The Evolving Buddha- New Perspective and Dynamic Change in Nichiren Buddhism

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JD. Gilbert lives in London, England. He studied history at the University of Cambridge including the modern history of Japan. After his studies, he worked as a manager of a historic house and art gallery whilst trying to make it big in the music industry with his rock band. He then moved into the field of education where he has worked for the past two decades. He has practised Nichiren Buddhism with the SGI for twenty years.

"So many people say that if they were to take up a religion. it would be Buddhism. For them, and for the thousands of existing practitioners, here is a beautifully written book on the Nichiren tradition as practised within the SGI movement which, for the first time, places the core teachings and practice within a larger jigsaw of human- understanding, history and science.

Each chapter is purposeful, brings in relevant research, and de-mystifies prevailing issues like distrust of organised religions. Each chapter is peppered with accounts of the author's experiences which keep the text grounded and give it a very human touch.

"Buddhism teaches a timely message of the unity of all humanity and the cosmos. In contrast, as a religious tradition it has fractured along a thousand lines over two millennia. Political, cultural, and institutional factors which led to rigid dogmatism are to blame. In The Evolving Buddha author J.D. Gilbert offers an alternative: an empowering practice that adapts to changing times and circumstances. After all, the Buddha denied permanence, a stance that should apply to any doctrines expounded in his name.

From the Mahayana reform movement that produced the scripture the Lotus Sutra, to the Japanese priest Nichiren who strove to return Buddhism to its humanistic origins, up to today's global peace-oriented lay society Soka Gakkai, Gilbert outlines a progressive vision of what Buddhism is and can be. His narrative is both scholarly and personal, providing many access points for an array of readers, whether curious or sceptical. He also contributes to a growing body of Soka Gakkai-specific literature written from the perspective of those steeped in the Western cultural tradition.

J.D. Gilbert has found a path of heartfelt engagement within Soka Gakkai while retaining a sharp and penetrating gaze on its deeper message. I highly recommend the book for seekers of all stripes who are open to a new or better understanding of a life-changing modern iteration of the Buddha's teachings."

**Contents and Sample Pages**