[Within the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha], the Buddha shows us the possibility that we can awaken to the truth about life. Shakyamuni Buddha provided us with a model of human wisdom and compassion. When we take refuge in him, we take refuge in the possibility of our own awakening. In different schools of Buddhism, the Buddha is interpreted as anything from an abstraction to an almost god-like celestial being, but in Nichiren Buddhism, we do not regard Shakyamuni Buddha as an other-worldly reality, abstract ideal, or long dead teacher. He is the awakening to the living reality of our own lives, which we realize when we take faith in Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
Lotus SeedsQuotes
Seeing the Buddha
Although Shakyamuni passed away nearly 3,000 years ago, he still remains alive today through his words which have been written and passed down to us through the sutras. Therefore, if we wish to encounter the Buddha today, all we need to do is read, study and embrace the Lotus Sutra and its heart and essence, the Odaimoku of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. Nichiren Shonin explains this specific point in the Kanjin Honzon Sho: People can attain Buddhahood in two ways: by meeting the Buddha and listening to the Lotus Sutra, or by believing in the Sutra, even if they are unable to (physically) see the Buddha.”
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoOur Indestructible and Complete End to Suffering
We travel through existence after existence, through suffering after suffering going from one desire to another or from one way to trying to fulfill a fleeting desire to a different way, always to no avail.
One of the reasons we fail is because we have not clearly understood what it is that we are truly seeking. We think that if we change this one condition or another or if we were in a different situation we would be happier. We fail to understand that the condition of Buddhahood, the condition of our indestructible and complete end to suffering exists within us already.
Some situations aren’t meant for us to change, they are meant to change us.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Participating in Life
As the woman who was dying of cancer became aware, we do need to participate in our dying and equally so in our living. In some ways this in itself is the medicine as much as is the reality of our own Buddha potential. It isn’t enough to simply be aware of or to believe in our Enlightened nature. We must participate in it. We must act upon it.
Physician's Good MedicineUnited by the Adoration of the Lotus of Truth
Thus, all those who live in communion, united by the Adoration of the Lotus of Truth, are fellows of the universal and eternal fraternity. Within the communion, however, there are relations of parents and children, of master and disciples — the aspects of human life which remain through eternity, as in the case of the primeval Buddha and his disciples, and similarly in that of the prophet and his followers. Yet this relation does not mean mere subordination on the part of the disciples, but gratitude, and its fruit, the perpetuation of the truth transmitted and committed to them.
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetLearning and Practicing of the Dual Path
Practicing is regarded as the principal conduct in the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Although we might meet a wonderful teaching, we do not always practice the teaching in our lives. The teaching then becomes meaningless. For example, if you wish to become a good tennis player and you memorize all the rules and theories perfectly, this does not mean you will be able to play tennis. Why? Because you have not practiced on the court. Therefore, learning diligently first, and then practicing the teaching after having learnt the theory, are the conditions which give rise to enlightenment. This is called “learning and practicing of the dual path.”
Spring WritingsThe Three Treasures
Most people find that pursuing lofty goals such as achieving wisdom and living in accord with the Middle WaY are easier with some structure and community. These are provided by the Three Treasures in which all Buddhists take refuge: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
Lotus SeedsThe Rope and Roll of Fabric
Kyo is the translation of the Sanskrit word for sutra. The original meaning of this Sanskrit word is “wire”, “cord” , “thread” or “roll of fabric.” … [I]n the Buddhist sense, sutra refers to the recorded sermons and teachings of the Buddha. The significance of the sutra as a cord or string, represents the bond that joins each and everyone of us with the life and teachings of the Tathagata. The meaning of “roll of fabric” indicates that through our taking refuge in the Three Treasures, our lives are wrapped in the compassion of the Buddha leading us away from a world of suffering, pain and confusion.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoThe Empty Spot
By giving to others we make space within our lives for more. By sharing with others our joy of Buddhist practice, by encouraging others to never give up, by sharing our material as well as spiritual gains we make space for being refilled, being refreshed. We may think that if we give it away there will be an empty spot, but the nature of life is that the empty spot will not remain empty as long as we make space for compassion and caring for others.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1The Stupor of Delusion
The Physician’s Cure – the thing that enables us to truly be brought back from death – is the Lotus Sutra. Of course we understand that in the parable the physician is the Buddha, the medicine is the Lotus Sutra, and we are the children who have become ill after taking the poison.
The stupor of delusion caused by the poison not only prevents us from realizing that we can become equal to the Buddha, but also that we have always possessed that equality and that our existence is not simply this single lifetime or even this single moment. The delusion creates the false notion that this life is simply an intellectual exercise, that the reality is literal.
Physician's Good Medicine