The Rowdy Nichiren Buddhist

“Finding the ‘Why' in ‘Why Study Buddhism?'” is a thought-provoking lecture that explores the deeper purpose behind Buddhist practice. Moving beyond simple curiosity or the search for peace, this talk examines how the teachings of the Buddha guide us to understand suffering, transform our lives, and awaken to our true nature. Grounded in practical insight and the living practice of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, the lecture invites participants to reflect on their own path, discover meaning in everyday life, and cultivate compassion for themselves and others. Whether you are new to Buddhism or continuing your journey, this lecture offers clarity, direction, and inspiration for living with intention and purpose.

“Returning to the Why — Through the Odaimoku” is a guided meditation that gently leads participants inward to reconnect with their deeper purpose for practice. Through mindful breathing, reflective awareness, and the rhythmic chanting of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, this meditation helps quiet the mind, release attachments, and cultivate clarity and compassion. Rooted in the spirit of Nichiren Shonin, it invites practitioners to transform suffering into insight and rediscover the path of awakening within their own lives.

This Hanamatsuri lecture teaches that the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha is not just a historical event, but a living reminder that all people possess the potential for enlightenment. Drawing from the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren, it emphasizes the dignity of every life and the presence of the Buddha nature within us. Through faith, practice, and chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, we actively “give birth” to awakening in our own lives, bringing compassion and wisdom into the world.

This talk explores whether it is appropriate to say that Buddhism can “save” us, reframing salvation as liberation through awakening rather than rescue from outside. Drawing connections between Easter's message of renewal and the Buddha's birth on April 8th, it highlights our shared human potential for transformation. Rooted in Nichiren Buddhist practice, the lecture emphasizes personal responsibility, inner awakening, and the compassionate call to share the Buddha Dharma so that all beings may find freedom from suffering.

This 30-minute guided meditation invites practitioners to gently settle the body and mind, reflect on the nature of suffering, and awaken to their inner Buddha-nature. Through mindful breathing, silent chanting of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, and compassionate awareness, participants connect with their own capacity for transformation while extending that intention toward others. Rooted in the teaching that liberation comes through one's own awakening, this meditation encourages both personal insight and the courageous wish to help others find peace.

This lecture, “Helping Others with Wisdom: When Compassion Becomes Attachment,” explores the deeper Buddhist understanding of compassion beyond simple kindness. It challenges the common assumption that helping others is always beneficial, revealing how unchecked compassion can sometimes lead to burnout, attachment, or even the reinforcement of suffering. Drawing from the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Shonin, the message emphasizes the importance of balancing compassion with wisdom—recognizing when to act, when to step back, and how to support others without losing oneself. Ultimately, the lecture teaches that true help is not about rescuing or controlling others, but about empowering them while maintaining clarity, boundaries, and faith in their inherent Buddha-nature.

In “Guarding Our Energy, Awakening Compassion,” Rev. Kanjin Cederman explores how to remain calm, centered, and compassionate when faced with both supportive and difficult people. Drawing on Buddhist wisdom, this talk offers practical guidance on protecting one's inner state, setting healthy boundaries, and transforming conflict into an opportunity for growth. Especially relevant for high-stress environments, this lecture invites listeners to cultivate strength, clarity, and compassion in every interaction.

O-Higan is a Buddhist observance held during the spring and autumn equinox that symbolizes crossing from the “this shore” of suffering to the “other shore” of enlightenment. The practice encourages reflection on the **Six Pāramitās—generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom—as the path that carries us toward awakening. In Nichiren Shu Buddhism, this crossing is realized through faith and practice of the Lotus Sutra, especially through chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō while living with gratitude toward our ancestors and compassion toward all beings.

This lecture explores Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra, “The Supernatural Powers of the Tathagata,” through the lens of Nichiren Buddhism. It explains how the Buddha demonstrates supernatural powers to confirm the truth of the Lotus Sutra and entrusts its future propagation to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth and to practitioners in later ages. Drawing on teachings from Nichiren, the lecture highlights the importance of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo as the essence of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law. It also connects the sutra's message to Nichiren's own life, particularly his courage during persecution, illustrating how ordinary people can embody the Buddha's compassion and continue the mission of spreading the Dharma in the world today.

This lecture explored how Prince Shōtoku helped establish the spiritual foundation of Japan through his devotion to the Lotus Sutra, centuries before Nichiren proclaimed it as the essential teaching for the Latter Age of the Dharma. As regent of early Japan, Prince Shōtoku promoted the Lotus Sutra as a guide not only for personal awakening but for ethical governance and social harmony, expressing its spirit in his Seventeen-Article Constitution and in the establishment of temples such as Hōryū-ji. The lecture emphasized that the Lotus Sutra teaches the universality of Buddhahood and the unity of all beings, principles that Nichiren later embodied through the chanting of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō. Together, Prince Shōtoku's protection of the Dharma and Nichiren's fearless proclamation of it form a continuous lineage, calling modern practitioners to courage, compassion, and the active embodiment of the Lotus teaching in society today.

In this lecture we investigate how Nichiren Shonin's birth and faith can be used in our own study and practice of the Lotus Sutra.

In this podcast we will discuss the last of the Five Hinderances in practicing Meditation find in our Doubt! We will discuss why this is a "Hinderance" to our practice and how to remedy it, by changing poison into medicine.

In this episode, we talk about the concept of the agitated mind during meditation from worry and Remorse. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

In this lecture on the Third Hinderance towards practice, we can become aware of the reality of Laziness and Lethargy. The path towards freedom comes with the investigation of these potential roadblocks in all of their forms. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This podcast focuses on that not all meditation and practices are the same and how spiritual materialism can cause us to be confused on our practice. As we learn and practice, we need to learn a practice and devote ourselves to the proper study. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

The second of the five hindrances in Buddhism is ill will or aversion, which is a form of aversion or dislike that encompasses a range of negative emotions: minor irritation, anger, outrage, hatred, resentment, and hostility. Ill will is the opposite of lovingkindness, and it can manifest in many ways, from subtle inclinations of mind to more overt behaviors. It can cloud judgment, make it hard to see situations clearly, and prevent people from feeling compassion and empathy. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This aspect of our nature, born of our instinct to survive and continue our species, has directed our lives in a powerful and even destructive way. As Buddhists we should gain insight into this powerful aspect of our nature and understand how ryu realize true contentment in our lives. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

We can trace pretty much any problem that we have during meditation to one or more of these predispositions that we call the 5 Hinderances of Worldly desire, Aversion, Laziness and Lethargy, Agitation due to worry and remorse, and doubt. Let us explore these and the remedy... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

Here, we talk about staying motivated and keeping a consistent State of mind during our practice, understanding what the goal of our practice is on continuing towards that goal. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

What do we need to succeed in our meditation practice? This is based on the correct attitude in practice... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

One of the 5 aspects that we must regulate such as sleep in order to support our meditation practice... This was a previous episode going from Summer into Fall. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

In order to have a proper practice, we need to establish a correct time and place where we can have the maximum experience in our meditation. In this segment we talk about these aspects and give you recommendations as to how to design yours. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

We are just going over the basic challenges to establishing a meditation practice. What we need to be aware of and how to apply the appropriate medicine to our challenges so that we can have a consistent and beneficial practice. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a recording of the main points of meditation practice and what we need to focus on... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

In this meditation, we focus on impermanence and the factors of it. This is essential as the Buddhist to understand the reality of the world and how attachment to things pause the suffering. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

Perhaps we need to rethink the meaning of learning and practicing in Buddhism and what type of learning are we moving towards? Are we moving towards intellectual understanding or Dhyana Concentration? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a story about a priest who gives up his body. For the practice. Turn up holding of the Lotus Sutra. This references, of course, the scene from chapter 23 of the Medicine King Bodhisattva burning his body as an offering. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a story #8, concerning a priest who met King Yama in the in the Underworld. He is given a charge to spread and teach the Lotus Sutra. His teaching allowed people to follow the correct way. In death, he was rewarded for his great accomplishment. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a story of a monk who upon his death is able to correct his incorrect behavior after death through the power of the Lotus Sutra. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

In this concept, we make a deep and sincere apology. Resolve from our past wrongdoings and deeds. I take refuge in the Buddha. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a story concerning Chief Executive Priest of Mount Hiei and his passing from a miraculous tails of the Lotus suture from ancient Japan. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a story of the ancient priest Soo, who was said to have been a disciple of Master Jikaku, the third head Priest of Mt. Hiei. Finding faith in the Lotus Sutra, his wish could be fulfilled. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is the story of venerable master of Chicago of Mount explaining study, life, and the miraculous events of his death. He became the Third Abbott of the Tendai sect and is mentioned many times in Nichiren Shonin s teachings. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a story from the Miraculous tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan focusing specifically on the story of Grandmaster Dengyo and his relationship with the Lotus Sutra. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is another story from the book miraculous tales of the Lotus Sutra from ancient Japan written by priest chingen. It's important to understand these stories because they provide us context into the education and culture of the great founders of Buddhism especially those pertaining to the Lotus Sutra. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

I am sharing with everyone the miraculous tales of the Lotus Sutra from ancient Japan which is actually a commonly reference book in ancient commentary and teachings. I think that it is essential for us to understand these stories that many of our founders of the Buddhist traditions of Japan would have read to understand better the context of their teachings. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a very useful meditation in order to use the experience of pain in a beneficial way towards our goal of enlightenment. Also this allows us to transform that which we may consider negative into a positive awareness in our life. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This is a narrated body scan meditation for you to become aware of the elements connected to your body, moving your awareness to points of tension, and relaxing them. This is a very basic practice that is used for one to become aware of one's body during meditation or chanting. That if we find a troublesome or difficult aspect we are able to change that point from frustration to gratitude. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enkyoji-network/support

This episode was in response to a question on www.patreon.com how about connecting with our founder Nichiren Shonin. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

This a lecture based on the life and teachings of Nisshin Shonin otherwise known as the Pot Wearing Saint. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

In this episode we talk about following to the Buddha's feet and its meaning, history, and purpose. Two important concepts being, "holding the Buddha's feet in both of our hands" and making deep and sincere apologetic resolve for our past wrongdoings and misdeeds taking refuge in the Buddha. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

This episode is the beginning of information on the lineage of the Enkoji Buddhist Network. We Begin of course with the founder of our tradition and some of the general history associated with him. I hope this allows us to understand the direction and energy of our particular style of Nichiren Buddhism. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

In this episode we talk about this Noble truth about the end of suffering and it's meaning. Being that is usually overlooked or not deeply cultivated we realize the importance of this statement by the Buddha. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

Here we examine the causes of suffering as the Buddha teaches is about craving and the root of ignorance. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

This is a podcast on the 1st of the four noble truths of Buddhism. Many times this teaching is misunderstood in a very simplistic sense. I hope to provide context as well as understanding for the Mahayana practitioner of the Lotus Sutra. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

This is a lecture about how we as Buddhists use the teachings and formula of the sutras to shape our path in life. It seems as if many modern people shape the path to their desires rather than towards the path of liberation. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

You're probably heard this term many times and simply overlooked at us as a title of the Buddha. In this podcast I share with you how we as Buddhist should understand and study more deeply each of the meaning of these words in their original form. This will allow us to better define and follow the path of the Buddha in our daily lives. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

Haven't you ever wondered why, since you practice the Lotus Sutra that you might encounter both outside and inside of your Sangha, those who wish to destroy both you and your practice. How does this make sense in reality, that we uphold the teachings of the Buddha to save others, but are in turn hated and persecuted? This is a lesson as to why and what it means... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

In this episode we talk about the four foundations of mindfulness and I give a very brief explanation of working through each of them as we move forward towards our goal of Awakening proper insight into the reality of things "as it is"! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

This section is a response to a typical question received by those who begin practicing Nichiren Buddhism. I wanted to just share some insight as to my own experience and what I have shared with others. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support

This lecture is based on information from the Nirvana Sutra. We talk about the classification of the aspects of a good character. They are based on the five moral precepts of not taking life, not taking what is not given, engaging in improper sexual activity, using false speech, and ingesting intoxicants. Then the additional aspects are refraining from slandering, using harsh speech, using intentionally affected speech, greed, anger, and holding right views. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enkyoji-network/support