Hm.
It's like Catholicism, actually. It's not negative, it's just odd for me to see. For example, in SGI the focus is 99% on Ikeda interpretation of The Dharma. It is also 100% chanting the Dharma. However, I'd say during public "worship" and at study meetings, there is probably 20% of talking about Nichiren's Writings (isolated from Ikeda's interpretation), and no conversation about the teachings of The Buddha himself.
When
we chant, it is like everyone is intune with the Dharma recitation. What is different than how I see the Dharma is that it is an idol/attachment. It isn't a teaching tool but an actual object of worship to which the results from their practice are not a reflection off the item of worship, the item of worship (Rather than The Dharma itself) creates a reflection on them.
How can I say, Nichiren says everything is in the Mind. The Dharma is the Mind-The Buddha addresses the mind, what other way to reach enlightenment but through the Mind.
When I first went to Mass, this is what I thought without disrespect. It sounded like zombies or drones humming and their voice bouncing the walls in harmony with their scripture. It's not negative. It's just, well, creepy.
I chant to; and, I
seem to be more aware of how the object affects me compared to what The Buddha taught about attachment. Like the Eucharist, it isn't something they can part with.
How can it be based in true reality?
The Dharma Is reality. The way we worship doesn't change The Dharma itself. The way we approach it, for some, may seem odd to me but regardless our connection, the Dharma that is on the scroll we chant to Is reality.
Reality is based on the laws of cause and affect. We take responsibility for our actions. Reality is also in part what The Buddha calls suffering in many stages and types not all negative. He also mentions that reality is isolated from attachments. What I think many Buddhist refer to as emptiness.
How it connects is, we chant to The Dharma that is written on a scroll. It's a physical representation of "the mind." Like Catholicism, Eucharist is Jesus (and so forth). Just I believe The Dharma is the truth/is reality.
Should not one be completely rational, awake and aware?
Everyone should be rational, awake, and aware. That's the point of meditation among many. Maybe some people are during chanting, I don't know. During our study meetings, it doesn't seem that way.
You say everyone is nice and genuine. Do they question and interact openly or does peer pressure restrict them to their common religious view?
We interact openly within our own beliefs. The pressue comes when I (or anyone) brings in The Buddha's teachings, opposing views on Ikeda, and, with me, decide not to, say, use Living Buddhism as a source of my spiritual knowledge. I feel it's a bit more than peer pressure. When I was practicing Catholicism, it wasn't peer pressure but more of a family helping each other out. In this case, it's more "I see the results that you have, and I want those results. I have changed this many times, and now my illnesses has been cured. I believe." It's a totally different mindset if comparing it to Christianity.
Do you think any hide a desire to be free?
Many are raised in the practice and know no other way of seeing reality. As a result, why or how can you question something that you don't have any questions about? While a few others have a more liberal approach. None of them, so far, has said they feel trapped. It is more that the Dharma (the item Gohonzon) set them free. So, basically, we are interacting with each other within the Dharma.
Personally, I don't see how I can be set free from reality. However, I wasn't raised in a religious family, so I see things a bit more universal and openly than many religious of any religion.