Important Matters, p 27-28The Shute Hoyo Shiki says:
“Our own bowing and the Buddhas who are bowed to are all originally within one mind in which there is no bowing and no one to receive it. Although there is no bowing and no one to receive it there is certainly the response of the Buddhas and the receptivity of the ordinary people.”
Shute Hoyo Shiki – Udana-in Nichiki, page 391
For me, bowing when there is no bowing means that all my life is both an expression of gratitude and an attempt to repay the favors I have received. Bowing when there is no one to bow to means that, when I succeed in living according to the principle that all beings possess Buddha nature, then even if people do not seem to respond their lives are forever impacted and the Buddha within them bows. Their receptivity is not dependent upon their knowledge or awareness; the Buddha is always receptive. The one mind of self always abiding in the Lotus Sutra is far reaching and encompassing. The one mind abiding in the Lotus Sutra speaks to the one mind of every being in the universe and so the universe abides in us and bows to us.
All posts by John Hughes
Three Great Vows
KAIMOKU SHO
To desert the teaching of the Lotus Sutra denotes falling into hell. I have made a vow: “Even if someone says that he would make me the ruler of Japan if I give up the Lotus Sutra and rely upon the Kammuryojukyo (Sutra of Meditation on the Buddha of Infinite Life) for my salvation in the next life, or even if someone threatens me saying that he will execute my parents if I do not say ‘Namu Amida Butsu,’ and even if many great difficulties fall upon me, I will not submit to them until a man of wisdom defeats me by reason.” Other difficulties are like dust in the wind. I will never break my vow that I shall become a pillar of Japan, I shall become the eyes of Japan, and I shall become the great vessel of Japan.
(Background : February, 1272, 50 years old, at Sado, Showa Teihon, p.601)
Explanatory note
The three great vows are stated here by Nichiren Daishonin. His salvation for all people is based on these three original oaths. Nichiren transmitted the Lord Buddha’s salvation to all people through his strong faith in the Lotus Sutra. On April 28th, 1253, at the age of thirtyone, he proclaimed his new faith which contained the fundamental principles of these vows. Because of Nichiren’s conviction concerning these oaths, he never gave up his mission even though he met countless religious persecutions. As Nichiren Buddhists seeking salvation through the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, we must understand the fundamental principles of these three vows of Nichiren. It is always true that in any religion there is no salvation without fundamental principles and diligent practice. They are the essence of Nichiren’s religion.
Rev. Kodachi
Phrase A DayDaily Dharma – Jan. 13, 2023
Seeing [these wonders displayed by] the supernatural powers of his sons, the father had the greatest joy that he had ever had. He joined his hands together towards his sons [staying in the sky], and said, ‘Who is your teacher? Whose disciples are you?’
King Wonderful-Adornment makes this declaration to his sons in Chapter Twenty-Seven of the Lotus Sūtra. His sons had been asked by their mother to display their supernatural powers to their father and awaken the desire in him to hear the Buddha Dharma. We all have abilities of which we are not aware, and can cultivate those abilities so that they may seem miraculous to those who do not understand them. But it is important for us not to fall in the trap of using these abilities to strengthen our ego delusion. Instead we should dedicate our talents towards awakening the joy of the Wonderful Dharma in all beings.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 10
Day 10 concludes Chapter 6, Assurance of Future Buddhahood, and opens Chapter 7, The Parable of a Magic City.
Having last month considered in gāthās the Buddha called Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence, we consider how long it took for Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence Buddha to attain enlightenment.
The Buddha said to the bhikṣus:
“The duration of the life of Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence Buddha was five hundred and forty billion nayuta kalpas. [Before he attained Buddhahood,] he sat at the place of enlightenment and defeated the army of Mara. He wished to attain Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, but could not because the Dharma of the Buddhas had not yet come into his mind. He sat cross-legged without moving his mind and body for one to ten small kalpas. During all that time the Dharma of the Buddhas did not come into his mind.
“[Before he sat at the place of enlightenment,] the Trāyastriṃs̒a Gods prepared him a lion-like seat a yojana high under the Bodhi tree so that he might be able to attain Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi on that seat. When he sat on that seat, the Brahman-heavenly-kings rained heavenly flowers on the area extending a hundred yojanas in all directions from that seat. From time to time withered flowers were blown away by fragrant winds and new flowers were rained down. [The Brahman-heavenly-kings] continued this offering to him for fully ten small kalpas. [After he attained Buddhahood also,] they continued raining flowers until he passed away.
“[When he sat on that seat,] the four heavenly-kings beat heavenly drums, and the other gods made heavenly music and offered it to him. They continued these offerings also for fully ten small kalpas. [After he attained Buddhahood also,] they continued these offerings until he passed away.
The Daily Dharma from Sept. 15, 2022, offers this:
When he sat on that seat, the Brahman-heavenly-kings rained heavenly flowers on the area extending a hundred yojanas in all directions from that seat. From time to time withered flowers were blown away by fragrant winds and new flowers were rained down. [The Brahman-heavenly-kings] continued this offering to him for fully ten small kalpas. [After he attained Buddhahood also,] they continued raining flowers until he passed away.
The Buddha describes the life of an ancient Buddha named Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence in Chapter Seven of the Lotus Sūtra. In the story, when that Buddha took the seat from which he would become enlightened, the gods who created his world recognized the immense benefit all beings were about to receive and showed their joy by filling the skies with these beautiful flowers. After that Buddha became enlightened, gods from innumerable other worlds came to his world to make offerings, giving up the pleasures of their own worlds. The enlightenment of any being extends beyond the personal contact we have with that being. It changes the entire universe.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Attaining Buddhahood in Daily Life Without Special Practices
Autumn Writings, p 56-57What is the meaning of chanting Odaimoku?
Nowadays it is getting difficult for us to find the time and space to practice. Nichiren Shōnin left a cheerful practice for such people as us to approach Buddhahood, which as you know, was positively chanting the Odaimoku as many times as possible, and to believe in the Lotus Sūtra sincerely. Although we don’t know about the Buddha’s teachings such as 3000 existences contained in one thought in detail, the Buddha’s wisdom and great merits are included in the five characters of the Odaimoku: Myō, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyō. Consequently, a person who puts Odaimoku into practice shall naturally take over all of the Buddha’s wisdom and great merits. By chanting Odaimoku, we are automatically led to Buddhahood in daily life without special practices.
The Path Revealed
Important Matters, p 27Practicing the Lotus Sutra allows us to first see and experience and then open to the vast treasures of the universe. The Buddha, a common mortal, a prince from a small tribe in ancient India, did just that very thing. As a result, here we are today, some 2,500 years or so removed from him, and yet we can benefit from the insight and enlightenment he gained. The path is revealed to us in this very teaching. Rather than keep it to himself, rather than dilute it, rather than change it, he gave it to us in the form of the Lotus Sutra.
Religious Exaltation
SHOHO JISSO SHO
Tears roll down when I think of the great hardship which I have to endure today, but I cannot stop tears of joy when I think of obtaining Buddhahood in the future. Birds and insects cry without shedding tears. Nichiren does not cry but tears keep falling. These tears are shed not for worldly matters. They are solely for the sake of the Lotus Sutra. Therefore, they could be said to be tears of nectar.
(Background : May 17, 1273, 51 years old, at Sado, Showa Teihon, p.728)
Explanatory note
Nichiren Daishonin is admired as a man who has a very stong mind and who can bear all hardships. The people are moved to more admiration when they know that Nichiren has a warm heart and compassionate tears and that he is always thinking, “l must stretch my hands to those who suffer,” and “I must lead them into the salvation in the Lotus Sutra.”
Why did Nichiren face so many persecutions? He said that it was because he had slandered the teachings of the Lotus Sutra in his previous lives, and that these persecutions were meant to erase these sinful karmas which he had created before, so that he could attain Buddhahood in the future. When he realized the persecutions were to attain Buddhahood, he easily accepted them with gratitude.
Thus, Nichiren faced all persecutions positively. He had pity on the people who wished to attain Buddhahood in vain because of unfaithfulness to the teaching of the Lotus Sutra.
Nichiren did not cry nor shed tears because of worldly matters. But his eyes were full of tears because the people did not believe in the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren, therefore, pushed himself and overcame the numerous persecutions for leading the people into Buddhahood.
Rev. Kanai
Phrase A DayDaily Dharma – Jan. 12, 2023
If you hear his name, and see him,
And think of him constantly,
You will be able to eliminate all sufferings.
The Buddha gives this description of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva (Kannon, Kanzeon, Avalokitesvara) to Endless-Intent Bodhisattva in Chapter Twenty-Five of the Lotus Sūtra. World-Voice-Perceiver is the embodiment of compassion. The power of World-Voice-Perceiver is the power of compassion.World-Voice-Perceiver is also known as the one who brings fearlessness. When we can face up to the suffering in the world, both our own and that of others, we can see it for what it is. Then we are no longer afraid of suffering. What else is there to be afraid of?
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 9
Day 9 covers Chapter 5, The Simile of Herbs, and introduces Chapter 6, Assurance of Future Buddhahood Buddhahood.
Having last month considered the prediction for Mahā-Kāśyapa, we consider the reaction of Great Maudgalyāyana, Subhūti and Mahā-Kātyāyana and conclude today’s portion of Chapter 6, Assurance of Future Buddhahood Buddhahood.
Thereupon Great Maudgalyāyana, Subhūti and Mahā-Kātyāyana trembled, joined their hands together with all their hearts, looked up at the World-Honored One with unblenching eyes, and sang in gāthās in unison:
Great Hero, World-Honored One!
King of the Dharma of the Śākyas!
Give us your voice
Out of your compassion towards us!
If you see what we have deep in our minds,
And assure us of our future Buddhahood,
We shall feel as cool and as refreshed
As if we were sprinkled with nectar.Suppose a man came
From a country suffering from famine.
Now he saw the meal of a great king.
He did not partake of it in doubts and fears.
After he was told to take it by the king,
He took it at once.
We are like that man.
We know the defects of the Lesser Vehicle.
But we do not know how to obtain
The unsurpassed wisdom of the Buddha.Although we hear you say [to us],
“You will become Buddhas,”
We are still in doubts and fears about it,
Just as that man was about the meal.
If you assure us of our future Buddhahood,
We shall be happy and peaceful.You, the Great Hero, the World-Honored One,
Wish to give peace to all the people of the world.
If you assure us of our future Buddhahood, we shall be
Like the man who was permitted to take the meal.
The Greatness In Our Daily Practice
Important Matters, p 27When you engage in your daily practice, however it manifests, do you approach your devotion with the awareness of the greatness of the teaching and your incredible fortune to have been exposed to this profound teaching? Nothing that has come along in my life has come close to the greatness of the Lotus Sutra. It is unimaginable that I should have been exposed to it in this lifetime. A seemingly chance encounter in a military barracks only a few nights before Christmas has led me on a path that has given me fortune beyond what I could have imagined at the time. Even now, having lived it, I still find it hard to believe.