convinced his vision of the future is far better than how we live today.

The Venus Project proposes an alternative vision of what the future can be if we apply what we already know in order to achieve a sustainable new world civilization. It calls for a straightforward redesign of our culture in which the age-old inadequacies of war, poverty, hunger, debt and unnecessary human suffering are viewed not only as avoidable, but as totally unacceptable. Anything less will result in a continuation of the same catalogue of problems inherent in today's world. Today many people believe what is needed is a higher sense of ethical standards and the enactment of international laws to assure a sustainable global society.

Find out more about the VENUS project

As featured on BBC Technology 

Are we prejudice and don't even realise it?

By Daisaku Ikeda 

Much of the information that floods our world has been selected and tailored to fit preconceived notions and stereotypes.

It is vital that we each ask ourselves some important questions. For example: Do I accept without question the images provided to me? Do I believe unconfirmed reports without first examining them? Have I unwittingly allowed myself to become prejudiced? Do I really have a grasp of the facts of the matter? Have I confirmed things for myself? Have I gone to the scene? Have I met the people involved? Have I listened to what they have to say? Am I being swayed by malicious rumours?

A Piece of Mirror: Wartime Memories

I have a mirror. I always keep it with me. Actually, it's nothing more than a piece of broken glass about the size of my palm. A piece of broken mirror, somewhat on the thick side, the kind you could probably find on any trash heap.

But to me, it's anything but trash. When my mother married, she brought as part of her trousseau a mirror stand fitted with a very nice mirror. How many times it must have clearly reflected her face as a young bride! Twenty years later however, the mirror somehow got broken. My eldest brother Kiichi and I sorted over the fragments and picked out two of the larger ones to keep.

DIALOGUE NOT WAR.

DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. DIALOGUE NOT WAR. 

and we must keep talking until every single weapon has been put down.

That is not a lofty ideal, it could be a reality if enough of us believe in the possibility of a peaceful future.

NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO