Let me get back to the election of Barack Obama and explain how an “Insentient Being” contributed the absolute phenomenal that contributed to the successes of his election. The Insentient Being that I am referring to is the Computer and the Internet. Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism explains phenomena in relationship to the law of cause and effect.
Please understand that an Insentient being is just as much a part of life as a Sentient being. The Computer or the Internet is an Insentient Being that we will move into the future with and change our life as human beings. In the case of Barack Obama the Internet was the strongest factor that allowed him to become the President of the United States of America. This Insentient being of a computer and Internet manifested itself or appeared in the world as the single most important Karmic factor or greatest cause and effect relationship that allowed Barack Obama to put together perhaps the greatest political team in the history of politics. This single entity allowed President Obama to raise more money and organize the greatest political force for a political campaign in the history of American politics.
This Insentient being what we call a computer or Internet allowed Bill Gates to become the richest human being on planet earth. Other faiths talk about God, Jesus, Allah, Yahweh and other adjectives and phenomena but Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism explains all phenomena in relationship to the law of cause in effect. The phenomena of the computer allow Barack Obama to raise 750 million dollars or more money than any Presidential candidate in the history of American politics. The internet and computer is a catalyst to help me bring the teachings of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism to those who read this lecture.
Nichiren Daishonin breaks all phenomenon down via the Buddha theory or concept called “Ichinen Sanzen” or literally translated as “moment of existence “and Three Thousand aspects”. Let us take the phenomenon of Barack Obama and explain this phenomenon via the Nichiren Buddhist theoretical explanation of Ichinen Sanzen. Let us first deal with the 3000 aspects.
1. The first aspect is Nyoze so
form or appearance
of the campaign or manifest.
2. The second aspect is Nyoze sho
nature or character
of the campaign. (Change)
3. The third aspect is Nyoze tai
entity or substance
there is a clear substance called Barack Obama for President.
4. The fourth aspect is called Nyoze riki
or potential power or capacity
and everything has a power or capacity to manifest the reality.
5. The fifth aspect is Nyoze sa is
action influenced by potential power
Obama has the power to influence.
6. The sixth is Nyoze in is inherent cause or a direct cause that brings effect and Obama has the power to bring about an effect.
7. The seventh is Nyoze en is
a relational or subordinate cause that supports an inherent cause.
There is a relationship to the cause that Obama is making.
8. The eight is Nyoze ka which is
a latent effect that results from an inherent cause.
There are latent effects that Obama is making that has not happen yet.
9. The ninth is Nyoze ho is a manifest
effect that appears when a latent effect becomes manifest.
The manifest effect of Obama's effort made him President of the United States of America.
10. The tenth is Nyoze Hon-makku-kyoto
represents that Nyoze so and Nyoze ho are ultimately equal.
The appearance and nature are consistent.
The profound Buddhist teachings of Nichiren Daishonin teach that, 1. Appearance 2. Nature and 3. Entities are the substance of all phenomena. Also the power, influence, inherent cause, relation, latent effect and manifest effect are the functions of all phenomena and all things function in the universe this way.
Let me get back to the computer, Internet and an insentient being. In July of 2004 I met Barack Obama via an Insentient being called a television and I as well as others had connected with him which was Nyosa Ka or a latent effect. Now the Computer and internet connected all of us together and we were inspired. One example is the fact of me and others making a donation very, very early in his campaign as well as millions of others.
The fact that he is handsome, charismatic, intelligent and had money, organization and committed followers and a ground game in Iowa shocked the nation and caught Hillary Clinton by surprise and made him a formidable campaigner. Later he got the endorsement of Oprah Winfrey and his momentum went forward that catapulted him to become the democratic nominee.
Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism clearly state that phenomena happens when the time and conditions are correct. One of the conditions was the fact that he could outspend John McCain 5 to 1 to combat the negative messages. Secondly the current President had the worst approval ratings in history. Third his running mate Sarah Palin galvanized Obama supporters and she caused a cultural war in America and her incompetence caused some loyal republicans to crossover to Barack Obama.
The absolute contributing factors that lead to Barack Obama's success was the Buddhist term Nyo Sa Ka a latent effect that results from an inherent cause. The overspending, unregulated, poorly managed American economy lead to the devastation of America's stock market, record gas prices, two wars and almost collapse of Wall Street was a cause they lead many in America who would not ordinarily or remotely vote for a Black man transcended their prejudices of color and selected someone who they thought could better lead our country and Barack Obama became America's 44th President. The result was a clear-cut case of the manifestation of the law of cause and effect or Karma where factors of him to be born to an African father from Kenya and a White mother from Kansas. His being born in Hawaii, having lived in Indonesia, attended Harvard law school and his working as a community organizer, having also a brilliant beautiful with, two children and a strong work ethic all are contributing factors that lead to his being elected the 44th President of the United States of America.
Please note that I am a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist whose Buddhist background considers Nichiren Daishonin the “True Buddha” of Mappo or at this time in history whose Buddhist teachings are relevant for our society today. Nichiren Daishonin left a Buddhist legacy or an object of Worship called the Dai Gohonzon or what we call the “True Object of Worship,” that resides at our Buddhist Temple at Taisekiji Japan. All Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist chant the words Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to this object of worship to bring out our own inherent Buddha Nature or enlighten self. In addition to this object of worship Nichiren Daishonin left a series of “Letters” called the Gosho where he leaves a clear explanation of his most profound teachings.
We humans have Karmic relationships with animate and inanimate objects. For example a basketball player with his ball or a baseball player with his bat. Inanimate objects as humans posse a Karma for example a musical instrument or a murder weapon. Some inanimate objects have good and bad Karma and everything posses the 3000 worlds.
