Journal Title
Florida Journal of International Law
Volume
28
Issue
3
First Page
343
Document Type
Article
Publication Information
2016
Abstract
Should you pray when you bleed? More specifically, should a Buddhist woman refrain from chanting and reciting from the Lotus Sutra during her menstrual cycle? This was the query fielded by the fiery prophet Nichiren in 1264 in Kamakura, Japan.
Nichiren's response, however, is far more than a doctrinal resolution of an esoteric theological uncertainty. To the contrary, Nichiren's advice is a model of analysis, common sense, and compassion that today's attorneys would be wise to emulate. As set forth below, Nichiren's cautious, sensitive, and pragmatic approach provides an enlightened template on how we can best counsel our clients in areas of doubt and possible peril.
Attorneys have power, prestige, and the pedigree of a professional license, all of which differentiate us from most of the clients we counsel. We can be intimidating, even when that is not our intent, and the potential trepidation our clients experience can be worsened when we are traversing the chasms of culture and gender.
Recommended Citation
John W. Teeter Jr., Of Blood and the Buddha: A Nichiren Primer on Counseling Clients, 28 Fla. J. Int'l L. 343 (2016).