Originally I planned to devote just a half-hour a day on the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings and, once finished with that, the Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue (Fugen). After just one day I realized that was not enough. Turns out it takes just a little more than an hour to read aloud the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings and another hour to read the Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue (Fugen). Today, and going forward for the remaining 19 days, I plan to recite all of both sutras each day with additional daimoku between.
I have three versions of the two sutras: The Threefold Lotus Sutra, which I’m currently using in my 32-day practice; the BDK English Tripitaka’s Tiantai Lotus Texts, which includes the two sutras plus a commentary on the Lotus Sutra and A Guide to The Tiantai Fourfold Teachings; and Gene Reeves’ translation of the Lotus Sutra, which includes both the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings and the Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage Bodhisattva.
Each day I’ll use a different translation. In addition, I plan to read the additional material in the BDK English Tripitaka book and the introduction to Reeves’ translation.
With my regular morning and evening practices, my hour-long walking meditation, the two sutras and some additional daimoku and reading that should come closer to filling my 21-day stay-cation retreat. The problem I anticipate is the length of time sitting. I can’t kneel; knees won’t allow it. I have a degenerative condition in my upper spine for which I where a brace, but, even with the brace, sitting for more than an hour is a challenge. Not that I’m complaining. It is important that this is not easy to do.