A Modern Introduction to the Lotus Sutra Giving a Better Understanding of the Buddha’s Teachings
Nikkyō Niwano’s book, first published in Japanese in 1969 and in English in 1970, is not a book about the Lotus Sutra in the way Buddhism for Today is. Instead, this is a introduction to basic Buddhist teachings. The flyleaf on the book cover offers this handy outline:
This book
- gives you a systematic knowledge of the essentials of the Lotus Sutra;
- offers you a right view of life and the world from the standpoint of Mahayana Buddhism, and an ideal way of human life based on the Lotus Sutra;
- is an indispensable companion for those who desire to promote mutual respect and cooperation among men of religion for the purpose of world peace.
The contents of the book are divided into three broad categories: The Necessity of Religion, The Origin of Buddhism and The Doctrine of Buddhism.
The Necessity of Religion is further broken down into four topics: Ethics Alone Cannot Save Man, Two Missions of Religion, On Science and Religion and Faith to All Men.
The Origin of Buddhism covers The Unrivaled Great Sage, Lord Śākyamuni; First Rolling of the Law-Wheel; Śākyamuni’s Life Devoted to Preaching the Law; Śākyamuni Passes Away; and Creative and Developing Buddhism.
The Doctrine of Buddhism includes The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, The Twelve-linked Chain of Dependent Origination; Six Perfections, The Void and The Seal of the Three Laws, The Doctrine of the Reality of All Existence and the Three Thousand Realms in One Mind, The Middle Path and Life View of Buddhism.
The reason for the title of the book is explained by Nikkyō Niwano at the conclusion of the book.
It has been traditionally said that there are the three factors (san-in) in the perfection of the buddha-nature: shō-in, ryō-in and en-in.
Shō-in means the buddha-nature that is originally possessed by all the people. It is the truth that they are united with the great life of the universe in a body. Of course, this is the fundamental factor leading them to enlightenment.
Ryō-in indicates wisdom which enables one to realize his original buddha-nature by knowing the truth and comparing with it. The reason why we must hear the teachings of the Buddha and study the truth lies in this fact. This is because if we do not do so, there is often the fear that our valuable buddha-nature will remain undiscovered.
En-in expresses good deeds which help one as a secondary cause to develop his potential buddha-nature. Good deeds are understood in various meanings and they include the “practices of benefiting oneself,” such as making a right living according to the Buddha’s teachings, sutra-reciting, worshiping, meditation and other religious exercises. Good deeds also include the “practices of benefiting others,” such as showing kindness to every person with whom we come in contact, performing conduct useful for society and leading others to the right law.
By accumulating good deeds in this way, our original buddha-nature will be polished and developed more and more. Therefore, as long as we remain only recognizing the fact “we have the buddha-nature,” it does not light up nor develop a strong energy which make others as well as ourselves be saved and elevated.
After all, when we constantly repeat the practice of the way to Buddhahood, namely, “studying Buddhism,” “practicing it,” and “preaching it,” the buddha-nature of others as well as of ourselves will begin to light up and, turning this world into the Pure Land, will be completed by making the buddha-nature of all people be disclosed.
Boiled down to the utmost limit, Buddhism reaches this truth. We can conclude that Buddhism is the teaching that discovers the buddha-nature possessed by all people, discloses it and polishes it. It is the Lotus Sutra that contains this teaching to perfection. This is the reason why I have entitled this book, The Lotus Sutra: Life and Soul of Buddhism.