Category Archives: WONS

d4b, d9b, WONS

Jurui Seed and Sōtai Seed

QUESTION: What then is the Lotus Meditation?

ANSWER: Regarding the practice of the Lotus Sūtra for the ordinary and unenlightened people in these latter days, there are two doctrines, that of “jurui seed” (opening and merging related concepts) and that of “sōtai seed”, (opening and merging of opposite concepts) leading them into the one Buddha vehicle.

QUESTION: What is the source of this information?

ANSWER: It originates from four characters, shu (seed), sō (appearance), tai (entity or body), and shō (nature), found in the fifth chapter of the Lotus Sūtra , “Simile of Herbs.” Jurui seed and sōtai seed are based on the first of the above four characters, seed, the seed of Buddhahood. The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra comments on jurui seed, thus: “Anyone with a soul possesses the seed of Buddhahood. If one hears but a phrase of the sūtra, one would realize that one has the seed of Buddhahood. Should one put one’s hands together and bow in prayer towards the Buddha, then one is able to advance toward Buddhahood.” Sōtai seed means opening and merging the three paths of evil passions, karma, and suffering into three merits of hosshin (Dharma Body), hannya (wisdom) and gedatsu (salvation), respectively.

Of these two concepts, jurui seed has its basis in the Lotus Sūtra, although some aspects of it can be related to various sutras occurring prior to the Lotus Sutra. Grand Master Miao-lê has observed in his Annotations to the Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra that the “jurui seed but not sōtai seed can be found in distinct teachings.” Distinct teachings, in this case, do not suggest its usual meaning referring to the four teachings, zō (tripiṭaka), tsū (common), betsu (distinct) and en (perfect), but rather it points to the perfect teachings that have existed prior to the Lotus Sūtra or the perfect teachings taught by those other than Grand Master T’ien-t’ai. Even within the theoretical section or the first half of the Lotus Sūtra, verses of the “Expedients” chapter mention the opening and merging of jurui seed of human and heavenly beings. The teaching beginning with the verse “those who pay their respect to the ashes of the Buddha,” followed by twenty or so lines claiming that even a small gesture of goodness would lead to enlightenment amounts to the opening and merging of jurui seed.

Shimon Butsujō-gi, Listening to the Once Buddha Vehicle Teachings for the First Time, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 246

WONS

A Buddha with Your Present Body

The bond of the “triple obedience” for women (obedience to her parents while a juvenile, to her husband when married, and to her children in old age) has already been dissolved in this life for you. The “five hindrances” of women (being prevented from becoming the King of the Brahma Heaven, Indra, the King of devils, a Wheel Turning Noble King or a Buddha), have been dispelled for you. The moon in your mind shines without shadows. Your body has been completely cleansed of dirt and filth. You have become a Buddha with your present body. How noble you are!

Kōnichi-ama Gohenji, A Reply to Nun Kōnichi, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers II, Volume 7, Page 152

WONS

Faith in the Lotus Sūtra Since the Eternal Past

Again and again I say to you, “I am afraid you will forego your faith this time.” I say this because I feel sorry that you, who had an aspiration for the Lotus Sūtra until quite recently, will instead fall into the evil realms. If by chance, be it one out of one hundred or even one out of one thousand, you wish to follow the faith preached by me, Nichiren, declare to your father, “Although by right I should follow you because you are my father, if you become an enemy of the Lotus Sūtra, I will abandon you and side with my elder brother, because following you would make me an unfilial son. If you are abandoned by my elder brother, please consider that you and my elder brother will go to the same hell.” You have nothing to fear. The reason why we have faith in the Lotus Sūtra ever since the eternal past without attaining Buddhahood is this (retreat in faith).

Hyōesakan-dono Gohenji, Answer to Lord Ikegami Munenaga, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Page 93

WONS

Assurance of Attaining Buddhahood with the Present Body

Speaking of the Two Vehicles who claimed to have reached the state of Nirvana, complete or incomplete, the Buddha showed residual evil passions, karma, and sufferings in them and declared in the Lotus Sūtra: “They will become Buddhas despite the evil passions, karma and sufferings in their bodies.” Here for the first time not only the Two Vehicles but also ordinary people were assured of attaining Buddhahood with the present body.

Ōta-dono Nyōbō Gohenji, A Response to the Wife of Lord Ōta, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 166-167

WONS

Truly Reading the Lotus Sūtra

You should know also that if those who read the Lotus Sūtra think that the attainment of Buddhahood can also be realized by reading other sūtras, it cannot be said that they have truly read the Lotus Sūtra even though they may seem to believe in it.

Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 35.

WONS

Suffering Without Abandoning the Lotus Sūtra

Presently, my only concern is not to succumb to these great difficulties without abandoning the Lotus Sūtra. This has strengthened my faith. Through my experiences thus far, I have personally lived out the prophecies set forth in the sūtra. I am confident that I can weather these ordeals, which is why I have come to live on this mountain. Whether or not each of you lose your faith in the Lotus Sūtra, all of you have helped to save Nichiren’s life at one time or another. How can I think of you as strangers? As before, I, Nichiren, do not care what happens to me. No matter what happens, if I am able to retain my faith and become a Buddha, I have pledged, without exception, to guide each and everyone of you. That all of you are not as versed in Buddhism as is Nichiren, that you are secular, own property, have wives and children, as well as men in your employ must make it difficult for you to persevere in maintaining faith. So being the case, I have long said that you may pretend not to be believers of the Lotus Sūtra. As you all have come to Nichiren’s aid, I will not disown you under any circumstance. I shall never neglect you.

Misawa-shō, A Letter to Lord Misawa of Suruga, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 241

WONS

The Fate of General Li Ju-hsien

During the reign of Emperor Tai-tsung of T’ang China, General Li Ju-hsien, son of General P’eng-tzu, was sent by imperial order to subjugate northern barbarians. His army of several hundred thousand troops was lost, and he himself was captured and detained for forty long years. Meanwhile, he married a barbarian woman and had a child. As a prisoner he always had to wear leather clothes with a leather belt except during New Year’s Day, when he was allowed to wear Chinese clothes. He felt homesick with tears and heart-breaking grief year after year. Meanwhile T’ang China sent another expeditionary army to the north. Li Ju-hsien saw an opportunity to run away, leaving behind his barbarian wife and child. T’ang soldiers mistook him for a barbarian and almost killed the former general. Listening to his claim, they sent him to the T’ang Emperor Te-tsung. The Emperor, however, refused to listen to him and exiled him to the borderland between Wu and Yüeh in the South. Li Ju-hsien grieved: “I can neither go back home to Liangyüan nor go to see my wife and child.” Although Li Juhsien was deeply loyal to his country, he had to suffer this grief.

I, Nichiren, am like Li Ju-hsien. I thought of Japan and gave warning to the country; nevertheless, I was chased away from my hometown, left the place of exile, and began living deep in this mountain. This is similar to the fate of Li Ju-hsien, but I didn’t leave a wife or a child to make me worry both in my native town and in the place of exile. I only worry about how my parents’ tombs are, and how my acquaintances are.

Myōhō Bikuni Go-henji, A Reply to Nun Myōhō, Nyonin Gosho, Letters Addressed to Female Followers, Page 210-212

d19b, d20b, WONS

Determined To Be a Bodhisattva of the Earth

Whatever happens to you, have a firm faith and keep yourself as a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra and join the ranks of my followers. As long as you agree with me, you will be one of the bodhisattvas who emerged from the earth. And if you are determined to be a bodhisattva of the earth, there is no doubt that you have been a disciple of the Original Śākyamuni Buddha from the remotest past. The “Emerging from the Earth” chapter states, “I have been teaching and converting these people ever since the eternal past.”

Shohō Jisso-shō, Treatise on All Phenomena as Ultimate Reality, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 78

WONS

Better To Be Killed by a Wild Elephant

The Buddha remonstrates us in the Nirvana Sūtra, “Be careful. It is better to be killed by a wild elephant than to be misled by an ‘evil friend (leader)’ (as the elephant destroys only the body but the ‘evil friend’ leads us to hell and ruins both body and mind).”

Kyō Ki Ji Koku Shō, Treatise on the Teaching, Capacity, Time and Country, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Page 103

WONS

Determined Not To Back Down

From some time in the remote past till this day, I must have had several occasions to have come into contact with the Lotus Sūtra, and to have become a believer as well. As a consequence of this, I was probably able to withstand one or two instances of persecution; but since these tenacious obstacles have occurred in close succession, my faith may have been broken and weathered away. This time, regardless of what kind of difficulty I am to face, I proclaim that I am determined not to back down. Thus, I spoke up and have experienced this kind of persecution from time to time, just as is predicted by the sūtra.

Misawa-shō, A Letter to Lord Misawa of Suruga, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 241