Category Archives: WONS

WONS

The School of Buddhism Established by the Buddha Himself

As I contemplate this, the One Vehicle teaching of the Lotus Sūtra is the golden words of the Three Buddhas (the Buddha, the Buddha of Many Treasures, and Buddhas in manifestation in all the worlds throughout the universe), the brightest jewel of the Lotus Sūtra that exceeds all sūtras, that have been preached, are being preached, and will be preached, and is supreme among all Buddhist scriptures. Therefore, it is preached in the Lotus Sūtra, “It is at the summit of all sūtras;” and “the Lotus Sūtra is the foremost.” Referring to the Lotus Sūtra as interpreted by Grand Master T’ien-t’ai, Grand Master Dengyō states in his Outstanding Principles of the Lotus Sūtra, “This is the school of Buddhism established by the Buddha Himself.”

Ōta Nyūdō-dono Gohenji, A Reply to Lay Priest Lord Ōta, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Page 36

WONS

The Power of the Lotus Sūtra

The Lotus School … is based on the most truthful words of all teachings of the Buddha. Not only does the Lotus Sūtra consist of true words but also provisional sūtras preached by the Buddha during His lifetime, upon flowing into the great ocean of the Lotus Sūtra, are all converted to the sūtra of the true words by the power of the Lotus Sūtra. Let alone the daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra. This is like the power of face powder which makes lacquer as white as snow or Mt. Sumeru, which makes the color of the various birds approaching it all golden. Likewise, those who uphold the daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra can change the black (evil) karma, which they committed in this life or during the numerous kalpa (aeons) in the past, into white (good) great karma, not to speak of the meritorious good acts performed in the past since the eternal past, which will all be changed to golden-colored.

Myōhō-ama Gozen Gohenji, A Reply to My Lady, the Nun Myōhō, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 142

WONS

The Sūtra Revealing the Whole Truth

I have made a vow to study all the Buddhist sūtras completely at once just as Grand Master T’ien-t’ai had compared the superiority of all the sūtras, by relying on the scriptures of the sūtras alone as his guide.

Thus determined, I read through all the scriptures of Buddhism, finding that the Nirvana Sūtra states: “Depend on the dharma, not on people.” The dharma means all the sūtras preached by the Buddha; and people refers to all except the Buddha, that is, such bodhisattvas as Samantabhadra and Mañjuśrī as well as the various masters of the schools mentioned above. It also states: “Depend on the sūtra revealing the whole truth, not on the sūtras which do not reveal the whole truth.” The sūtras revealing the whole truth correspond to the Lotus Sūtra.

Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 4.

WONS

Four Masters in Three Lands

I, Nichiren, of Awa Province graciously received the teaching of the Lotus Sūtra from three masters (Śākyamuni Buddha, T’ien-t’ai and Dengyō) and spread it in the Latter Age of Degeneration. Therefore, I dare add myself to the three masters, calling ourselves “four masters in three lands.”

Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō!

Kembutsu Mirai-ki, Testimony to the Prediction of the Buddha, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 178

WONS

Due to the Great Favor of the Lotus Sūtra

All bodhisattvas and ordinary beings tried in vain for incalculable kalpa (aeons) to attain Buddhahood by practicing the sūtras preached by the Buddha during the 40 years before the Lotus Sūtra. They became Buddhas instantly, however, by practicing the Lotus Sūtra and now exist in all the worlds throughout the universe. These Buddhas with the 32 marks of physical excellence and 80 minor marks of physical excellence are looked upon by those in the nine realms as if they are stars revolving around the moon, Mt. Sumeru is surrounded by eight mountains, the sun is looked upon by the people in the four continents, or the Wheel-turning Noble King is revered by the whole nation. Is not this solely due to the great favor of the Lotus Sūtra?

Kitō Shō, Treatise on Prayers, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 60

WONS

The Merits of the Daimoku

Here, I would like to elucidate the merits of the daimoku, the title of the Lotus Sūtra, for saving those who only chant it from the three evil realms. It is stated in the Lotus Sūtra, fascicle 5, chapter 14, “Peaceful Practices”: “Mañjuśrī, this Lotus Sūtra is so difficult to encounter that its name has never been heard in innumerable countries.” The sūtra also preaches in the eighth fascicle, chapter 26, “Mystic Phrases”: “You will gain incalculable good fortune by simply protecting those who believe in chanting the title of the Lotus Sūtra.” Again, in the “Devadatta” chapter, chapter 12 of the Lotus Sūtra, it is stated: “Upon listening to the ‘Devadatta’ chapter of the Lotus Sūtra, those who believe in it wholeheartedly with a pure mind will not fall into hell and realms of hungry spirits and beasts.” The chapter on the “Myōji-kudoku (merit of the title)” of the Nirvana Sūtra asserts: “There is no reason for the virtuous people, men or women, hearing the title of this sūtra, to fall into evil realms.” The Nirvana Sūtra is specially cited here because it was preached to amplify the merits of the Lotus Sūtra.

Shugo Kokka-ron, Treatise on Protecting the Nation, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Page 65

WONS

Who Except Nichiren Is Foreshadowed by Great Omens?

Twenty-one years have already passed since I, Nichiren, became aware of the appearance of the practicer of the Lotus Sūtra at the beginning of the Latter Age in the land of Japan. During these years, especially in the last few years, I have encountered a continuous series of calamities day by day and month by month. I must be executed soon. It seems difficult for me to survive this month or this year. Who except me, Nichiren, is foreshadowed by those great omens? Those who have any doubt may ask my disciples to instruct them further.

Kembutsu Mirai-ki, Testimony to the Prediction of the Buddha, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 178

WONS

The Spirit of Śākyamuni Buddha

All the scriptures of Buddhism are characters written on pieces of paper. They look like, for instance, stars and the moon scattered in the sky or plants growing on the earth. The characters of all the scriptures of Buddhism are the spirit of Śākyamuni Buddha, namely His strength of Life.

Sokumotsu Santoku Gosho, On the Three Utilities of Food, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Pages 178-179

WONS

Saved From Hell Through the Help of the True Dharma

Referring to the Lotus Sūtra, it is stated in the Sūtra on the Great Extinction, “Suppose someone commits the sin of slandering the True Dharma. If this person repents, returns to the True Dharma and embraces it again, the sin of slandering the True Dharma will disappear. However, a return to the True Dharma must be made because no other sūtra except this True Dharma can absolve one from the sin of slandering the True Dharma.” Interpreting this, Grand Master Miao-lê states in his Annotations to the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sūtra, “The Nirvana Sūtra calls the Lotus Sūtra the supreme True Dharma,” and “Just as a person who fell on the earth will stand up again with the support of the earth, a person who slandered the True Dharma can be saved from hell through the help of the True Dharma.”

Ōta Nyūdō-dono Gohenji, A Reply to Lay Priest Lord Ōta, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Page 34-35

Innumerable, LS32, WONS

Another Innumerable Day Before Day 1

Having last month considered the first of the 10 Beneficial Effects of the Sutra of Innumerable Meaning, we consider the second beneficial effect:

“O you of good intent! Second, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: If there are living beings who obtain this sutra—whether a section of it, whether a verse of it, or whether a phrase—and thus become able to perceive millions upon millions of meanings, even though uncountable numbers of kalpas may pass they will not be able to elucidate the teaching they have acquired and kept. Why is this so? It is because the meanings of this teaching are unlimited. O you of good intent! This sutra can be likened to a single seed from which a thousand million seeds result. And each of these seeds, in turn, also results in a thousand million in number. In this way, the production of seeds is limitless in measure. So it is also with this sutra—it is a single teaching that gives rise to a hundred thousand meanings, and each one of these, in turn, produces a thousand million in number. In this way, meanings are produced to an unlimited and boundless extent. Thus is this sutra named Infinite Meanings. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the second beneficial effect of this sutra.

I am reminded of Nichiren and the progress from his first declaration of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō:

At first only I, Nichiren, started chanting the daimoku, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, but then two, three, then one hundred people, gradually began chanting it. This will continue in the future. Isn’t this what emerging from the earth means? When an innumerable number of people emerge from the earth and this Wonderful Dharma spreads extensively, there will be no mistake, just as a shooting arrow never misses the earth, Japan will be filled with people chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō. You should therefore establish your fame as the practicer of the Lotus Sūtra and devote your life to it.

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

A single seed from which a thousand million seeds result.