One of [the expressions taught in the Lotus Sutra] is the teaching of the “Mutual Possession of the Ten Realms.” This teaching is about the human mind, which is constantly changing. It is changing every moment, and with great complexity. This teaching also identifies the stages of enlightenment associated with each condition of the human mind. The Ten Realms are: Hell, Gaki, Chikusho (Animal), Ashura, Human Being, Ninten (gods and goddesses), Sravaka, Pratyekabuddha, Bodhisattva, and Buddha. In order to explain these more clearly, they are associated with various emotions. Hell expresses a hellish mind, filled with things such as hatred and suffering. The mind of Gaki expresses instinctive desire. The mind of Gaki expresses an ignorant mind, an ego, and selfishness. The Animal mind expresses being driven by instinctive desire. The mind of Ashura expresses anger, jealousy, and combat. The mind of Ninten (gods and goddesses) expresses joy and happiness. The mind of Sravaka expresses sympathy. The mind of Pratyekabuddha expresses emptiness. The mind of Bodhisattva expresses patience, and the mind of Buddha expresses compassion.
Spring WritingsMonthly Archives: January 2017
Daily Dharma – Jan. 3, 2017
I always expound the Dharma.
I do nothing else.
I am not tired of expounding the Dharma
While I go or come or sit or stand.
I expound the Dharma to all living beings
Just as the rain waters all the earth.
The Buddha makes this declaration in Chapter Five of the Lotus Sūtra. It is normal for us humans to become worn out, frustrated or annoyed as we try to benefit others. Often, other people do not want our help, or when they take our help, they do not progress as fast as we want them to. Sometimes there are only a few people we want to help, and may actually wish harm on those we blame for our problems. The Buddha gives us a different example. He gets his energy from creating benefit. It does not drain him. He sees that all beings want to improve themselves, no matter how perversely they may go about it. He knows that all beings are worthy of receiving the Buddha Dharma.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 29
Day 29 covers all of Chapter 25, The Universal Gate of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva.
Having last month started the chapter, it’s time to continue with examples of the supernatural powers of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva-mahasattva.
Those who keep the name of this World-VoicePerceiver Bodhisattva will not be burned when they are put into a conflagration [because they are protected] by the supernatural powers of this Bodrisattva. Those who call his name will be able to take ground when they are washed by an inundation. Suppose hundreds of thousands of billions of living beings are crossing an ocean in order to obtain gold, silver, lapis lazuli, shell, agate, coral, amber, pearl, and other treasures, and suppose the ship carrying them is blown to the country of raksasa-devils by a storm. If one of the crew calls the name of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva, all the crew will be saved from the attacks of the raksasas. Because of this, [this Bodhisattva] is called World-Voice-Perceiver.
If anyone calls the name of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva when he is about to be killed, the sword or stick raised against him will suddenly break asunder, and he will be saved. If as many yaksas and raksasas as to fill one thousand million Sumeruworlds hear a person call the name of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva when they come to him with the intention of killing him, those devils will not be able even to see him with their malicious eyes, and needless to say, kill him. If anyone, guilty or not, calls the name of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva when he is bound up in manacles, fetters, pillories or chains, those things [in which he is bound up] will break asunder, and he will be saved. Suppose the chief of a party of merchants is leading his party carrying invaluable treasures along a dangerous road haunted by as many bandits as to fill one thousand million Sumeru-worlds, and suppose one of the members of the party says [to others], ‘Good men! Do not be afraid! Call the name of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva with all your hearts! This Bodhisattva gives fearlessness to all living beings. If you call his name, you will be saved from [the attacks of] these bandits.’ If the other members of the party hear this and say simultaneously, ‘Namas to World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva,’ all of them will be saved because of their calling of his name. Endless-Intent! The supernatural powers of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattvamahasattva are as great as previously stated.
The Daily Dharma from April 15, 2016, offers this:
If anyone, guilty or not, calls the name of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva when he is bound up in manacles, fetters, pillories or chains, those things [in which he is bound up] will break asunder, and he will be saved.
The Buddha gives this description of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva (Kannon, Kanzeon, Kuan Yin, Avalokitesvara) to Endless-Intent Bodhisattva in Chapter Twenty-Five of the Lotus Sūtra. The bonds of ignorance and delusion in which we find ourselves are not the result of our personal inadequacy, and neither do they come entirely from the circumstances of the world around us. But these bonds are real, and in our struggles to escape we often just make them worse. When we remember World-Voice Perceiver, the embodiment of compassion, and call on her for help, then we awaken compassion within ourselves and others in the world, and break the bonds of delusion for everyone.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Manifesting the Lotus Sutra in Our Lives
[I]n Chapter XV we have a transition from Buddhist practices, including the Lotus Sutra, of being either solely spiritual or intellectual activities. In this chapter what comes out is the practice of the Lotus Sutra is one of action and involvement in the material world. It isn’t simply about self-improvement but about carrying our practice into the world where we work, live, and play. The value of the practice is only realized when we can manifest it in our lives.
Lecture on the Lotus SutraDaily Dharma – Jan. 2, 2017
I remember the extinction of that Buddha
As vividly as if he had passed away just now,
By my unhindered wisdom; I also remember
The Śrāvakas and Bodhisattvas who lived [with him].
The Buddha sings these verses in Chapter Seven of the Lotus Sūtra. Because the Buddha sees this world for what it is, his conception of time is much different from ours. We believe that our existence is tied up with the existence of our bodies. Here he reminds us that while our lives are certainly precious, this is not the whole story. Our existence is linked with that of countless beings, and there is no good reason to fear our extinction. There is no shortage of time, and no shortage of lives. Our opportunities to benefit others are truly boundless. The only things that restrict us are our own delusion and attachment.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 28
Day 28 covers all of Chapter 24, Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva, and concludes the Seventh Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.
Last month covered Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva’s ability to transform himself and this month continues with the great supernatural powers and the power of wisdom obtained by Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva-mahasattva.
Flower-Virtue! This Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva protects all living beings in this Saha-World. He transforms himself into one or another of these various living beings in this Saha-World and expounds this sutra to all living beings without reducing his supernatural powers, [his power of] transformation, and his wisdom. He illumines this SahaWorld with the many [rays of light] of his wisdom, and causes all living beings to know what they should know. He also does the same in the innumerable worlds of the ten quarters, that is, in as many worlds as there are sands in the River Ganges. He takes the shape of a Sravaka and expounds the Dharma to those who are to be saved by a Sravaka. He takes the shape of a Pratyekabuddha and expounds the Dharma to those who are to be saved by a Pratyekabuddha. He takes the shape of another Bodhisattva and expounds the Dharma to those who are to be saved by that Bodhisattva. He takes the shape of a Buddha and expounds the Dharma to those who are to be saved by a Buddha. He takes these various shapes according to the capacities of those who are to be saved. He shows his extinction to those who are to be saved by his extinction. Flower-Virtue! Such are the great supernatural powers and the power of wisdom obtained by Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva-mahasattva.
The Daily Dharma from Sept. 3, 2016, offers this:
Flower-Virtue! This Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva protects all living beings in this Sahā-World. He transforms himself into one or another of these various living beings in this Sahā-World and expounds this sūtra to all living beings without reducing his supernatural powers, [his power of] transformation, and his wisdom.
The Buddha gives this explanation to Flower-Virtue Bodhisattva in Chapter Twenty-Four of the Lotus Sūtra. Like many of the Bodhisattvas, Wonderful-Voice takes on the form of countless beings to reach those whom he has vowed to lead to enlightenment. For those who can be reached by a teacher, he becomes a teacher. For those who can be reached by a child, he becomes a child. For those who can be reached by a stranger, he becomes a stranger. Understanding the innumerable forms the Bodhisattvas take on to help us, we can ask: Who in this world of conflict and suffering is not a Bodhisattva? From whom can we not learn how to see things for what they are?
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Suffering Is Optional
Craving transforms our life into a state of subtle agitation and anxiety, even under the best circumstances. For example, we worry about paying the bills, losing a job, or not getting a promotion. In the worst circumstances, it makes life an ongoing cycle of agony and unbearable suffering, such as when we face serious illness or the death of a loved one. While external circumstances can indeed bring about uncomfortable or tragic experiences, it is our internal craving that turns pain – whether physical, emotional, or spiritual – into suffering. The Buddha tells us that though pain and discomfort exist in everyone’s life, suffering is optional.
Lotus SeedsNew Year Memorial
My wife and I attended the end of year service at 11pm Dec. 31, followed by a meal of noodles and tempura. At midnight, the church bell was rung 108 times, with each attendee doing a portion of the total. After the conclusion of the bell ringing, the priest held the New Year’s service.
The New Year’s service included an eyeopening ceremony for a new member’s Gohonzon and a memorial service for my parents. The priest has offered prayers for my parents at each Obon and I’ve had their names added to the Eitaikyo, but I’ve never had a memorial service.
Daily Dharma – Jan. 1, 2017
The arrogant bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇis, upāsakas and upāsikās, that is, the four kinds of devotees who had abused him and caused him to be called Never-Despising, saw that he had obtained great supernatural powers, the power of eloquence, and the great power of good tranquility. Having seen all this, and having heard the Dharma from him, they took faith in him, and followed him.
The Buddha tells this story of Never-Despising Bodhisattva in Chapter Twenty of the Lotus Sūtra. Earlier in the sūtra, when the Buddha came out of his meditation to teach the Wonderful Dharma, five thousand of those gathered to hear him stood up and walked away. The Buddha did not stop them, and described them as arrogant: believing they knew something they did not. The arrogance of those who abused Never-Despising Bodhisattva, whose practice was to declare his respect for all beings, was rooted in their not seeing the Buddha’s wisdom in him and believing that they were superior to him. We can only learn from those we respect, and create misery only for ourselves when we despise.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com