The Rowdy Buddhist Podcast

In this episode of The Rowdy Buddhist Podcast, we explore the true meaning of making offerings in Buddhism. Discover why flowers, incense, light, water, and food are not gifts to a deity, but practices that cultivate gratitude, generosity, mindfulness, and compassion within ourselves. Learn how honoring the Buddha differs from worship and how every offering becomes an opportunity to awaken and embody the Dharma in daily life.

The Hands of Compassion: Self-Reiki Through the Lens of Maka Shikan explores how the modern practice of self-Reiki can be understood through the Buddhist meditation teachings of Maka Shikan (Great Calming and Contemplation) by Grand Master Zhiyi. Rather than presenting Reiki as a separate religious tradition, this lecture examines how mindful touch, chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, and awareness of the body can be integrated with the principles of calming (śamatha) and insight (vipaśyanā). Participants will learn how self-Reiki may serve as a contemplative practice that supports relaxation, mindfulness, compassion, and spiritual growth while remaining firmly rooted in the Dharma and the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. Ideal for both Reiki practitioners and Buddhist meditators, this lecture offers a thoughtful and historically grounded approach to cultivating wisdom and compassionate presence through the hands.

Here is a short explanation you can use to promote or introduce the lecture:Why do Nichiren Shū Buddhists chant the Lotus Sutra? This lecture explores the meaning and purpose of one of the central practices of Nichiren Buddhism: reciting the Lotus Sutra and chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō (Odaimoku). Together we will examine how Nichiren Shōnin understood the Lotus Sutra as a direct path for ordinary people to awaken their inherent Buddha nature in everyday life. Through discussion of Buddhist teachings, tradition, and practical application, participants will discover how chanting is not merely repetition, but a discipline that unites body, breath, voice, and mind while cultivating wisdom, compassion, resilience, and inner transformation. Whether new to Buddhist practice or a long-time practitioner, this lecture offers an accessible introduction to the spiritual meaning and benefits of Lotus Sutra practice in Nichiren Shū.

SHINDOKU – The Sacred Sound of the Dharma examines how Buddhist teachings moved from the oral recitation traditions of India into the scriptural and chanting culture of Tang Dynasty China, and how these traditions were preserved and transmitted into Japan.Together we will explore the meaning of Shindoku—the traditional Japanese reading of Buddhist scriptures—and Shōmyō, the sacred art of Buddhist chant. The lecture will also clarify the historical role of Grand Master Dengyō Daishi (Saichō), who did not introduce Shindoku itself to Japan but transmitted Tang Dynasty liturgical and recitation traditions that deeply shaped Japanese Tendai Buddhism.From there, we will examine how Nichiren Shōnin inherited this world of scripture, chant, and devotion and revealed the heart of the Lotus Sutra through the practice of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.This lecture invites participants to see chanting not simply as reading words, but as entering a living lineage of sacred sound—a tradition carried through generations and still embodied in practice today.

This lecture explores the many different versions of “self” that arise within our minds through memory, emotion, relationships, expectations, and spiritual identity. Through Buddhist meditation, chanting, and mindfulness practice, we will examine how these shifting “me’s” influence suffering, attachment, and inner peace. Participants will learn how Buddhist practice helps cultivate awareness, compassion, and harmony beyond the fragmented ego-self, revealing a deeper understanding of Buddha-nature and interconnected life. Open to all experience levels.

Lecture from Sept. 17th, 2023Itai Dōshin (異体同心) is a Buddhist principle often translated as “many in body, one in mind.” It teaches that although individuals may differ in personality, background, abilities, and circumstances, they can work together harmoniously when united by a shared purpose, spirit, or aspiration. In Nichiren Buddhist thought, Itai Dōshin emphasizes unity based on mutual respect, compassion, and dedication to the Dharma, encouraging practitioners to overcome ego and division in order to support one another and create peace within the community and society.

🌿 Fasting Is Meditation 🌿A Dharma Talk by Rev. Kanjin CedermanWhat if hunger isn’t a problem…but a doorway to awareness?Drawing from Yoga, Ayurveda, and Buddhism, this talk explores:• Why we feel the need to constantly eat• The difference between hunger and craving• How fasting can become a form of meditation• Returning to balance in a world of excess🧘‍♂️ Discover stillness in the body🔥 Restore balance in the mind🌱 Reconnect with true nourishment

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

What do we need to succeed in our meditation practice? This is based on the correct attitude in practice...

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.

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.

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.

This is a recording of the main points of meditation practice and what we need to focus on...

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

In this concept, we make a deep and sincere apology. Resolve from our past wrongdoings and deeds. I take refuge in the Buddha.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This episode was in response to a question on www.patreon.com how about connecting with our founder Nichiren Shonin.

This a lecture based on the life and teachings of Nisshin Shonin otherwise known as the Pot Wearing Saint.

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.

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.

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.