Category: Spring Writings

People know how difficult it is to do Otsutome every day, and that each day it is a battle between ego and faith. However, the Buddha teaches us how to control the ego and our own desires. After overcoming such a challenge, you will become comfortable with Odaimoku. Performing Otsutome is not a duty, but proof of your faith to the Buddha and Nichiren Shonin. Continuing to chant is such a wonderful experience, and you will want to perform Otsutome every day, and like me, you will say, “I wonder how wonderful tomorrow will be!”

Transmitting Buddhist faith is just like telling your children the experiences you’ve had throughout your life, along with your idea of faith. It is a natural thing, just as one usually teaches one’s children at home. On the other hand your faith will be tested, because any discipline you give your children does not carry good fruits without action. Teaching faith without action does not communicate any emotion, and others will not adopt a new faith. In order to transmit your faith to your children or others, you must show a good example for them through your actions if they are to have faith.

Transmitting faith is confirming your own faith by yourself, and continuing to practice makes your faith deeper. It is based entirely on “the way of the Bodhisattva,” which means you should be severe on yourself and gentle with others. For example, a grandfather might chant and pray every day with his grandchildren and take them to the temple on certain occasions. Those are actions that plant the seed of faith, and are the transmitting of faith. Even though children may not understand the meaning of each action, they receive a Buddha-nature and a peaceful mind unconsciously by copying their grandfather’s behavior. The Lotus Sutra, Chapter II says, “The children who made the stupa (tower) of the Buddha with heaps of sand while playing, were able to accumulate merits and attain the enlightenment of the Buddha.” If the grandfather takes a rest from his daily routine because he is tired, the children will also learn to take a rest due to personal reasons. However, if the grandfather always keeps the same routine, without taking a rest, then the children will learn patience, perseverance and the gratification which comes from effort.

The Lotus Sutra teaches us that all living beings are originally born with a Buddha seed. It is possible for everyone to attain enlightenment, just as the Buddha did. In order to do so, it is essential to make efforts and have faith by oneself. From another perspective, it can be said that everyone is a Buddha. But in reality, we tend to frequently make mistakes. Therefore, we need practice and training. So even if we have the seed of Buddha, the seed has not sprouted or blossomed yet. To sprout and grow, the seed needs the Lotus Sutra as the sun, and Odaimoku as fertilizer. Keep this in your mind. It is very important that in order to become a Buddha, one must make the effort, and learn in daily life, based on the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. By obtaining good practice, we will find solutions for any troubles in our life.

Nichiren Buddhism is called a “positive religion” because the Lotus Sutra instructs us to confront reality positively, and improve our lives by making efforts with faith. Generally, this world is spoken of negatively, and is called a degraded and disordered world. However, Nichiren Buddhism is different. Even though this world seems like it is degraded, and a world filled with deep desire, we are Buddha’s children. We all have Buddha’s nature, as a seed, waiting to become a Buddha and to construct an ideal world, the “Buddha’s world.” Unfortunately, it is difficult to recognize this nature by oneself, even if it is a part of our own mind.

Firm faith comes from a firm belief in the Lotus Sutra. The following are Nichiren Shonin’s words:

“Have faith in the Great Mandala Gohonzon, the most superlative in the world. Endeavor! Endeavor to strengthen your faith, so that you may be blessed with the protective powers of all Buddhas. Learn and practice to strengthen your faith. Without learning and practicing there is no Buddhism. Follow these teachings yourself and influence others to do the same. To learn and to practice are a part of faith. Even if only a word or a phrase, spread it to others.” -Shoho Jisso-sho

We are only able to learn and practice faithfully with the support of true faith.

We all have Buddha’s nature, without exception. May we recognize it, and strive to realize that the Buddha world is the real world with Odaimoku. This is the faith of the Lotus Sutra. Please make the effort to chant Odaimoku everyday, for yourself and your neighbors.

It seems difficult to transmit faith to our children and others, but it is no more difficult than transmitting our life experiences to them. The teachings of the Buddha have a strong character as a “way of life,” a way to live as it is, rather than being a religion. We seek universal truth for enlightenment, cultivate our own nature by ourselves, and raise our own spirit by ourselves, in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings, which will lead all human beings and living things to attain Buddhahood. This is the way to live life in order to become a Buddha.

It seems difficult to transmit faith to our children and others, but it is no more difficult than transmitting our life experiences to them. The teachings of the Buddha have a strong character as a “way of life,” a way to live as it is, rather than being a religion. We seek universal truth for enlightenment, cultivate our own nature by ourselves, and raise our own spirit by ourselves, in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings, which will lead all human beings and living things to attain Buddhahood. This is the way to live life in order to become a Buddha.

Nichiren Shu teaches people to chant Odaimoku, Namu Myoho Renge Kyo on a daily basis. The Lotus Sutra, which is the Buddha’s final teaching, expounds the essence of the Buddha’s enlightenment based on the universal law underlying all things in nature. It is said traditionally, that when we chant the Odaimoku (the title of the Lotus Sutra), with all our hearts, and a sense of faith, the Buddha-nature within our minds will fuse with the Buddha’s mind, and we are able to receive the Buddha’s rewards unconsciously – wisdom, compassion, supernatural powers and enlightenment.