The bodhisattvas are as concerned about relieving the suffering of others as they are about relieving their own. One might even say they know we are all in the same boat, the Great Vehicle of the Mahayana, which takes all people to the other shore of perfect and complete awakening. Thus, the advancement of the individual is impossible without the advancement of all.
Lotus SeedsQuotes
The Treasured Gem
From the moment of [Nichiren’s] recovery [after 21 days of prayer and fasting before the image of Kokuzo Bosatsu], a new clarity began to enter his life. Through his diligent studies, he began to recognize differences among the various sutras. This recognition was based upon what he called “The Treasured Gem” – a gift of knowledge divided into two parts. The first part was drawn from the Nirvana Sutra that said: “Rely on the Dharma, and not on any person.” Thus, a man could never be misled by clever people. The second part was to rely on reason, on written proof, and finally, on that proof drawn from one’s own experience.
Nichiren, Leader of Buddhist Reformation in JapanSpeaking in the Buddha’s Language
When we sit in front of the Mandala Gohonzon, we are meeting with the Buddha Shakyamuni, Nichiren Shonin, the many Bodhisattvas and all the other figures pictured on the Mandala. We are there to meet with them, and converse with them, heart to heart, as they open the door of their enlightened world for us. And we do this by speaking in the Buddha’s language: by chanting the Lotus Sutra and Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoMaintaining Our Enthusiasm
Sometimes it is difficult to maintain our enthusiasm for practicing and studying the Lotus Sutra. There are some days when it may be all we can do to just chant Odaimoku three times. There will naturally be days like that, so do not be discouraged. But in our hearts if we can maintain and nourish the kind of eagerness to stay connected with the teachings of the Buddha, then even gradually our lives will undergo a significant change.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1An Invitation to Make the Sutra Your Own
I believe that entering the Lotus Sutra through the stories is what the original authors intended. The Lotus Sutra is not a collection of theories laid out in some formulaic order, yet the theories reveal themselves within the context of the myriad stories. Perhaps our challenge today is to hear the stories again from a more modern perspective. This is an invitation to make the sutra your own, to possess it in your life and use it to tell your own story.
Physician's Good MedicineRealizing
Noble and sublime may be the conception of the Supreme Being, but it is but an idol or image, a dead abstraction, if we ourselves do not participate in its supreme existence and realize in ourselves its excellent qualities.
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetOur Inherent Capability
What the Buddha is trying to teach us in the Parable of the Rich Man and His Poor Son is that we all are inherently capable and endowed with the capacity to become enlightened and inherit the great fortune of all Buddhas. It isn’t about standing along side and comparing our life to the life of some other, but about being awakened to our own potential and recognizing the potential in others as being unique and yet the same.
Lecture on the Lotus SutraTransmiting Faith To Our Children
It seems difficult to transmit faith to our children and others, but it is no more difficult than transmitting our life experiences to them. The teachings of the Buddha have a strong character as a “way of life,” a way to live as it is, rather than being a religion. We seek universal truth for enlightenment, cultivate our own nature by ourselves, and raise our own spirit by ourselves, in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings, which will lead all human beings and living things to attain Buddhahood. This is the way to live life in order to become a Buddha.
Spring WritingsThe Delusion of a Separate Self
In the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha states that he actually teaches only bodhisattvas. This means that even the voice-hearers who follow the Four Noble Truths or those who contemplate Dependent Origination are not authentic followers of the Buddha until they have the compassionate heart of a bodhisattva. Thus, it is not enough to simply follow the Eightfold Path. One must also follow it with the spirit of compassionate concern for others. The bodhisattvas do not practice only for their own benefit, they practice for the sake of all beings. This is because they are deeply aware of the interdependent nature of all things. That is, they realize that no one is disconnected from the whole. Therefore, the notion of a self-liberation apart from others is just another symptom of the delusion of a separate self.
Lotus SeedsTalking to This Special Person
Let’s remember that when we sit in front of the Mandala Gohonzon, we are sitting down in a sacred and very spiritual place in order to closely approach the Buddha and Nichiren Shonin. Using a more mundane example, this could be comparable to sitting down to have an important conversation or become closer with someone very special in our lives, such as a good friend, loved one, boyfriend, girlfriend or fiancee. If we meet someone as special as this, then of course we would want to be dressed properly, speak clearly and sincerely, and thoroughly enjoy the time we spend with that person. When we talk to this special person, we will look them directly in the eyes, possibly even feeling great emotion. We will also put all our energy, spirit and attention into addressing that person as we sincerely seek to connect with them. That is, we will use all our heart. It is the same with chanting the Odaimoku.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo