Monthly Archives: June 2019

LS32

Day 17

Day 17 covers all of Chapter 12, Devadatta, and opens Chapter 13, Encouragement for Keeping this Sutra.

Day 17 Text with annotationsPlay MP3

Having last month heard the Buddha’s prediction of future Buddhahood for Maha-Prajapati Bhikṣunī, we conclude today’s portion of Chapter 13, Encouragement for Keeping this Sutra with the prediction for Yaśodharā Bhikṣunī.

Thereupon Yaśodharā Bhikṣunī, the mother of Rāhula, thought, “I am not among the persons whom the World-Honored One mentioned by name and assured of their future attainment of [Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi].”

The Buddha said to Yaśodharā:

“You will perform the Bodhisattva practices under hundreds of thousands of billions of Buddhas in the future. You will become a great teacher of the Dharma under those Buddhas. You will walk the Way to Buddhahood step by step, and finally become a Buddha in a good world. The name of that Buddha will be Emitting-Ten-Million-Rays-Of-Light, the Tathāgata, the Deserver of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Man of Wisdom and Practice, the Well-Gone, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed Man, the Controller of Men, the Teacher of Gods and Men, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. The duration of the life of that Buddha will be many asaṃkhyas of kalpas.”

Thereupon Mahā-Prajāpatī Bhikṣunī, Yaśodharā Bhikṣunī, and their attendants had the greatest joy that they had ever had. They sang in a gāthā before the Buddha:
You, the World-Honored One, are our leader.
You give peace to gods and men.
Hearing that you assured us of our future Buddhahood,
We are relieved and satisfied.

Having sung this gāthā, the bhikṣunīs said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One! We also will expound this sūtra in other worlds.”

Continuing with the content from Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan, we learn of Priest Kōjitsu of Mount Atago.

Miracles

Priest Kōjitsu of Mount Atago

Kōjitsu was a resident priest of the Senjuin Temple of Tōtō of Mount Hiei. With great admiration for the Law, he prayed to the Three Treasures and single-mindedly memorized the Hokekyō. Finally, he recited the whole copy by heart.

Later Kōjitsu moved to Umedani and was cloistered there for several years. The wife of Regent Michinaga of Fujiwara became devoted to Kōjitsu and repeatedly donated food and clothing to him.

As Kōjitsu aged, he changed his residence to Mount Atago, where he sequestered himself for ascetic practices and recited scores of thousands of copies of the Hokekyō.

On one occasion, Kōjitsu visited the Hachiman Shrine to fulfil his lifelong wish. As he recited the Hokekyō before the shrine altar at night, a person beside him dreamed that the Eight Heavenly Guardian Boys appeared from the inner hall of the shrine, bowed respectfully to Kōjitsu, and joyfully danced while scattering fragrant flowers over him and singing his praises. A voice heard within the shrine said in praise, “The holy man will surely become a Buddha and the light of his merits will illuminate the Way through the long nights to the Land After Death.” On awaking, the person found Kōjitsu reciting the Hokekyō beside him.

In his last moments, Kōjitsu respectfully completed his recitation of a copy of the Hokekyō, and passed away.(Page 50)

Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan


Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – June 5, 2019

As the destroyer of the bonds of existence,
I, the King of the Dharma, have appeared in this world.
Since then I have expounded the Dharma variously
According to the desires of all living beings.

The Buddha proclaims these verses in Chapter Five of the Lotus Sūtra. This is another explanation for why he uses expedients to teach those who are not ready for his highest teaching. When we set aside the cravings that lead to suffering, and cultivate our desire for enlightenment, both for ourselves and all beings, then we are ready to receive the Buddha’s highest teaching.

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

LS32

Day 16

Day 16 concludes Chapter 11, Beholding the Stūpa of Treasures, and completes the Fourth Volume of the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

Day 16 Text with annotationsPlay MP3

Having last month considered the easy and difficult tasks, we conclude Chapter 11, Beholding the Stūpa of Treasures.

Since I attained
The enlightenment of the Buddha,
I have expounded many sūtras
In innumerable worlds.

This sūtra is
The most excellent.
To keep this sūtra
Is to keep me.

Good men!
Who will receive and keep this sūtra,
And read and recite it
After my extinction?
Make a vow before me
[To do all this]!

It is difficult to keep this sūtra.
I shall be glad to see
Anyone keeping it even for a moment.
So will all the other Buddhas.
He will be praised by all the Buddhas.
He will be a man of valor,
A man of endeavor.
He should be considered
To have already observed the precepts,
And practiced the dhuta.
He will quickly attain
The unsurpassed enlightenment of the Buddha.

Anyone who reads and recites this sūtra in the future
Is a true son of mine.
He shall be considered to live
On the stage of purity and good.

Anyone, after my extinction,
Who understands the meaning of this sūtra,
Will be the eye of the worlds
Of gods and men.

Anyone who expounds this sūtra
Even for a moment in this dreadful world,
Should be honored with offerings
By all gods and men.

[Here ends] the Fourth Volume of the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

Continuing with the content from Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan, we learn of Priest Shunmyō of Saitō of Mount Hiei.

Miracles

Priest Shunmyō of Saitō of Mount Hiei

Shunmyō was a resident priest of Saitō. He thought of nothing but the recitation of the Hokekyō. He recited it in his room during the day and in the Shaka Hall through the night. He was always poor and had difficulty in providing his daily necessities. Avoiding people and closing the temple gates, he fervently recited the Hokekyō.

At one time, about daybreak when Shunmyō was half asleep, a Heavenly Lady appeared and said to Shunmyō in a soft voice. “In your former life, you were a fox living behind the Hokke Hall of Saitō. From time to time, you played above the ceiling and heard the Hokekyō recitation and the preaching. Thanks to this, you were reborn as a human being, became a priest of this mountain, and have been reciting the Hokekyō. To be born as a human being and to know about the Law is difficult. Exert yourself in reciting and do not neglect good deeds. The sea of suffering is so large and deep. How can one cross to other side without the ship of the Hokekyo?” The Heavenly Lady gave this explanation and said nothing more.

Hearing this, Shunmyō perceived the results linked to his former life and believed in the Way of cause and effect. After that, he recited sixty thousand rolls of the sūtra. He recited many more in later years, but the number of copied rolls was not recorded.

In his last days, he was ill but not seriously so. Reciting the Hokekyō, wishing to end his cycle of life and death, and thinking of nothing else, Shunmyō finally passed away. (Page 53-54)

Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan


Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – June 4, 2019

Bhikṣus! I will collect Bodhisattvas and Śrāvakas and expound this sūtra to them when I realize that the time of my Nirvāṇa is drawing near, that the living beings have become pure in heart, that they can understand the truth of the Void by firm faith, and that they have already entered deep into dhyāna-concentration.

The Buddha gives this explanation in Chapter Seven of the Lotus Sūtra. When we encounter even the smallest part of the Lotus Sūtra, it is because of all the wonderful things we have accomplished both in this life and in previous lives. Because we hear and practice this Sūtra, we are the Bodhisattvas who have vowed to benefit all beings and the Śrāvakas who have heard and practiced the teaching for their own benefit and are now awakening to the Bodhisattva path. The Buddha sees into the purity of our hearts, even though we may believe we are clouded by delusion and ignorance. He knows we can understand his teaching no matter how inadequate or unworthy we may think we are. No one besides us can bring the Buddha’s teachings to life and purify this world of suffering. This Wonderful Dharma helps us keep sight of who we are and what we are here to do.

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

LS32

Day 15

Day 15 concludes Chapter 10, The Teacher of the Dharma, and opens Chapter 11, Beholding the Stūpa of Treasures.

Day 15 Text with annotationsPlay MP3

Having last month considered the prediction for anyone who copies, keeps, reads and recites this sūtra, we consider the Lotus Sūtra and practicing the Way of Bodhisattvas.

“Medicine-King! Although many laymen or monks will practice the Way of Bodhisattvas, they will not be able to practice it satisfactorily, know this, unless they see, hear, read, recite, copy or keep this Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma or make offerings to it. If they hear this sūtra, they will. Anyone who, while seeking the enlightenment of the Buddha, sees or hears this Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, and after hearing it, understands it by faith and keeps it, know this, will approach Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi.

“Medicine-King! Suppose a man on a plateau felt thirsty and sought water. He dug a hole in order to get water. As long as he saw the dug-out lumps of earth were dry, he knew that water was still far off. He went on digging, and then found the dug-out lumps of earth wet. When he finally found mud, he was convinced that water was near. In the same manner, know this, the Bodhisattvas who have not yet heard, understood or practised this Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, are still far from Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi. [The Bodhisattvas] who hear, understand, think over and practice this sūtra, will approach Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi. Why is that? It is because Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi which all the Bodhisattvas [should attain] is expounded only in this sūtra. This sūtra opens the gate of expedients and reveals the seal of the truth. The store of this Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma is sound and deep. No one can reach its core. Now I show it to the Bodhisattvas in order to teach them and cause them to attain [Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi].

Continuing with the content from Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan, we learn of Priest Chōzen of Mount Hiei.

Miracles

Priest Chōzen of Mount Hiei

Priest Chōzen had lived in Mount Hiei since his youth and wished to learn about the Law. However, being slow by nature, he could not practice the Way well. Following his master’s instructions, Chōzen learned about the sūtra and served Buddha. In the daytime, he recited the sūtra in the main quarter, and at night, he visited the worship hall to pray to Buddha. Finally, he memorized a copy of the sūtra.

On one occasion, a soothsayer came and explained good and bad omens for the people gathered at the worship hall. The soothsayer saw Chōzen and said to him, “You were a white horse in your previous life. A Hokekyō reciter travelled astride your back. On account of this merit, you left the status of an animal, and were born as a human being. You recited the sūtra and came to know about the Law. Your white complexion is due to the white hair of your body in your former life, and your loud voice resembles the hoofbeats of a galloping horse.”

Although Chōzen heard what the soothsayer had said about his former life, Chōzen would not believe it at all. Chōzen continued to visit the worship hall and practiced the repentance rites with utmost sincerity. He prayed that he would learn the truth about his former existence.

One night, Chōzen dreamed that an old priest said to him, “What the soothsayer told you was all correct. The effects of good and evil follow one just like one’s shadow. Only merits of the Hokekyō reciter who mounted you enabled you to be reborn into the human world and recite the Hokekyō. Just think how effective it will be if you maintain the sūtra’s teachings yourself and recommend that others support it. You should further devote yourself to its recitation and never be negligent.”

The awakened Chōzen felt ashamed of his former status, but rejoiced that he knew the Law and continued to uphold and practice it. (Page 62-63)

Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan


Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – June 3, 2019

With Nichiren’s boundless compassion, “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” will be heard forever even beyond the ten-thousand year period of Degeneration. It has the merit of curing the blindness of all people, blocking the way to hell. This merit is superior to those of Dengyō in Japan, T’ien-t’ai in China, Nāgārjuna in India or Kāśyapa who was the Buddha’s disciple. Practice for a hundred years in the Pure Land is not worth the merit of chanting the daimoku for one day in this defiled world. Propagation of the daimoku in a two-thousand year period following the death of the Buddha is not worth as much as spreading the daimoku for even a short while in the Latter Age of Degeneration. This is not from my wisdom; it is solely due to the time in which I live.

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Essay on Gratitude (Hōon-jō). In other writings, he explained that the superiority of the Lotus Sūtra is not in its power to change the world, but its power to lead all beings, without exception, to the same enlightenment the Buddha found. In this sūtra, the Buddha gives us a different idea of time, the world and our lives. All of these are truly boundless, and the Buddha is always here teaching us.

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

LS32

Day 14

Day 14 covers all of Chapter 9, The Assurance of Future Buddhahood of the Śrāvakas Who Have Something More to Learn and the Śrāvakas Who Have Nothing More to Learn, and opens Chapter 10, The Teacher of the Dharma.

Day 14 Text with annotationsPlay MP3

Having last month concluded today’s portion of Chapter 10, The Teacher of the Dharma, we begin again Chapter 9, The Assurance of Future Buddhahood of the Śrāvakas Who Have Something More to Learn and the Śrāvakas Who Have Nothing More to Learn.

Thereupon Ānanda and Rāhula thought, ‘We are always thinking: How glad we shall be if we are assured of our future Buddhahood!’ They rose from their seats, came to the Buddha, worshipped his feet with their heads, and said to him:
“World-Honored One! We think that we also are qualified to be assured [of our future Buddhahood]. Only you, the Tathāgata, are our refuge. We are known to all gods, men and asuras of the world. Ānanda always protects the store of the Dharma as your attendant. Rāhula is your son. If you assure us of our future attainment of Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, the wishes not only of us but also of others will be fulfilled.”

Thereupon the two thousand disciples [composed of the two kinds of Śrāvakas]: the Śrāvakas who had something more to learn and the Śrāvakas who had nothing more to learn, also rose from their seats, bared their right shoulders, came to the Buddha, joined their hands together with all their hearts, looked up at the World­Honored One, begged him just as Ānanda and Rāhula did, and stood to one side of the place.

Continuing with the content from Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan, we learn of Hermit Yōshō of Saitō-Hōdōin of Mount Hiei.