Category Archives: WONS

d18b, d19b, WONS

For Whom Was the Lotus Sūtra Expounded?

QUESTION: For whom was the Lotus Sūtra expounded?

ANSWER: There are two views about the eight chapters from chapter 2 on the “Expedients” to chapter 9 on the “Assurance of Future Buddhahood” of the Lotus Sūtra. If we read these chapters in the order of chapters from the beginning, we can see that the sūtra was preached first of all for Bodhisattvas, secondly for the men of Two Vehicles such as śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha, and thirdly for ordinary people. However, when we read the chapters in reverse order beginning with the 14th on the “Peaceful Practices” (at the end of the theoretical section), followed by the 13th on the “Encouragement for Upholding This Sūtra,” the 12th on the “Devadatta,” the 11th on the “Appearance of the Stupa of Treasures,” and the 10th on the “Teacher of the Dharma,” we can see that these eight chapters were expounded for encouraging people after the Buddha’s extinction. People during the lifetime of the Buddha are secondary. Of those after the Buddha’s extinction, people in one thousand years of the Age of the True Dharma and one thousand years of the Age of the Semblance Dharma are secondary. The sūtra was expounded mainly for the people in the Latter Age of Degeneration. Of those in the Latter Age of Degeneration, I, Nichiren, am the very person for whom it was expounded.

Hokke Shuyō Shō, Treatise on the Essence of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 209-210

WONS

Mt. Minobu

Residing here at Mt. Minobu is truly like living in the everlasting land of the gods where blessings come down from heaven. Even uncultured men and women would be attracted to this place. In the forlorn autumn twilight, the dew is deep around my grass hut and in the eaves it is strung like pearls on spider webs. The leaves deepen into scarlet and are reflected in the intermittent flow in the bamboo water pipes, and seeing them one would not doubt that it is like the view on the upper Tatsutakawa River.

Also, behind my home the rugged mountains rise up out of the depths, and the fruits of the treetops would fill the One Vehicle. Below the branches the cicadas sing raucously. In front of my hut, the rushing waters flow by. The moon of the thus-so nature that is the true aspect of all things floats overhead in a sky cleared of the darkness of deep ignorance because there are no clouds in the sky of Dharma-nature. In this tranquil setting, inside my hut we spend all day discussing the Dharma of the Wonderful Sūtra of the One Vehicle, and all through the night there is the sound of our recitation of the crucial writings. It is as though Mt. Sacred Eagle where I heard the World Honored One Śākyamuni lived had been brought right here. In the rising fog and severe storms, I go into the mountains to cut firewood. Through the dewy grass I go down into the deep valleys to collect water parsley. In the rapids of the swift mountain streams I rinse vegetables, and as I impatiently wait for my dampened sleeves to dry I think of the old poet Hitomaro who recited, “At Waka-no-ura, the fishermen think of the passing of their lives as they wait for the seaweed to dry.”

Minobu-san Gosho, Mt. Minobu Letter, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 5, Page 125-126

WONS

Nichiren’s Great Quandary

I am in a great quandary. When my prediction comes true, it will prove that I am a sage, but Japan will be destroyed. I, Nichiren, have not committed any crime in this life. I am only sorry that what I said for the sake of my country and in order for me to repay the debt of gratitude to my native land was not appreciated. In addition, I was arrested and badly beaten with the fifth fascicle of the Lotus Sūtra, which I had kept in my bosom. Finally I was taken through the streets of Kamakura like a criminal. So I said loudly to the heavenly beings:

“The sun and moon gods are still in heaven as they had been at the time of the Lotus Assembly on Mt. Sacred Eagle. Yet they don’t come to rescue me, Nichiren, now when I am severely persecuted. Does it mean first of all, that I am not a true practicer of the Lotus Sutra? If so, I will not hesitate to correct my false view right away. If I, Nichiren, am a true practicer of the Lotus Sutra, please show proof immediately all over Japan. Otherwise, the sun and moon today are great liars who fool Säkyamuni Buddha, the Buddha of Many Treasures and Buddhas in all the worlds in the universe. Their lies are a hundred, thousand, ten thousand and ten million times larger than those committed by Devadatta and his disciple Kokālika.”

In prompt response they immediately caused civil disturbance, throwing Japan into confusion. Although I am an ordinary man not worth mentioning, in regard to upholding the Lotus Sūtra, I am the greatest man in Japan today.

Senji-shō, Selecting the Right time: A Tract by Nichiren, the Buddha’s Disciple, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Page 245-246

WONS

Retainers of the Eternal Śākyamuni Buddha

The honzon of the Tendai (T’ien-t’ai) Sect is Śākyamuni Buddha, who had actually practiced the Bodhisattva way and attained Buddhahood in the eternal past. The Buddhas such as Vairocana Buddha, Lord Preacher of the Flower Garland School, and the Great Sun Buddha, Lord Preacher of the True Word School, are retainers of this Eternal Śākyamuni Buddha.

Ichidai Goji Keizu, Genealogical Chart of the Buddha’s Lifetime Teachings in Five Periods, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Page 250

WONS

Solely for the Sake of People After the Death of the Buddha

QUESTION: For whom was the essential section of the Lotus Sūtra expounded?

ANSWER: Two purposes are conceivable in preaching the essential section. First, the reason why Śākyamuni Buddha reveals the eternity of His life in passing in chapter 15 on the “Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Underground” (Concise Opening the Near and Revealing the Distant) is to enlighten His disciples who have been guided through teachings expounded for forty years or so before the Lotus Sūtra and in the first theoretical section of the Lotus Sūtra. Secondly, one chapter and two half-chapters from the last part of the “Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Underground” chapter in which Maitreya raised a question, requesting the Buddha to preach for people after His extinction, through chapter 16 on “The Life Span of the Buddha” to the first half of chapter 17, the “Variety of Merits are exactly for clearly expounding the eternity of the Buddha (Expanded Opening the Near and Revealing the Distant). This is solely for the sake of people after the death of the Buddha.

Hokke Shuyō Shō, Treatise on the Essence of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 210-211

WONS

People Who Do Meritorious Good Acts Will Never Fail to Prosper

Thank you very much for the offering of 60 steamed rice cakes, a tub of sake, 50 yams, 20 tangerines, and one range of persimmons dried on skewers which you took the trouble of sending to me.

I respectfully put them on the altar of the Lotus Sūtra. It was on the third day of the New Year and I was so glad that I was able to put various offerings on the altar of the Lotus Sūtra. When flowers bloom, they are bound to bear fruits, the moon inevitably becomes full, and plants flourish when it rains. Likewise, people who do meritorious good acts will never fail to prosper.

Ueno-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Ueno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Page 36

WONS

Even a Misfortune Can Become Happiness

Regarding the Chinese character “myō” of the Lotus Sūtra, Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna states in his Great Wisdom Discourse, “It can transform poison into medicine.” Grand Master T’ien-t’ai also explains it this way, “The guarantee of future Buddhahood by the Two Vehicles in the Lotus Sūtra is the conversion of poison into medicine.” I am confident, therefore, even a misfortune can become happiness.

Dōjōjin Shugo-ji, Protective Deities for the Place of Practicing Buddhism, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Pages 16

WONS

Seven Characters of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō Alone Are Seeds of Buddhahood

It has been 2,200 years or so since the passing of Śākyamuni Buddha. We are now in the Latter Age of Degeneration, when wise persons are gradually getting scarce just as a mountain slopes from the peak and fields are overgrown with weeds. Many people chant the nembutsu or observe precepts but few seek refuge in the Lotus Sūtra. Stars are many in number, but they cannot illuminate the depths of the ocean. No matter how many plants there are, they cannot be used as pillar for a palace. Likewise, no matter how many times one chants the nembutsu, it will never become the way to Buddhahood. No matter how many precepts one observes, they will never become the seeds of rebirth in the Pure Land. The seven characters of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō alone are the seeds of Buddhahood.

Kurōtarō-dono Gohenji, A Reply to Lord Kurōtarō, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 153

WONS

The Secret Teaching of the Buddhas

In the fifth fascicle (chapter 14, “Peaceful Practices”) of the Lotus Sūtra it is said, ” Mañjuśrī! This Lotus Sūtra is the secret teaching of the Buddhas. This is above all the sūtras.” According to this passage the Lotus Sūtra is the True Dharma, the highest above all the sūtras including the Great Sun Buddha Sūtra. How did such masters as Śubhākarasimha, Vajrabodhi, Amoghavajra, Kōbō, Jikaku, and Chishō interpret this?

It is said also in the seventh fascicle (chapter 23, “Previous Life of the Medicine King Bodhisattva”) of the Lotus Sūtra, “The person who keeps this sūtra likewise is superior to any other living being.” According to it, the practicer of the Lotus Sūtra is like an ocean among various rivers, Mt. Sumeru among various mountains, the moon among many stars, the sun among various bright objects, and the Great King of the Brahma Heaven among various kings such as the Wheel-turning Noble King and Indra.

Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 27-28.

d10b, d12b, WONS

Since 3,000 Dust-Particle Kalpa Ago

When we compare Śākyamuni Buddha in the Lotus Sūtra to Buddhas in other sūtras in regard to the period of practicing the Bodhisattva way and saving people, other Buddhas’ length of practice is said to have been three asamkhya kalpa or five kalpa, while Śākyamuni Buddha has been a great Bodhisattva planting the seed of enlightenment in all living beings in the Sahā World since 3,000 dust-particle kalpa ago according to the “Parable of a Magic City” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra. Therefore, none of the living beings in six lower realms in this world have any relationship with any Bodhisattvas in other worlds.

Hokke Shuyō Shō, Treatise on the Essence of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 208