Began the New Year at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church ringing the bell 108 times.
For my first service of the New Year I used special incense that says “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, Mount Minobu” when it burns.
And to complete the morning, I attended the New Year service at Kannon Temple in Las Vegas with Shoda Kanai Shonin and his father, Rev. Shokai Kanai.
Ignorant of the past and future [these Four Chinese] sages cannot help in the future lives of their parents, rulers and teachers. Not knowing what they owe to them in the past, they cannot be considered truly holy and wise. This is why Confucius said, “Truly wise and holy men do not exist in China, but in the land to the west, there is a man called Buddha. He is a true sage.”
Confucius thus indicated Confucianism, which is non-Buddhist (geten), to be the first step toward Buddhism. It would be easier, Confucius knew, for the people to understand the fundamental Buddhist teachings of commandments, meditation, and wisdom if they first learned the fundamental Confucian concepts of rituals and music.
He therefore taught the kings’ subjects to be loyal to their rulers, children to be devoted to their parents, and students to respect their teachers. Grand Master Miao-lê therefore declared in his Annotations on the Great Concentration and Insight: “The dissemination of Buddhism in China indeed depended on Confucianism. Buddhism found its way by following on the heels of the rituals and music of Confucianism.”
Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Pages 30
For the New Year I’ve decided to repost the quotes I’ve gathered from the seven-volume Writings of Nichiren Shōnin. I collected those quotes originally during my 100 Days of Study project that started in March 2018. Since then Nichiren Shu has published a second edition of the writings.
My ostensible reason for reposting the quotes is to update them to reflect the page numbers from the second edition. To tell if a quote you find on this website is from the first or second edition, look at the bottom of the article for the “2ndEd” tag.
However, the real reason is I’m reposting these quotes is because I want to have something to read each day and this is a simple, if time consuming, project.
In a perfect world, I’d sit down and read the seven volumes again and gather a new collection of quotes. With more than a decade of study behind me I’m sure I’d find new material overlooked the first time. But with two grandkids to babysit and the requirements of my “Honey, do…” chores, I just don’t think I’ll have the time.
Between the 100 Days of Study, the Phrase a Day booklet and Rev. Shinkyo Warner’s Daily Dharma, this website contains more than 1,700 quotes from Nichiren’s writings. I’m unsure how many of those quotes I gathered from the Writings of Nichiren Shōnin. I expect that I will be posting daily quotes well into 2027 and maybe beyond.
Visualizing Sutra Benefits
I'm now focusing on a square illustration adhering to Japanese Buddhist iconography, mirroring the text's description of sūtra reading benefits. I'm exploring ink wash and woodblock aesthetics, aiming for a muted, natural color palette. The goal is to convey the promised benefits visually within this stylistic framework. I'm considering compositions that effectively represent these ideas in a culturally resonant way.
Mapping Sūtra Rewards
I'm now iterating on the composition. The central figure remains, but I'm adjusting the radiating light to better integrate the symbols of suffering dissolving into peace. I'm focusing on the visual flow and balance between the central figure and the surrounding elements. The use of gold accents is being refined to enhance the overall harmony. I'm also ensuring a reverential approach to the central figure, in line with what would be required of a sage, but without distracting from the central visual theme.
Constructing a Sūtra Scene
I'm now establishing the core components. The central figure, reading the sūtra scroll, is now radiating light, representing the benefits of sūtra recitation. Surrounding this figure, visual representations of suffering are being transformed into symbols of peace and abundance, with details such as the figures becoming lotuses. A temple garden setting has also been established. I'm focusing on the interplay between the central focus and the environment now.
Analyzing Visual Correspondence
I'm currently focused on evaluating the visual alignment between the user's request and the generated output. The task involves a comparative analysis, specifically examining how well the image communicates the 'Illustrated Daily Dharma' concept through its square format and Japanese Buddhist motifs. Additionally, I am meticulously assessing the visualization of the sutra's benefits within the image.
Refining the Visualization
I'm now comparing the generated visual to the initial prompt. It effectively encapsulates the essence of an "Illustrated Daily Dharma" piece within a square format, replete with Japanese Buddhist imagery. The image also depicts the sutra's benefits, such as alleviating suffering and gaining reverence, through its visual elements. The textual elements are minimal and well-placed, a perfect fit for the user's initial instructions. The output aligns precisely with the user's requirements.
Kanji translation
the kanji text written on the scroll held by the central figure is:
妙法蓮華経
This is read as Myōhō Renge Kyō in Japanese.
It translates to "The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma", which is commonly known in English as the Lotus Sutra.
Anyone who reads this sūtra
Will be free from grief,
Sorrow, disease or pain.
His complexion will be fair.
He will not be poor,
Humble or ugly.
All living beings
Will wish to see him
Just as they wish to see sages and saints.
Celestial pages will serve him.
The Buddha sings these verses in Chapter Fourteen of the Lotus Sūtra. When we cultivate the mind of the Buddha, and bring his teachings to life, we help other beings find true happiness. This is different from our normal pattern of attempting to manipulate what others think about us through bribery, threats, and other forms of coercion. When we help others find their minds, they realize that they share our true mind of joy and peace.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com