One of the objections of Nichiren’s contemporaries was the Lotus Sutra was too difficult for people and so some other teaching should be presented. Nichiren’s response was that yes, it was hard; the Buddha said it would be hard; and that is all the more reason why it is the most appropriate teaching for the ages after the death of the Buddha. We should not be surprised that it is difficult to practice and teach the Lotus Sutra. Yet I have met many who are either forgetful of the message from the Buddha, or who did not believe him when he says it will be hard to practice the Lotus Sutra.
Lecture on the Lotus SutraQuotes
The Way to Eliminate Suffering
The truth of the way to eliminate suffering is the path we must follow in order to stop clinging and free ourselves from suffering. It is the Middle Way between self-indulgence and self-denial which is also called the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path consists of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Each of these is an aspect of our lives that can be made whole or complete. This wholeness or completeness is what is meant by “right.”
Lotus SeedsThe Key to the Warehouse of Treasures
What does the character Myo “open”? … Myo is a key of great hope. It is the key that opens up for anyone who embraces and practices it, the entire warehouse of treasures contained within the Lotus Sutra, the perfect and the original enlightenment of the Buddha from the infinite past. Myo awakens the Buddha nature hidden deep within the recesses of our lives.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoWith All Your Heart
“… all of you present here! Understand the Dharma by faith with all your hearts!” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter II)
Though our practice is simple and seemingly easy it should not be thought that we can attain our goal without great effort. As the quote above says, “with all your hearts.” Think of how we pursue something we love and cherish in our heart. Is the effort you put into your practice in accord with your expectation of benefit?
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Activating Myoho Renge Kyo in Our Lives
To Myoho Renge Kyo, or the Lotus Sutra, we add our devotion as expressed in Namu. Namu activates Myoho Renge Kyo in our lives. The degree to which Namu is present in our lives, in our actions, will determine the degree of the manifestation of Myoho Renge Kyo. This manifestation appears both in our internal self as well as our external self, our environment.
Physician's Good MedicineTruth of Things
These teachings were expressed in words and preserved in writings, although to the Buddhist they were not merely letters or words, but truths, and therefore things, as well.
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetThe Ten Realms of Love
This teaching, the Mutual Possession of the Ten Realms, brings us various enlightenments. Take “Love” for example. Love is a very important factor in human relationships. According to this teaching, love cannot exist alone. Love consists of emotions such as joy, sadness, hope, ego, respect, anger, doubt, and hatred. Therefore, love has the potential to transform suddenly into hatred or anger. Sometimes love transforms itself into jealousy by mixing with anger, doubt, and ego. With joy, ego, and anger, love can become abusive. We should keep this in mind and have great patience in our relationships with one another, otherwise, we will not be able to tolerate the unexpected changes in others.
Spring WritingsThe Six Difficult Things
The six difficult things all have to do with the very practices outlined in the Lotus Sutra as ways of practicing the teachings in the ages after the death of the Buddha. It will be hard to teach this sutra to others. It will also be hard to copy and keep, or follow, this sutra or to cause others to do the same. It will be difficult to read even a little of this sutra, or to teach even one person. It is also hard to listen to or to seek out this sutra or to inquire into the meaning of the teachings contained within.
There should be no surprises when obstacles appear that cause us to become discouraged or wish to give up our practice. It also should not be surprising how easy it is to just simply stop practicing or to gradually let our practice slack off and eventually stop altogether. It shouldn’t be surprising and yet many people fail to recall this or even keep a caution in their mind.
Lecture on the Lotus SutraExtinguishing the Flames of Selfish Craving
The third noble truth of freedom from suffering teaches that relief from suffering is possible. Liberation from the vicious cycle of craving and suffering is often referred to as Nirvana. Nirvana does not refer to some other-worldly realm of bliss nor to a nihilistic destruction of thought or being. It actually means “to extinguish.” This refers to the extinguishing of the flames of selfish craving.
Lotus SeedsThe Three Meanings of Myo
Nichiren Shonin explained in the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra (1266), Kaimoku Sho (1272) and Kanjin Honzon Sho (1273) that the single character of Myo is extremely powerful. Myo, in fact, possesses the three meanings of:
- to open, reveal
- to be endowed and perfect,
- to bring back to life, revive, resurrect, have the capacity to transform poison into medicine (and negative into positive).