Monthly Archives: January 2019

LS32

Day 22

Day 22 covers all of Chapter 17, The Variety of Merits.

Day 22 Text with annotationsPlay MP3

Having last month considered the merits of those who hear of the Buddha’s longevity and understand it by firm faith, we consider the merits of the good men or women who do not speak ill of this sūtra.

“Furthermore, the good men or women who do not speak ill of this sūtra but rejoice at hearing it after my extinction, should be considered, know this, to have already understood my longevity by firm faith. It is needless to say this of those who [not only rejoice at hearing this sūtra but also] read, recite and keep it. They also should be considered to be carrying me on their heads. Ajita! They need not build a stupa or a monastery in my honor, or make the four kinds of offerings’ to the Saṃgha because those who keep, read and recite this sūtra should be considered to have already built a stupa or a monastery or made offerings to the Saṃgha. They should be considered to have already erected a stupa of the seven treasures tall enough to reach the Heaven of Brahman, the upper part of the stupa being the smaller. They should be considered to have already equipped the stupa with streamers, canopies and jeweled bells, and enshrined my śarīras therein. They also should be considered to have already offered flowers, incense, necklaces, incense powder, incense applicable to the skin, incense to burn, drums, music, reed pipes, flutes, harps, various kinds of dances, and songs of praise sung with wonderful voices [to the stupa ] continuously for many thousands of billions of kalpas.

The Daily Dharma from Nov. 25, 2018, offers this:

Furthermore, the good men or women who do not speak ill of this sūtra but rejoice at hearing it after my extinction, should be considered, know this, to have already understood my longevity by firm faith.

The Buddha makes this declaration to his disciple Maitreya in Chapter Seventeen of the Lotus Sūtra. After learning the merits of understanding the ever-present nature of the Buddha, Maitreya hears that this understanding is present in anyone who finds joy in this sūtra. From the parables told earlier in the sūtra, we know that this joy is not the same as the joy that comes from ending suffering. It is the joy in our awakening Buddha nature.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

Lotus Seeds

Awakening to the Middle Way

Quote

Understanding the Truth of the Middle Way can help us to overcome one-sided views. Awakening to the Middle Way allows us to let go of the one-sided anything, and allows us to let go of the one-sided view of non-existence, which attempts to find something unchanging and independent to cling to. The Truth of the Middle Way frees us of worldly delusion even as it allows us to remain fully involved in the world as bodhisattvas.

Lotus Seeds

Blog

Daily Gosho

Beginning this morning and continuing for the next four years or so I’ll be publishing a quote each day from the Writings of Nichiren Shōnin. As with this site in general, the purpose here is to provide a place to store things I’ve found useful for later recall.

As I begin I’m reminded of the opening to Śāntideva’s A Guide to the Buddhist Path to Awakening:

2 Nothing new will be said here, nor have I any skill in composition. Therefore I do not imagine that I can benefit others. I have done this to perfume my own mind.

3 While doing this, the surge of my inspiration to cultivate what is skillful increases. Moreover, should another, of the very same humors as me, also look at this, then he too may benefit from it.

The quotes from Nichiren’s writings were gathered during last year’s 100 Days of Study project with intention of eventually publishing them. Some quotes are short but many are substantial.

My goal is to give myself something to ponder each day, something to perfume my own mind.

WONS

The Merit of the Lotus Sutra

You should know that the merit of the Lotus Sūtra is the same whether you chant the whole eight scrolls or just one scroll, one chapter, one stanza, one phrase, one character, or the daimoku. For instance, a drop of ocean water contains the water of numerous rivers, large and small, while a wish-fulfilling gem produces numerous treasures. In this sense, a drop of ocean water is the same as numerous drops and a gem is the same as numerous gems. One character of the Lotus Sutra is like this one drop of ocean water or one wishfulfilling gem. Numerous characters of the sutra are like numerous drops of ocean water or numerous wish -fulfilling gems.

Gassui Gasho, A Letter on Menstruation, Nyonin Gosho, Letters Addressed to Female Followers, Page 28

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Jan. 1, 2019

Ajita! Anyone who hears that my life is so long, and understands it by faith even at a moment’s thought, will be able to obtain innumerable merits.

The Buddha makes this declaration to his disciple Maitreya, also known as Invincible (Ajita) in Chapter Seventeen of the Lotus Sutra. In the previous chapter, the Buddha revealed for the first time that his impending death was merely an expedient, intended to reach those who would take him for granted if they thought they could see him at any time. The Buddha explained that this is the teaching that is most difficult to believe and difficult to understand. Namely that he is always present, leading us and all beings to enlightenment.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com