Seikyo Times

Buddhism is the fourth-largest religion in the world and Nichiren Shoshu/Soka Gakkai is the largest Buddhist religion in America. The purpose of Buddhism is to eradicate suffering and attain enlightenment Nichiren Shoshu to receive material benefits and find happiness. This book demonstrates the fundamental incompatibility of Buddhism and Christianity and shows the consequences particularly religious ones which lie outside the truth. This eBook was written from material which originally comprised the authors’ Master’s Thesis.

"Brief synopses of more than 30 influential groups, including the Integral Yoga Institute, Tibetan Buddhism, and the Human Potential movement, are also covered. Each major group is contrasted with traditional biblical teachings for easy comparison and study. Straightforward organization and clearly marked sections make [this book] easy to use. Other helpful features include: brief summaries of basic tenants and sources of authority; helpful charts for quick reference; an in-depth doctrinal appendix for further study..." -- BACK COVER.

If you don’t know Tina Turner’s spirituality, you don’t know Tina. When Tina Turner reclaimed her throne as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the 1980s, she attributed her comeback to one thing: the wisdom and power she found in Buddhism. Her spiritual transformation is often overshadowed by the rags-to-riches arc of her life story. But in this groundbreaking biography, Ralph H. Craig III traces Tina’s journey from the Black Baptist church to Buddhism and situates her at the vanguard of large-scale movements in religion and pop culture. Paying special attention to the diverse metaphysical beliefs that shaped her spiritual life, Craig untangles Tina’s Soka Gakkai Buddhist foundation; her incorporation of New Age ideas popularized in ’60s counterculture; and her upbringing in a Black Baptist congregation, alongside the influences of her grandmothers’ disciplinary and mystical sensibilities. Through critical engagement with Tina’s personal life and public brand, Craig sheds light on how popular culture has been used as a vehicle for authentic religious teaching. Scholars and fans alike will find Dancing in My Dreams as enlightening as the iconic singer herself.

This book advances a serious consideration of how the goals and practices of psychology can be informed and enriched by Buddhist traditions that transcend the individual to consider the interconnectedness of all things, and the responsibility we have towards the other. Individualistic and psychotherapeutic applications of Buddhism in psychology are examined, followed by a bold step into the community arena, with consideration given to the intersection between community psychology and Buddhist approaches to empowerment, social change, and prevention.

A study in comparative virtue ethics.

On November 17,1964, a new and rather unique political organization was inaugurated in Japan. This organization was called Komeito or the Clean Government Party. ! The mother organization was the lay Buddhist group, Soka Gakkai 2 or Value Creation Society. It had previously been engaged in some political activities, but the establish ment of the party was an indication of serious intent to become even more involved in Japanese political affairs. The rather militant posture of Soka Gakkai and its phenomenal success in converting literally millions of Japanese to the Nichiren Buddhist religion was somewhat disconcerting for observers, both Japanese and foreign. Because of its political activism, many persons viewed the organization as similar to the pre-World War II ultra-nationalist movement, while others ap plauded Soka Gakkai for giving new life and hope to a large segment of Japanese society that was only receiving a marginal share of Japan's increasing prosperity. Any mass movement may appear rather ominous to some people and a rapidly expanding and aggressive movement is bound to be perceived as a threat to society. Soka Gakkai is no exception, and therefore has been the subject of much debate and controversy in both Japan and abroad. As is often the case with controversial matters, a new perspective will help to clarify some of the more contentious issues of this movement.