Is our nature bad or good? he asked. Some believe our nature is bad and therefore our actions are bad all of the time. But Nichiren Shonin said our nature is good because everybody has Buddha nature in your spirit.
Rev. Igarashi reminded everyone of his September lecture on Nichiren’s interpretation of the Conciousness-Only School.
Everyone, Rev. Igarashi explained, has a Buddha nature but it is surrounding by your bad karmas. That is why people think our nature is bad. But Nichiren held that through practice and study this inherent Buddha nature arises and we become enlightened.
Rev. Igarashi explained that everybody has 10 realms in their spirit. The bad spirits in this world lead to bad actions. That’s why Nichiren Shonin said just purify your spirit, your bad karmas, bad actions, bad condition, then your Buddha nature will appear automatically. That’s why I want to give you purification all the time. You have a pretty good spirit, a Buddha nature, so that is why I pray all the time.
But purification prayers alone will not work. Practicing and studying helps your Buddha nature appear automatically. So you should practice and study and I will give you purification then you are going to have a good life and you are going to be more happy.
Rev. Igarashi referenced his November newsletter lecture, “Focusing on Rissho Anshin Before Rissho Ankoku” in explaining that world peace is very important but if you are not happy you cannot pray for world peace.
That’s why I give you purification, he said, in order to help your Buddha nature appear. When that happens you are happy. And when you are happy you can try to save other people. When you and other people become happy, then we can make world peace.