Today is the fifth day of Higan week, the three days before the equinox and the three days after. As explained in a Nichiren Shu brochure:

For Buddhists, this period is not just one characterized by days with almost equal portions of light and dark. Rather, it is a period in which we strive to consciously reflect upon ourselves and our deeds.

The today we consider the Perfection of Vigor. For this Fall Higan week I’m using Hsuan Hua‘s commentary on the Lotus Sutra in which he discusses the 10 advantages of each pāramitā.

There are ten advantages of practicing vigor.

1. One will not be defeated by others. You’ll be able to defeat others, but others won’t be able to defeat you. If you have the true skill of vigor, you’ll win every debate. No one will be able to defeat you in debate. You’ll never lose; you’re sure to win. Why is that? Because you have vigor. Just like two troops in a battle: if one is very high-spirited and energetic while the other is low-spirited and lazy, the former, the vigorous troop, will prevail.
2. One will be gathered in and protected by the Buddhas. This is even more inconceivable. The Buddhas will look upon you and think, “This living being is pretty good. He cultivates seriously and doesn’t get lazy. What a good disciple!” The Buddhas will protect you and gather you in because you’re a good disciple. Would you not call that an advantage?
3. One will be protected by nonhumans. Not only will the Buddhas protect you, but gods, dragons, other spiritual beings of the eightfold division, humans, and nonhumans will all protect you as well.
4. One will not forget the Dharma one hears. This advantage is most beneficial. Why? Only if you haven’t heard the Dharma will this advantage not apply. Once you hear it, you’ll never forget it. As the saying goes,
    
   When the Dharma enters one’s ears,
   It plants the seed of the Path.
    
   Wouldn’t you like to receive this benefit? I believe everyone in the audience would like to have this benefit. If so, you must be vigorous. If you’re not vigorous, you won’t get this benefit. The benefit you receive will be proportional to the effort you apply: one part vigor produces one part benefit, and ten parts vigor produce ten parts benefit.
5. One will hear what one has not heard before. This benefit is even more difficult to conceive. It’s wonderful! You’ll hear Dharma that you’ve never heard before. Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t this a great advantage to you? Consider the three laypeople here today, a mother and her two sons. Previously, they didn’t have the opportunity to visit San Francisco and hear the Buddhadharma, but here they are today. The mother hadn’t intended to listen to the sūtra lecture either. However, after she heard my talk, she changed her mind. Then she asked her sons, “How about we stay and listen to the sūtra lecture?” Her sons agreed: “All right!” So they now have the opportunity to hear what they’ve never heard before. This mother hadn’t previously had the opportunity to hear the Buddhadharma, as she lives very far away, but because of her vigor in the distant past, now she has this chance. If she hadn’t cultivated vigorously before, how could she have become a vegetarian? Becoming a vegetarian, reciting the Buddha’s name, and having faith in the Buddha aren’t easy things to do. She couldn’t have made this resolve without causes and conditions from previous lives.
6. One’s eloquence will increase. You may have found it difficult to explain the Buddhadharma before, but suddenly you obtain unobstructed eloquence. This sudden eloquence is a result of your vigor. What’s eloquence? Let me tell you. It’s the ability to speak well. What does that mean? Those with eloquence can persuade people who want to cry to laugh instead, those who are angry to feel compassionate, and those who want to run away from the hardships of this summer session to stay. Eloquent people know how to talk and make others feel good. Even if they scold others, their scolding sounds sweet and pleasant to the ears of those being scolded, who don’t find it at all hard to take.
7. One will attain the essence of samadhi. You’ll attain the essence of concentration.
8. One will have little trouble or sickness. All your illnesses and afflictions will vanish. You’ll be free from illness and affliction. These things will disappear without a trace.
9. One will be able to digest whatever one eats. If you cultivate with vigor, you’ll be able to digest whatever you eat. No matter how full you are, you’ll feel hungry again shortly afterward. Why? Because you’re vigorous! You work very hard; you work energetically. You don’t slack off or take it easy. You don’t sit around thinking, “The teacher isn’t here, so I think I’ll take a break. Let’s close our eyes and take a nap!” Vigor means not slacking off or taking it easy. That’s the reason you’re able to digest all the food you eat. You also have a strong digestive system and a good appetite. Being vigorous gives you this benefit.
10. One will grow like the udumbara flower. You’ll grow day by day, just like the udumbara flower.

Very well! Whether the lecture was good or bad, we have to call it a day. There are still fifteen minutes left for me to take a rest. It’s fine for the teacher to be lazy, but it’s absolutely not okay for the students to be lazy. Why? “Only the student can become a valedictorian, not the teacher!” So you mustn’t be lazy. While I urge you not to be lazy, I don’t care whether I’m lazy or not. Don’t be lazy. Just now, I told you to slay your “lazy bugs” and become vigorous tigers. But upon reflection, I think tigers are too fierce. Turn your “lazy bugs” into vigorous dragons instead that would be better. You can transform bugs into dragons. I hope your “lazy bugs” will all become vigorous dragons.