Day 1 covers the first half of Chapter 1, Introductory
This is the 12th time through this exercise. It feels like a December. Someday I want to go through Maitreya’s description of what he sees the Bodhisattvas doing and match those activities with the events described later in the Lotus Sutra. For now, I invite tomorrow’s confirmation with Maitrey’s plea:
Manjusri, Son of the Buddha!
Remove our doubts!
The four kinds of devotees
A.re looking up with joy at you and me,
Wishing to know why this ray of light is emitted
By the World-Honored One.
Son of the Buddha, answer me!
Remove our doubts and cause us to rejoice!
For what purpose is the Buddha
Emitting this ray of light?
Does he wish to expound the Wonderful Dharma
Which he attained when he was sitting
At the place of enlightenment?
Does he wish to assure us of our future Buddhahood?
He shows us the worlds of the Buddhas
Adorned with many treasures.
We can see the Buddhas of those worlds.
This cannot be for some insignificant reason.
Manjusri, know this!
The four kinds of devotees and the dragons
Are looking at you, thinking:
“What is he going to say?”
Day 32 covers Chapter 28, The Encouragement of Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, closing the Eighth Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.
Last month, I discussed this chapter’s rather unique use of women – either to be avoided (captivating) or as a reward (attended on by hundreds of thousands of billions of goddesses). This month I return to what I see as the principal point of Universal-Sage Bodhisattva’s visit: The answer to his question of “how the good men or women who live after your extinction will be able to obtain this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma!”
The Buddha said to Universal-Sage Bodhisattva:
The good men or women will be able to obtain this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma after my extinction if they do the following four things: 1. secure the protection of the Buddhas, 2. plant the roots of virtue, 3. reach the stage of steadiness [in proceeding to enlightenment], and 4. resolve to save all living beings. The good men or women will be able to obtain this sotra after my extinction if they do these four things.
For us who aspire to this difficult practice of the Wonderful Dharma, the Buddha gives this guide in Chapter Twenty-Eight of the Lotus Sūtra. For us to have even heard of this sūtra in this life we must have already done these four things. In order to maintain this practice, we need to use the Buddha’s protection for the benefit of all beings, not just for our benefit alone. We need to nourish the virtuous seeds we have already planted, remain steady and confident on the path to enlightenment, and sustain our determination to maintain our respect for everyone.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 31 covers Chapter 27, King Wonderful-Adornment as the Previous Life of a Bodhisattva.
Last month, I discussed by longing to see young people who could emulate the sons of King Wonderful Adornment and inspire others to “to understand the Dharma by faith.” And yet I understand that it is not one’s age but one’s faith that matters.
I considered myself a Buddhist for more than a quarter century before I became a follower of Nichiren Shu and joined the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church. In that time I seldom talked about my faith outside my immediate family. Today, that has changed. I’m not sure I can explain how. It is just one of the things that I can see is different now. And apparently others can see this too. I am much more likely to discuss my practice and Buddhism with strangers today than I ever was before.
I like this story of the two boys, Pure-Store and Pure-Eyes, who end up converting their parents to the Lotus Sutra not so much because of the phenomena the two sons performed but for the example that our actions speak more powerfully than our words. We can convince more people of the truth of the Lotus Sutra through the way we act in society than by merely talking theoretically about Buddhism. Getting through life and the day-to-day concerns we all face may seem ordinary, even hum-drum. However, the manner in which we face and ultimately overcome our problems can look supernatural to others around us who struggle and suffer so much. We don’t need to spout water or fire from our bodies; we merely need to show the joy of our practice in the face of life as human. Lecture on the Lotus Sutra
When the Buddha is asked by Medicine-King Bodhisattva how many merits will be given to the “good men or women who keep, read, recite, understand or copy the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma,” the Buddha replies:
“Suppose some good men or women make offerings to eight hundred billion nayuta Buddhas, that is, as many Buddhas as there are sands in the River Ganges. What do you think of this? Are the merits given to them many or not?”
“Very many, World-Honored One!” The Buddha said: “More merits will be given to the good men or women who keep, read or recite even a single gatha of four lines of this sutra, understand the meanings of it or act according to it.”
And following this Medicine-King Bodhisattva, Brave-In-Giving Bodhisattva, Vaisravana Heavenly-King, World-Holding Heavenly-King and the 10 raksasis daughters, their mother and attendants offer dharanis to protect the teacher of the Dharma.
Back in May I wrote: “Only two of these – Medicine-King Bodhisattva and the 10 raksasis daughters and their mother – are singled out to receive merit for their efforts by the Buddha.”
In re-reading the chapter today I realized I was mistaken. Unlike the raksasis daughters and their mother, whose “merits will be immeasurable” in exchange for their protection, Medicine-King Bodhisattva will not receive, but he “will be able to give many benefits to all living beings.”
Yes, being able to give merits to others is a merit for oneself, but that doesn’t make my earlier post any less mistaken. The whole point of reading and then re-reading and then re-reading is to understand.
Day 29 covers all of Chapter 25, The Universal Gate of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva.
While much of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva’s helpful offerings seem a tad over the top, such as his willingness to free “anyone, guilty or not” bound up in manacles, this is one promise I’d like to believe:
Those who have much lust will be saved from lust if they constantly think of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva and respect him. Those who have much anger will be saved from anger if they constantly think of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva and respect him. Those who have much stupidity will be saved from stupidity if they constantly think of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva and respect him. Endless-Intent! World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva has these great supernatural powers. He gives many benefits to all living beings. Therefore, they should constantly think of him.
The real value I think we as modern practitioners can find in Chapter 25, the Universal Gate of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva, is as a model for our own behavior. Through our practice we naturally develop empathy and an ability to listen to and respond to the suffering of others. We each have our unique talents to lend to others but through our practice we can develop greater skill in using those talents in the most effective way to benefit and bring joy to those around us who are suffering. Lecture on the Lotus Sutra
Day 28 covers all of Chapter 24, Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva, and concludes the Seventh Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.
Having last month covered the powers already attained by a Bodhisattva called Wonderful-Voice in the All-Pure-Light-Adornment World, I get to review the traveling tips offered by All-Pure-Light-Adornment Buddha to Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva before he traveled to the Saha world.
When he was illumined by the light of Sakyamuni Buddha, [Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva] said to the Pure-Flower-Star-King-Wisdom Buddha:
World-Honored One! I wish to visit the Saha-World, bow to Sakyamuni Buddha, attend on him, and make offerings to him. I also wish to see Manjusri Bodhisattva, who is the Son of the King of the Dharma. [I also wish to see] Medicine-King Bodhisattva, BraveIn-Giving Bodhisattva, Star-King-Flower Bodhisattva, SuperiorPractice-Intent Bodhisattva, Adornment-King Bodhisattva, and Medicine-Superior Bodhisattva.
Thereupon Pure-Flower-Star-King-Wisdom Buddha said to Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva:
Do not despise that world! Do not consider it to be inferior [to our world]! Good Man! The Saha-World is not even. It is full of mud, stones, mountains and impurities. The Buddha [of that world] is short in stature! So are the Bodhisattvas [of that world]. You are forty-two thousand yojanas tall. I am six million an eight hundred thousand yojanas tall. You are the most handsome. You have thousands of millions of marks of merits, and your light is wonderful. Do not despise that world when you go there! Do not consider that the Buddha and Bodhisattvas of that world are inferior [to us]! Do not consider that that world is inferior [to ours]!
Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva said to the Buddha: WorldHonored One! I can go to the Saha-World by your powers, by your supernatural powers of traveling, and by your merits and wisdom which adorn me.
The Daily Dharma from June 28, 2016, applies this instruction to those who seek to propagate the Lotus Sutra:
Thereupon Pure-Flower-Star-King-Wisdom Buddha said to Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva: “Do not despise that world! Do not consider it to be inferior [to our world]! Good Man! The Sahā-World is not even. It is full of mud, stones, mountains and impurities. The Buddha [of that world] is short in stature. So are the Bodhisattvas [of that world]. You are forty-two thousand yojanas tall. I am six million and eight hundred thousand yojanas tall. You are the most handsome. You have thousands of millions of marks of merits, and your light is wonderful. Do not despise that world when you go there! Do not consider that the Buddha and Bodhisattvas of that world are inferior [to us]! Do not consider that that world is inferior [to ours]!”
In Chapter Twenty-Four of the Lotus Sūtra, the Buddha sends a light from his forehead to the world in which Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva lives. When that Bodhisattva saw this light from Śākyamuni Buddha, he asked permission from the Buddha he was attending to visit our world of conflict. The instruction he receives from his Buddha reminds us that no matter what advantages we have gained from our practice of the Buddha Dharma, these do not make us any better or worse than those we are determined to benefit.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 27 concludes Chapter 23, The Previous Life of Medicine-King Bodhisattva.
Yesterday focused on a powerful statement by Sakyamuni that “all the teachings of the Tathagata, all the unhindered, supernatural powers of the Tathagata, all the treasury of the hidden core of the Tathagata, and all the profound achievements of the Tathagata are revealed and expounded explicitly in this sutra.”
Following the story of Gladly-Seen-By-All-Beings Bodhisattva as a previous life of Medicine-King Bodhisattva, Sakyamuni offers a string of comparisons that reveal the position of the Lotus Sutra.
Star-King-Flower! Just as the sea is larger than the rivers, this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma is more profound than any of the other sutras expounded by the Tathagatas. Just as Mt. Sumeru is the largest of all the mountains including earth mountains, black mountains, the Small Surrounding Iron Mountains, the Great Surrounding Iron Mountains, and the Ten Treasure Mountains, this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma is above all the other sutras. Just as the Moon God is brighter than the stars, this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma gives us more light than any of the other sutras numbering thousands of billions. Just as the Sun God dispels all darkness, this sutra drives away all the darkness of evils. Just as the wheel-turning-holy-king is superior to the kings of small countries, this sutra is more honorable than the other sutras. Just as King Sakra is the king of the thirty-three gods, this sutra is the king of all the sutras. Just as the Great Brahman Heavenly-King is the father of all living beings, this sutra is the father of all the sages and saints, of the Sravakas who have something more to learn, of the Sravakas who have nothing more to learn, and of those who aspire for Bodhisattvahood. Just as Srota-apannas, Sakrdagamins, Anagamins, Arhats, and Pratyekabuddhas are superior to ordinary men, this sutra is superior to any of the other sutras expounded either by Tathagatas or by Bodhisattvas or by Sravakas. The person who keeps this sutra is superior to any other living being. Just as Bodhisattvas are superior to Sravakas or to Pratyekabuddhas, this sutra is superior to any other sutra. Just as the Buddha is the king of the Dharma, this sutra is the king of all the sutras.
Day 26 concludes Chapter 21, The Supernatural Powers of the Tathāgatas, includes Chapter 22, Transmission, and introduces Chapter 23, The Previous Life of Medicine-King Bodhisattva.
Starting over on this day’s content, I get to touch on what I find the most powerful statement of the Buddha about this sutra. He is addressing the Bodhisattvas who arose from underground headed by Superior-Practice:
To sum up, all the teachings of the Tathagata, all the unhindered, supernatural powers of the Tathagata, all the treasury of the hidden core of the Tathagata, and all the profound achievements of the Tathagata are revealed and expounded explicitly in this sutra. Therefore, keep, read, recite, expound and copy this sutra, and act according to the teachings of it with all your hearts after my extinction! In any world where anyone keeps, reads, recites, expounds or copies this sutra, or acts according to its teachings, or in any place where a copy of this sutra is put, be it in a garden, in a forest, under a tree, in a monastery, in the house of a person in white robes, in a hall, in a mountain, in a valley, or in the wilderness, there should a stupa be erected and offerings be made to it because, know this, the place [where the stupa is erected] is the place of enlightenment. Here the Buddhas attained Anuttarasamyak-sambodhi. Here the Buddhas turned the wheel of the Dharma. Here the Buddhas entered into Parinirvana.
To sum up, all the teachings of the Tathāgata, all the unhindered, supernatural powers of the Tathāgata, all the treasury of the hidden core of the Tathāgata, and all the profound achievements of the Tathāgata are revealed and expounded explicitly in this sūtra. Therefore, keep, read, recite, expound and copy this sūtra, and act according to the teachings of it with all your hearts after my extinction!
The Buddha makes this declaration to Superior-Practice Bodhisattva (Jōgyo, Viśiṣṭacārītra) in Chapter Twenty-One of the Lotus Sūtra. In Chapter Two, the Buddha told those gathered to hear him teach that his highest teaching could not be attained by reasoning alone. These two passages show us faith to look beyond the words in this book to find the Buddha Dharma in every aspect of our lives, and the ever-present Buddha leading us all to enlightenment.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 25 covers all of Chapter 20, Never-Despising Bodhisattva, and opens Chapter 21, The Supernatural Powers of the Tathāgatas.
Bodhisattva Never-Despising’s practice has always intrigued me. I could imagine myself in another life being this guy:
There lived arrogant bhiksus in the age of the counterfeit of the right teachings of the first Powerful-Voice-King Tathagata, that is, after the end of the age of his right teachings which had come immediately after his extinction. [Those arrogant bhiksus] were powerful. At that time there lived a Bodhisattva called NeverDespising.’ He took the form of a bhiksus.
Great-Power-Obtainer! Why was this bhiksu called NeverDespising? It was because, every time he saw bhiksus, bhiksunis, upasakas or upasikas, he bowed to them and praised them, saying, ‘I respect you deeply. I do not despise you. Why is that? It is because you will be able to practice the Way of Bodhisattvas and become Buddhas.’
He did not read or recite sutras. He only bowed to the four kinds of devotees. When he saw them in the distance, he went to them on purpose, bowed to them, and praised them, saying, ‘I do not despise you because you can become Buddhas.’
And it is that universal quality of Bodhisattva Never-Despising’s practice that the Missionary Department of Nichiren Shu is tapping into as it seeks ways to honor the upcoming 800th anniversary of Nichiren Shonin’s birth in 2021. Here’s the text of an article that appeared in the Aug. 1, 2016, issue of Nichiren Shu News:
Nichiren Shu News, Aug. 1, 2016The Missionary Department of the Head Office of Nichiren Shu officially unveiled the first Nichiren Shu International Campaign at this year’s Kokusai Fukyoshi Conference held May 25-27. The official slogan of the campaign is “You’re a Buddha, Bowing to the Buddha in You.” The goal of the campaign is to spread awareness of the approaching 800th anniversary of the birth of Nichiren Shonin and explain the importance and simplicity of Tangyo Raihai, bowing in respect to the Buddhahood in others.
The idea for the campaign started from the “Gassho X 800” poster that was created for the 800th Anniversary of Nichiren Shonin’s Birth. The poster was distributed tlo Nichiren Shu temples in Japan in 2014. Members in Japan found the “800” mosaic design striking. and thought it made a great poster for Nichiren Shu, but the design did not work as well outside Japan. Japanese people know who Nichiren Shonin was and understand the history of the era he lived in. Outside Japan, however, few people have that background. Nichiren Shu campaigns in the past have often faced similar problems, as the Buddhist themes and Nichiren Shu content become lost in translation.
The challenge was clear: to create a campaign to convey the spirit of Tangyo Raihai and Nichiren Shonin’s 800th anniversary and capture the interest of people around the world, even if they had never heard of Nichiren Shonin or knew little about Buddhism. The end result is what you see here: a floating seated image of Shakyamuni Buddha created from a mosaic of Nichiren Shu followers from Japan and around the world. The message is simple. Anyone anywhere in the world can relate to it. You and everyone around you are joined together in the spirit of Tangyo Raihai to create the Buddha, here and now. You’re a Buddha.
Rev. Daiei Matsui, Director of the Missionary Department said, ” ‘You’re a Buddha, Bowing to the Buddha in You’ is the basis for a universal concept of values in human relations in all cultures. By spreading this concept, we can overcome religious hostility between cultures and work together for world peace.”
Rev. Kobun Sasaki, Manager of the International Section, said, “We want to promote the logan ‘You’re a Buddha, Bowing to the Buddha in You’ in many ways internationally, including international exchange visits, collaboration and religious dialog. By spreading “You’re a Buddha” through action, we will establish the teachings of Nichiren Shu all over the world.”
A record-setting 19 million overseas visitors came to Japan in 2015, and more are expected each year leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Then, in 2021, we will have the 800th Anniversary celebration. Nichiren Shu temples in Japan have a unique opportunity to reach out to visitors and expose them to Buddhism and Nichiren Shu. “You’re a Buddha” posters and English pamphlets will be distributed widely to temples in Japan. The International Section will also assist major temples with their own English-language guide literature to make sure no opportunity is missed.
“You’re a Buddha” can also work with events anywhere in the world. The artwork is freely available to all Nichiren Shu temples. The International Section will help create special versions of the poster or t-shirt artwork for special events or temple anniversaries. We sincerely hope you can use the materials the Missionary Department has created and welcome your requests.
As my contribution, I took artwork on the Nichiren Shu website in Japan and created this animation:
Day 24 concludes Chapter 19, The Merits of the Teacher of the Dharma and closes the Sixth Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.
Those good men or women who keep, read, recite, expound or copy this sutra, we are told in Chapter 19, will receive eight hundred merits of the eye, twelve hundred merits of the ear, eight hundred merits of the nose, twelve hundred merits of the tongue, eight hundred merits of the body, and twelve hundred merits of the mind. And since I limit myself to a single topic each time through I can move on to the merits of the body after having covered the merits of the tongue and the merits of the nose.
The Buddha explains to Constant-Endeavor Bodhisattva:
The good men or women who keep, read, recite, expound or copy this sutra, will be able to obtain eight hundred merits of the body. Their bodies will become as pure as lapis lazuli. All living beings will wish to see them. Some of the living beings in the one thousand million Sumeru-worlds are just born or have just died. All living beings are either noble or humble. They are either handsome or ugly. They are destined to be reborn either in a better region or in a worse region. All of them will be reflected on the pure bodies [of the good men or women]. The Surrounding Iron Mountains, the Great Surrounding Iron Mountains, Mt. Meru, Mt. Maha-Meru, and the other great mountains, and the living beings in those mountains also will be reflected on their bodies. [All the six regions] down to the Avrci Hell and up to the Highest Heaven and the living beings therein also will be reflected on their bodies. The Sravakas, Pratyekabuddhas, and Bodhisattvas as well as the Buddhas who are expounding the Dharma, also will show their reflections on their bodies.
All living beings are either noble or humble. They are either handsome or ugly. They are destined to be reborn either in a better region or in a worse region. All of them will be reflected on the pure bodies [of the good men or women].
The Buddha makes this declaration to Constant-Endeavor Bodhisattva in Chapter Nineteen of the Lotus Sūtra, describing those who keep the Lotus Sūtra. Much of what we see in the world is a projection of our own biases and ignorance. We see things for what we want them to be rather than what they are. We classify the people in our lives as friends, enemies or strangers not because of their inherent qualities, but because of how they treat us. When we act for the benefit of others rather than our own gratification, we are showing them their true qualities. We let them see themselves for what they are.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
