The second of the Three Great Secret Dharmas is the Kaidan, or Precept Platform. The Precept Platform is considered any place where one chants Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, thereby basing one’s life upon the true spirit of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings. Traditionally, the Precept Platform was the place where one made formal vows to follow the precepts of Buddhism as a member of the clergy. Nichiren Shonin universalized the concept of the Precept Platform so that all people could uphold the essential teaching and practice of the Lotus Sutra at all times through chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. In Nichiren Buddhism there is no essential difference between the clergy and the laity. The Buddha-nature is equally accessible to all. In addition, the practice of Nichiren Buddhism does not require one to live in a monastery or attend intensive retreats. It is a practice that can be done anytime and anywhere, both by those with families and those who live alone. The most important thing is simply to practice so that wherever you find yourself becomes your Precept Platform.
Lotus SeedsMonthly Archives: October 2020
Buddhas in Manifestation Are One with Śākyamuni
The true teaching is what Śākyamuni Buddha has now preached in the Lotus Sūtra. In order to help all the people in the world believe in the daimoku (Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō) consisting of seven (Chinese) characters, the essence of the “Life Span of the Buddha” chapter in the Lotus Sūtra, the Buddha of Many Treasures and the Buddhas in manifestation from all over the universe verified this.
These Buddhas in manifestation from all over the universe wanted to clarify that they are one with Śākyamuni Buddha. Śākyamuni Buddha is like the moon up in the sky; those Buddhas in manifestation are like moons reflected on the water. The land of Śākyamuni Buddha is this Sahā World. If the Buddha, the moon in the sky, does not move, the Buddhas in manifestation do not move either. They live in this Sahā World to protect the practicers of the Lotus Sūtra just as the retainers living in the Sahā World pay respect to their lord, and parents love an only child.
Shimoyama Goshōsoku, The Shimoyama Letter, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 5, Page 89
Daily Dharma – Oct. 12, 2020
The Buddhas sat at the place of enlightenment,
And obtained the hidden core.
Anyone who keeps this sūtra will be able
To obtain the same before long.
The Buddha speaks these verses in Chapter Twenty-One of the Lotus Sūtra. They are his assurance to us as those who follow and practice the Lotus Sūtra that we are firmly on the path to enlightenment, no matter what challenges we find in the world.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 3
Day 3 covers the first half of Chapter 2, Expedients.
Having last month considered the reaction of the Śrāvakas and the Arhats, we hear Śāriputra repeat in gāthās his puzzlement over what the Buddha has said:
Thereupon Śāriputra, wishing to repeat what he had said, sang in gāthās:
Sun of Wisdom, Great Honorable Saint!
You expound the Dharma for the first time after a long time.
You say that you obtained
The powers, fearlessness, samādhis,
Dhyana-concentrations, emancipations,
And other inconceivable properties [of a Buddha].No one asks you about the Dharma you attained
At the place of enlightenment.
[The Dharma] is too difficult for me to measure.
[So it is for others; therefore,] no one asks you.Although you are not asked, you extol the teachings
[Of the past Buddhas] which you practiced.
Your wisdom is wonderful.
It is the same wisdom that the other Buddhas obtained.The Arhats-without-āsravas
And those who are seeking Nirvāṇa
Are now in the mesh of doubts, wondering:
“Why does the Buddha say all this?”Those who are seeking the vehicle of cause-knowers,
And the bhikṣus, bhikṣunīs, gods, dragons,
Gandharvas, and other supernatural beings,
Are exchanging glances of perplexity.They are looking up at you, at the Honorable Biped
Thinking:
“What is this for?
Buddha! Explain all this!”You once said to me:
“You are the most excellent Śrāvaka.”
With all my wisdom, however, I now doubt.
I do not understand
Whether the Truth I attained is final or not,
Whether the teachings I practiced are true or not.Your sons born from your mouth are looking up at you
With their hands joined together, entreating:
“With your wonderful voice,
Explain all this as it really is!”As many gods and dragons
As there are sands in the River Ganges,
And the eighty thousand Bodhisattvas
Who are seeking Buddhahood,
And the wheel-turning-holy-kings
Of billions of worlds
Are joining their hands together respectfully,
Wishing to hear the Perfect Way.
The Ryusho Jeffus’ book Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1, offers this on expedient teachings:
Previous to teaching the Lotus Sutra the Buddha taught expedients to lead people to the ultimate teaching of the Lotus Sutra. In many ways it was as if he were leading the blind to the train station so they could then find the way to the true complete teachings contained in the Lotus Sutra. But we need to remember that the train station is not the destination, the expedients are not the sum of the Buddha’s teachings.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Finally back indoors
It was very nice to be back indoors Sunday, even if we are still masked and socially distant from each other. We have not had indoor services at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church since July, when the state and county health officials banned indoor church services to slow the spread of COVID-19.
This has been one long year, without any services from February to June, indoor briefly in June and then outdoor from July to September. How long will limits on indoor services continue? Will indoor services again be prohibited with a second wave of COVID-19? Never before have I wished so much for a year to be over.
The Power of Preserving the Dharma
Vasubandhu's Commentary on the Lotus Sutra, p 147-148There are three entrances to the Dharma showing the power of preserving it. These are extensively explained in the chapter “The Disciples,” the chapter “Ease in Practice,” and other chapters.
The power of [preserving] the doctrine should be understood according to the [following passage from the Lotus] Sutra: “With determination he knows that the water is certainly near.” This means that by accepting and preserving this sutra [living beings] will acquire the water of buddha-nature and achieve highest, complete enlightenment.
The Gratitude of Four Great Śrāvaka Disciples
[I]t is stated in the “Understanding by Faith” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra:
“We are greatly indebted to the World Honored One. Making use of various inexplicable powers, out of compassion He enlightened us, bringing benefit to us. In countless millions of kalpa (aeons) who can ever repay His great favors? Even if we offer Him our hands and feet, bow our heads respectfully and present all manner of offerings, none of us can repay His great favors. Or even if we carry Him on our heads, bear Him on both our shoulders, for kalpa as numerous as the sands in the Ganges River respect Him from bottom of our hearts; even if we offer Him delicious food, innumerable jeweled garments, together with articles of bedding, various kinds of medicines, or even if we build with ox-head sandalwood and all kinds of rare gems a stupa mausoleum and cover the ground with jeweled robes. Even if we were to do all this as the offering to the Buddha for as many kalpa as the sands of the Ganges River, still we will be unable to repay His great favor.”
This scriptural passage is the expression of gratitude of four great śrāvaka disciples to the Buddha and the Lotus Sūtra for preaching the “Parable” chapter telling them that they, too, will become Buddhas. Therefore, these śrāvaka disciples must have understood that those who practice the Lotus Sūtra are more precious than one’s own parents, loving children, two eyes, and even their own lives. It is inconceivable that such great śrāvaka disciples as Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana would abandon those who praise any of the holy teachings preached during His lifetime. However, it is possible that they bear some resentment against the pre-Lotus sūtras. The reason being in those pre-Lotus sūtras the Two Vehicles, śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha, are strongly denied the status of Buddhahood in such phrases as, “In Buddhism, the Two Vehicles are like the rotten seeds of Buddhahood.”
Kitō Shō, Treatise on Prayers, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 58
Daily Dharma – Oct. 11, 2020
When they hear even a gāthā or a phrase [of this sūtra] with their pure minds, they will be able to understand the innumerable meanings [of this sūtra]. When they understand the meanings [of this sūtra] and expound even a phrase or a gāthā [of this sūtra] for a month, four months, or a year, their teachings will be consistent with the meanings [of this sūtra], and not against the reality of all things.
The Buddha declares these lines to Constant-Endeavor Bodhisattva in Chapter Nineteen of the Lotus Sūtra, describing those who keep and practice this Sūtra. The words of the Sūtra are not specific directions for how to live. We need to interpret them and apply them to our lives in the world today. There are many others whose experience and guidance can help us see what the Sūtra means, and who can benefit from our experience.
The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com
Day 2
Chapter 1, Introductory (Conclusion).
Having last month concluded Chapter 1, Introductory, we return to the top and Mañjuśrī’s response to Maitreya.Thereupon Mañjuśrī said to Maitreya Bodhisattva-mahasattva and the other great men:
“Good men! I think that the Buddha, the World-Honored One, wishes to expound a great teaching, to send the rain of a great teaching, to blow the conch-shell horn of a great teaching, to beat the drum of a great teaching, and to explain the meaning of a great teaching.“Good men! I met many Buddhas in my previous existence. At that time I saw the same good omen as this. Those Buddhas emitted the same ray of light as this, and then expounded a great teaching. Therefore, know this! I think that this Buddha also is emitting this ray of light, and showing this good omen, wishing to cause all living beings to hear and understand the most difficult teaching in the world to believe.
Episodes in a Great Story
As we have it now, the first twenty-two chapters of the Sutra, except for Chapter 12, constitute a single story, a story about a time when the Buddha was at the place called Holy Eagle Peak and preached the Dharma Flower Sutra. In other words, about 85 percent of the Sutra falls within a single story.
Thus while there are many stories in the Lotus Sutra, many of them are actually episodes within a larger story that begins with Chapter 1 as a kind of introduction and continues through Chapter 22, which provides a natural end for the Sutra, as well as to the story that begins in the first chapter. Chapter 12 is inserted in order to emphasize the universality of the buddha-nature, and Chapters 23 through 28 are added, for the most part, as illustrations of bodhisattva practice.
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