Category Archives: WONS

Daily Dharma, WONS

Daily Dharma – Dec. 30, 2023

Although the time is ripe for the Lotus Sutra to convert everyone, teachers who propagate it are ordinary teachers while their disciples are wicked and sickened by the three poisons of greed, anger and ignorance. They avoid teachers who preach the True Dharma, befriending teachers who preach false Dharma. Is it not natural then that he who practices the Lotus Sutra, the true teaching of the Buddha, and his disciples and followers and lay followers are persecuted more severely than the three kinds of enemies?

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Treatise on the True Way of Practicing the Teaching of the Buddha (Nyosetsu Shugyō-shō). In our efforts to uphold and practice the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sūtra, we may be surprised to be the targets of anger or aggression from others, especially from others who also practice the Dharma with us. These difficulties will be opportunities for us to practice wisdom and nourish our compassion. We can learn to recognize others’ delusions within our own minds and remain focused on ridding ourselves of the three poisons, rather than attempting to change someone else’s behavior. In this way we become an example for how to live, and allow the Ever-Present Buddha Śākyamuni to work within our hearts.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

Daily Dharma, WONS

Daily Dharma – Dec. 28, 2023

Tears keep falling when I think of the current unbearable hardships, but I cannot stop tears of joy when I think of obtaining Buddhahood in the future. Birds and insects chirp without shedding tears. I, Nichiren, do not cry, but tears keep falling. These tears are shed not for worldly matters, but solely for the sake of the Lotus Sutra. Therefore they should be called tears of nectar.

Nichiren wrote this as part of his letter to monk Sairen-bō in his Treatise on All Phenomena as Ultimate Reality (Shohō-Jissō Shō). For the sake of the Lotus Sūtra, Nichiren endured two harsh exiles, his house being burnt down, ambushes by soldiers with swords, being placed on the execution mat himself, and the persecution of his followers. Despite all these obstacles, he held true to the Buddha’s teaching in the face of all opposition. Most of us who practice the Lotus Sūtra today have lives of relative comfort. It is wonderful that we have Nichiren’s example. He was a human being just like us, and we too are capable of his faith and determination.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

Daily Dharma, WONS

Daily Dharma – Dec. 17, 2023

If a person born a commoner states that he is equal to a samurai, he is bound to be punished. If he states that he is equal to or superior to the king, it is not only he himself but also his parents, wife, and children who are bound to be punished. If those who believe that some other sutra is the same as or superior to the Lotus Sutra according to what they believe without knowing the comparative superiority of the sutras, they are happy because their sutras are being praised. However, it will be a crime of slandering the True Dharma, for which priests and their disciples, as well as their lay followers, will all go to hell as speedily as a flying arrow. On the contrary, to say that the Lotus Sutra is superior to all other sutras is no crime at all. Instead it will be an act of great merit because it is so stated in the sutras.

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Response to My Lady the Nun, Mother of Lord Ueno (Ueno-dono Haha-ama Gozen Gohenji). In other writings, Nichiren explains that the superiority of the Lotus Sutra is not due to some inherent magical power it has to get us what we want. The superiority of the Lotus Sutra comes from its embodiment of the Buddha’s highest teaching, the revelation of his Ever-Present existence, and the ability of the Lotus Sūtra to lead all beings to enlightenment.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

Daily Dharma, WONS

Daily Dharma – Dec. 15, 2023

You should promptly discard your false faith and take up the true and sole teaching of the Lotus Sutra at once. Then this triple world of the unenlightened will all become Buddha Lands. Will Buddha lands ever decay? All the worlds in the universe will become pure lands. Will Pure Lands ever be destroyed? When our country does not decay and the world is not destroyed, our bodies will be safe and our hearts tranquil. Believe these words and revere them!

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Treatise on Spreading Peace through Right Practice (Risshō Ankoku-ron). We may believe that we can practice correctly only when the world becomes peaceful. As if so long as we are in this world of conflict, we would need to use force and aggression to create peace. Nichiren turns this idea upside down. He shows that only by our practicing respect towards all beings, and working for their benefit, can we create peace in this world.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

Daily Dharma, WONS

Daily Dharma – Dec. 2, 2023

There are thousands of fish eggs, but few become fish. Hundreds of mango blossoms bloom, but few become fruit. It is the same with human beings, because most people are turned aside by evil distractions. There is an army of warriors wearing armor, but few are able to fight bravely. Many people search for truth, but few attain Buddhahood.

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Letter to Lord Matsuno. In Nichiren’s lifetime he saw many of his followers charmed by his teaching, but lacking the resolve to practice. This letter was one of many Nichiren used to encourage us not to waste our precious human life with frivolous pursuits, destructive actions, and selfish desires. It reminds us that we all carry the seed of Buddha nature, and to look for ways to nourish that seed.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

Daily Dharma, WONS

Daily Dharma – Dec. 1, 2023

Tomorrow, I, Nichiren, will be exiled to Sado Island. In this cold evening I am thinking of you in the cold dungeon. My thought is that you have read and practiced the Lotus Sutra with your thought and action, which would save your parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, ancestors and everyone around you. Other people read the sutra vocally without feeling it in their hearts. Even though they might read it with their heart, they do not experience it as the sutra teaches. Compared with them you are very precious since you are practicing the sutra with your actions, voice and spirit.

Nichiren wrote this passage in a Letter to his Disciple Nichiro (Tsuchi-ro Gosho). At this point in Nichiren’s life, he had been placed on the execution mat at Tatsunokuchi Beach, only to have the execution stopped at the last minute. Instead of deterring him from teaching the Wonderful Dharma, this experience cemented his resolve to continue admonishing all those who were harming the people of Japan. He taught that rewarding delusions and leading people away from the Buddha’s wisdom only causes misery. Nichiren recognized that his life was the experience of the Lotus Sūtra, and showed his appreciation to everyone who, as he put it, “reads it with their bodies.”

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

WONS

Shingyō Hikkei: Hakii-dono Gosho

Letter to Lord Hakii

I was 60 years of age when I left Minobu on September 8th in the year 1282 and I arrived at Ikegami of Senzoku Village in Musashi Province. Sakyamuni Buddha preached the Lotus Sutra for eight years on Mt. Sacred Eagle in India. He died in East India in the northeast direction of Mt. Sacred Eagle. Although He died in the house of Chunda by the River Ajitavati of Kusināra, He had His grave built on Mt. Sacred Eagle because it was where He preached the Lotus Sutra for eight years. So Nichiren, too, may die at the house of Lord Ikegami Munenaga in Musashi Province, which is northeast of Mt. Minobu. No matter where I die, please build my grave on Mt. Minobu because it is where I spent nine years reciting the Lotus Sutra to my heart’s contents. My heart lives forevermore on Mt. Minobu.

(Explanatory note)

On September 8 (which is late autumn in the lunar calendar), 1282, at the age of 60, Nichiren Shonin left Mt. Minobu where he was accustomed to living so long. He arrived on the 18th at a place called Ikegami in the village of Senzoku in Musashi Province (Tokyo). In this letter, Nichiren Shonin said that the Buddha for eight years preached the Lotus Sutra on Mt. Sacred Eagle of India and died in East India, northeast of Mt. Sacred Eagle. Although the Buddha passed away in the house of Chunda, near the River Ajitavati in Kusināra, according to Nichiren Shonin, He had His grave built on Mt. Sacred Eagle because it is the sacred mountain where the Buddha preached for eight years. Therefore Nichiren Shonin, following the example of Sakyamuni Buddha, wished to pass away at the residence of Ikegami Munenaga of Musashi Province, which is in the northeastern direction from Mt. Minobu. Nevertheless, he said that no matter where he died, he wished to have his grave built on Mt. Minobu because it is where he recited the Lotus Sutra for nine years without disturbance. He said that his soul would remain in Mt. Minobu forever.

Reprinted from the Shingyō Hikkei

WONS

Shingyō Hikkei: Ueno-dono Gohenji

A Reply to Lord Ueno

Among the people who believe in the Lotus Sutra today, some people’s faith is like fire and other’s faith is like water. Some people are aroused like burning fire during a sermon, but once they go away they forget all what they heard. When I say “like water,” I mean a person who has constant faith. You have always called on me without fail and therefore, your faith is like water. This is great.

(Explanatory note)

Nichiren Shonin said that when he observed believers of the Lotus Sutra, there were some who believed in it like fire and others like water. When he said, “faith like fire,” he meant those who are aroused like burning fire when they listen to the sermon, but once they go away their religious fervor is soon cooled down and they forget about it. “Faith like Water” means constant and unwavering faith. Since Lord Ueno sent gifts and inquiries about Nichiren Shonin regularly no matter what happened, Nichiren Shonin said that the lord had “faith like water,” which was great.

Reprinted from the Shingyō Hikkei

WONS

Shingyō Hikkei: Hōon-shō

Essay on Recompense of Indebtedness

Nichiren’s compassion is boundless and therefore “Namu Myoho Renge-kyo” will spread forever beyond the ten thousand year-period. It has the merit of curing the blindness of all people and blocks the way to hell. This merit is superior than those of Dengyō, Tendai, Ryūju and Kashō. The practice for a hundred years in the Pure Land is not worth the merit of chanting the Odaimoku for one day in this defiled world. Propagation of the Odaimoku in the two thousand Year-period after the death of the Buddha is not worth as much as spreading the Odaimoku for a while in the Latter Age of the Declining Law. This is not due to my wisdom; it is solely due to the time in which I live.

(Explanatory note)

Nichiren Shonin always called himself Nichiren. In this writing he said that his compassion to save people and lead them to salvation is so great that the Lotus Sutra would spread not only during the ten thousand years of the Latter Age of the Declining Law but also forever thereafter. His spreading of the Lotus Sutra today has the merit of opening the eyes of all the people of Japan, who had been blinded by the wrong religions to the true religion. This merit has also blocked the road to hell for those who unknowingly slandered the true jaw. This great merit, he claims, is greater than those of the great masters of true Buddhism such as Great Masters Dengyō and Tendai, the Bodhisattva Ryūju and the Venerable Kashō. Is it not logical that the merit accumulated in this world of suffering is much greater than the merit accumulated through the practice of a hundred years in the peace and tranquility of the Land of Paradise? Perhaps we could say that the merit of spreading the true law in the age of two thousand years following the death of the Buddha, when it was relatively easy though it is of course precious, could be said to be less than the merit of spreading the true teaching even for a short while in these dangerous and decadent days of the Latter Age. Nichiren Shonin said that this was not because his wisdom was greater than others, but it was because of the time in which he lived — Latter Age of the Declining Law — that he had the opportunity to accumulate greater merits.

Reprinted from the Shingyō Hikkei

Daily Dharma, WONS

Daily Dharma – Nov. 24, 2023

Please remember that the service to your lord itself is practicing the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Interpreting the scriptural statement in the Lotus Sutra, Grand Master T’ien-t’ai, therefore, states in his Great Concentration and Insight: “All the activities and daily work of the people in the secular world do not contradict the truth preached by the Buddha.” Please contemplate the spirit of this scriptural statement again and again.

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Response to a Follower (Dannotsu Bō Gohenji). In our frustration with this world of conflict, we may think it best to remove ourselves from those who are increasing the delusions of others. In this letter, Nichiren reminds us that the relationships we have in our lives are important. Service to others does not necessarily mean giving them what they ask for. It means wishing that they lose their delusions and nourishing the Buddha nature within them.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com