In [Chapter Eleven, Beholding the Stupa of Treasures], the cosmos is so sublimely depicted that we feel as if we are seeing a drama in space. This majestic picture is a symbolic representation of the ideal world of the Lotus Sutra.
Introduction to the Lotus SutraAuthor: John Hughes
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This Ideal World
This ideal world, or “Buddha world” does not refer only to a world we enter after death. It is possible to enter it during our lifetime. Therefore we use the words “Becoming a Buddha” for someone who is still alive. Nichiren Shonin said, “The true way of a Bodhisattva or Buddha is to strive to achieve the Buddha world.”
Spring Writings
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Great Compassion of the Buddha
KANJIN HONZON SHO
When the sun shines bright in the sky, everything is made clearly visible on the earth. In the same manner, when one knows the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, he will understand the meaning of the occurrences in the world. For the sake of those who live in the Latter Age of the Declining Law, who are too infantile to understand the Lotus or the Perfect Truth, and who are ignorant of the treasure of the truth of the “Three Thousand Existences in One Thought ” the Eternal Buddha will hang the treasure of the five characters (Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo) around people’s necks. The four great Bodhisattvas who are apostles will protect the keepers of the five letters, as T’ai Kung-wang and Duke of Chou supported the young ruler Chen-wang, or as the four elders attended Emperor Hui-ti in China.
(Background : April 25, 1273, 51 years old, at Sado, Showa Teihon, p.720)
Explanatory note
The Buddha Sakyamuni directs His great compassion to us who live in the Latter Age of the Declining Law.
T’ien-t’ai of China discovered the truth of the “Three Thousand Existences in One Thought.” Thus he clarified the value of the Lotus Sutra. But it is difficult for us as novices to understand the principle of the “Three Thousand Existences in One Thought.”
Nichiren Daishonin sought the answer for us. It is to keep Odaimoku, “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,” which contains the treasure of the “Three Thousand Existences in One Thought.” When we believe in it, we will be enveloped by the protection of all Buddhas, all Bodhisattvas, and all deities. We are warmly bundled with such compassion. We just accept frankly and seriously the unlimited salvation in the Lotus Sutra.
Let us appreciate the great compassion of the Buddha Sakyamuni and believe in Odaimoku and chant it for His great salvation. Thus, we become one with the Buddha’s Enlightenment, the Lotus Sutra.
Rev. Kanai
Phrase A Day
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Daily Dharma – Jan. 8, 2018
It is useless to stack up a pile of treasures in your storehouse if you are in poor health. Therefore the value of a healthy body is more important than treasures in the storehouse. At the same time, however, a healthy body means nothing if your mind is not pure. This is why we can say that our most precious treasure is our mind itself. Upon reading this letter, please try to accumulate the treasure of your mind.
Nichiren wrote this passage in his “Emperor Shushun” Letter (Sushun Tennō Gosho) addressed to his disciple Shijō Kingo. We can become so focused on acquiring material resources to meet the needs of our bodies, that we neglect to care for our health. A sick man in a mansion cannot be happy. Nichiren points out that even when we have physical health, if our minds are clouded by delusion, we cannot be happy either. The practice of the Wonderful Dharma can bring great physical and material benefits. But more importantly, this practice helps us prepare our minds to appreciate what we have and use it for the benefit of all beings.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
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Day 15
Day 15 concludes Chapter 10, The Teacher of the Dharma, and opens Chapter 11, Beholding the Stūpa of Treasures.
Having last month heard the Buddha explained Many-Treasures Tathāgata’s great vow, Great-Eloquence Bodhisattva asks to see Many-Treasures.
Thereupon Great-Eloquence Bodhisattva, resorting to the supernatural powers of [Śākyamuni] Tathāgata, said to him, “World-Honored One! We wish to see that Buddha.”
The Buddha said to Great-Eloquence Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas:
“Many-Treasures Buddha made another great vow: ‘If a Buddha wishes to show me to the four kinds of devotees when my stūpa of treasures appears before him in order that l may be able to hear the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma [directly from him], he must call back all the Buddhas of his replicas who will be expounding the Dharma in the worlds of the ten quarters at that time. Then I will show myself [to the four kinds of devotees].’ Great-Eloquence! Now I will collect the Buddhas of my replicas who are now expounding the Dharma in the worlds of the ten quarters.”
Great-Eloquence said to him, “World-Honored One! We also wish to see the Buddhas of your replicas, bow to them, and make offerings to them.”
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Beholding the Stupa of Treasures
[Chapter 15] opens with a miraculous phenomenon taking place while Sakyamuni is preaching. The ground suddenly splits open, and a huge Stupa (a round dome-shaped shrine), five hundred yojanas high and two hundred and fifty yojanas wide, springs up from underground and hangs in space before the Buddha. Some say that a yojana is about forty miles, and others argue that it is about seventy-five miles (the distance of a one-day trip by bullock cart). At any rate, an enormous stupa—huge beyond our imagination—suddenly appears. It is magnificent in appearance, adorned with jewels and ornaments.
At the sight of this stupa, the assembled congregation bursts into song, offers jewels and flowers before it, venerates it, honors it, and worships it. Then a loud voice of praise is heard from within the stupa:
Excellent, excellent! You, Sakyamuni, the World-Honored
One, have expounded to this great multitude the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, the Teaching of Equality, the Great Wisdom, the Law for Bodhisattvas, the Law Upheld by the Buddhas. What you, Sakyamuni, the World-Honored One, have expounded is all true! (p. 181)The speaker is a Buddha called Many-Treasures Tathagata (“Thus Come”), who resides within the stupa. Because he proves the authenticity of the Lotus Sutra, which is expounded by Sakyamuni, the World-Honored One, he is called the Validating Buddha. His Stupa is named the Stupa of Treasures.
Introduction to the Lotus Sutra
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Equality Under the Lotus Sutra
In the Simile of the Herbs, the one teaching – the single Buddha vehicle teaching of the Lotus Sutra – is applicable to all regardless of the many things we tend to hold up as measures of difference and inequality. When it comes to the teachings of the Buddha there can be no mistaking the divisions of class, education, economic standing, race, gender, sexual orientation, and on the list could go, these things do not matter when it comes to who is able to benefit from practicing the Lotus Sutra.
Lecture on the Lotus Sutra
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Merits of the Lotus Sutra
Zui-Ji-I GOSHO
The Lotus Sutra is the true teaching because the Buddha Sakyamuni preached it from the bottom of his heart exactly as he was enlightened. Other sutras were taught according to listeners’ level of understanding. The Buddha teaches righteousness. The chanting of the sutra will lead us to righteousness unconsciously. For example, the creeping mugwort grass among the hemp will grow straight, or the body of a snake will become straight if it goes into a straight pipe, or if one has good friends, his attitudes will become good. Likewise, one who believes in the Lotus Sutra will attain Buddhahood.
(Background : 1278, 56 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1611)
Explanatory note
The Lotus Sutra reveals the true spirit of the Buddha Sakyamuni and teaches us to follow the sutra. Because the Buddha’s spirit is sacred and noble, even those who do not fully understand the meaning of the sutra will have infinite merits by just reading the sutra.
The creeping mugwort grass among the hemp will grow straight. The snake inside a pipe will straighten its coil. A man who associates with a wise person will find his attitude, actions, and words changing for the better. It is the same with the Lotus Sutra.
Nichiren Daishonin expounded the simplest way which is to chant Odaimoku, “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,” throughout his life. For if the teachings of the Buddha were taught in a complicated manner, a normal person would never be able to understand them, and they would be in a maze. To chant Odaimoku, is very simple and easy. If we, with faith, follow this simple method revealed by Daishonin, we shall be able to understand the teachings of the Buddha unconsciously and to accept the salvation of the Lotus Sutra.
Rev. Igarashi
Phrase A Day
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Daily Dharma – Jan. 7, 2018
Thereupon Śākyamuni Buddha praised Medicine-King Bodhisattva, saying: “Excellent, excellent, Medicine-King! You uttered these dhāraṇīs in order to protect this teacher of the Dharma out of your compassion towards him. You will be able to give many benefits to all living beings.”
The Buddha makes this declaration to Medicine-King Bodhisattva in Chapter Twenty-Six of the Lotus Sūtra. The dhāraṇīs are promises made in a language that only Medicine-King and other protective beings understand. When we recite these promises from the Lotus Sūtra, we remind those beings of their vows. We also awaken our natures to protect all beings, and create benefits both for those beings and ourselves.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
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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.
Having last month heard in gāthās of the merits of making offerings to the keeper of the Sūtra, we hear the merits of anyone who keeps this sūtra in the future and conclude Day 14’s portion of Chapter 10, The Teacher of the Dharma.
Anyone who keeps this sūtra in the future
Should be considered
To have been dispatched by me
To the world of men in order to do my work.Whoever for as long as a kalpa,
With evil intent and flushed face,
Speaks ill of me,
Will incur immeasurable retributions.
Whoever for even a moment
Reproaches those who read, recite and keep
The Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma
Will incur even more retributions.Whoever for as long as a kalpa
Joins his hands together towards me
And praises me with innumerable gāthās
In order to attain the enlightenment of the Buddha,
Will obtain innumerable merits
Because he praises me.
Whoever praises the keeper of this sūtra
Will obtain even more merits.For eight thousand million kalpas
Offer to the keeper of this sūtra
The most wonderful things to see,
Hear, smell, taste and touch!If you make these offerings,
And hear [this sūtra] even for a moment,
You will rejoice and say,
“Now I have obtained great benefits.”Medicine-King! I will tell you.
The Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma
Is the most excellent sūtra
That I have ever expounded.