Monthly Archives: March 2021

WONS

Teaching According to a Person’s Capacity

Venerable Śāripūtra tried to teach a smith the practice of meditating on a skeleton to realize the impurity of the body, and a laundryman the practice to obtain a stable mind by counting the number of breaths. His disciples, however, learned little about the Buddha’s teaching in 90 days. Instead, they cultivated wrong views and became icchantika, ones who have no goodness in their nature and, therefore, no possibility of becoming Buddhas. Then the Buddha taught the smith the practice of counting the number of breaths and the laundryman that of meditating on a skeleton, and they understood the teaching immediately. Even Śāriputra, who was reputed as the wisest man, made a mistake in teaching according to a person’s capacity. Needless to say, it is not easy for ignorant, ordinary, and unenlightened masters in the Latter Age of Degeneration to decipher a person’s capacity.

However, such an ordinary master, who cannot discern an individual’s capacity, should solely teach the Lotus Sūtra to his disciples.

Kyō Ki Ji Koku Shō, Treatise on the Teaching, Capacity, Time and Country, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Page 250

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Mar. 27, 2021

Although I shall never enter into Nirvāṇa, I say to men of little virtue, ‘I shall pass away.’ I teach them with this expedient. Why is that? It is because, if they see me for a long time, they will not plant the roots of good, but become poor and base, and cling to the five desires so much that they will be caught in the nets of wrong views.

The Buddha gives this explanation in Chapter Sixteen of the Lotus Sutra. This Chapter is the first time he reveals himself as the Ever-Present Buddha who became enlightened in the far distant past and will continue to lead all beings to enlightenment into the far distant future. The Buddha uses the death of his physical body as an expedient so that those who take him for granted will make efforts to practice his teachings. When we practice the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sūtra, then we learn to see the Buddha in ourselves and all beings.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

LS32, Universal Sage

Between Day 32 and Day 1: Fattery, Deprecating Words, Duplicity, Defamation and Slander

Going through each of the senses and their karmic consequences – the sense faculty of sight, the sense faculty of hearing, the sense faculty of smell, the sense faculty of speech and the sense faculty of the body and mind – we continue with sense faculty of speech.

When the self-amendment process is completed, the practitioner must again internalize and recite the Great Vehicle sutras without laziness of body or mind. Through the power of the Great Vehicle, an ethereal voice will declare to the Dharma successor:

“You must now face the buddhas of the ten directions and praise and give voice to the Great Vehicle! Before the buddhas, relate your faults yourself! The buddha tathāgatas are your compassionate fathers. You must yourself declare the unwholesome and harmful karmic acts produced by your sense faculty of speech: ‘This sense faculty of speech musters characteristics of undesirable karma: lies, flattery, deprecating words, duplicity, defamation and slander, praise of wrong views, and use of useless words. In the manner of such many and multiple varieties and kinds of harmful karmic acts, it instigates conflicts and confusion and asserts that Dharma is not Dharma. I now amend myself of all impurities such as these!’ ”

After saying these words before the Heroes of the World, the practitioner must cast him- or herself upon the ground and universally pay homage to the buddhas of the ten directions. The practitioner must then kneel erectly on both knees, place palms together, and say:

“The troubles and faults of this tongue are innumerable and limitless! The thorns of harmful karmic causes grow from the sense faculty of speech. Estrangement from correct discourse on the Dharma begins with this tongue, and thus does this unwholesome tongue destroy seeds of beneficial effects. It forcefully discourses on many matters that have no meaning. Its praise of wrong views is like stoking their fires, thereby intensifying the flames that harm living beings. It is like something that poisons and brings death with no outward signs. The detrimental, adverse, dire consequence of all of this is to fall into bitter conditions for a hundred or a thousand kalpas. I sink into a great hell because of deceitful speech. I now take refuge in the buddhas of the southern direction and avow my very grave faults!”

When the practitioner effects this mindfulness, a voice will fill the air:

“There is a buddha in the southern direction whose name is Sandalwood Virtue. This buddha also has innumerable buddhas emanated from him, all of whom expound the Great Vehicle that destroys and eliminates impurities and faults. As for your impurities: you should now face the innumerable buddhas of the ten directions, the greatly compassionate World-honored Ones! Avow your very grave faults and sincerely amend yourself!”

In considering our speech, it is helpful to consider the promise of the Lotus Sutra as explained in the Oct. 29, 2020, Daily Dharma:

When they expound the Dharma to the great multitude with their tongues, they will be able to raise deep and wonderful voices, to cause their voices to reach the hearts of the great multitude so that the great multitude may be joyful and cheerful. Hearing their speeches given in good order by their deep and wonderful voices, Śakra, Brahman, and the other gods and goddesses will come and listen to them.

The Buddha declares these lines to Constant-Endeavor Bodhisattva in Chapter Nineteen of the Lotus Sūtra, describing those who keep the Lotus Sūtra. When we share the Buddha Dharma with others, it is as if the Buddha’s mind is finding voice in our words. It should then come as no surprise to us that beings of all dispositions will want to hear more of what the Buddha has taught us. When we “practice the sūtra with our bodies,” as Nichiren described, when we make this teaching a part of our lives, then we find the words we need to reach all beings and lead them to the Buddha’s enlightenment.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

Blog

‘Why will the name be Myoho’

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When I chant the Daimoku, I sometimes chant “Namu” and sometimes the “u” is unvoiced and it sounds like “Nam.” Doesn’t change the significance of my devotion to the Lotus Sutra with or without the “u.”

But when I write the Daimoku I always write “Namu,” because that’s how it’s spelled when you romanize the two Chinese characters Na and Mu.

In “The Journey on the Path to Righteousness,” the manual for the Shodaigyo practice, Namu is explained:

Namu, as is written, is the character expressing the direction south, but, in this case, it does not mean south, or residing in the south. Characters used in this manner are commonly referred to as non-characters because the meaning of the characters is considered inconsequential. Rather, in this case, this is the transliteration of the Sanskrit word “Namah,” and can be defined as devotion (Kimyo or Kie). Two common definitions for these are: “I ask of” and “I offer up my life to”.

Journey of the Path to Righteousness, p 24-25

I’m not criticizing Narendra. In fact, I sincerely thank him for reading my posts on Facebook and taking the time to comment.

If anyone deserves criticism it’s the publishing arm of Soka Gakkai, which insists on “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.” “Nam” is a phonetic contraction of “Namu,” they explain. But this phonetic contraction only applies for the Daimoku.

For example, the Soka Gakkai translation of On Repaying Debts of Gratitude (page 733) has this sentence:

Because I, Nichiren, chant and spread Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the power of Namu-Amida-butsu will be like a moon waning, a tide running out, grass withering in autumn and winter, or ice melting in the sun. Watch and see!

Why the inconsistency? Would chanting Nam-Amida-butsu be more effective?

For me, the question of writing “Namu” vs “Nam” gets to the meaning of the Daimoku.

Namu-myoho-renge-kyo means “Devotion to the Wonderful (myo) Dharma (ho) of the Lotus (ren) Flower (ge) Sutra (kyo).”

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo means “Why will the name be Myoho.” (See Google’s translation of Nichiren’s Nativity.)

Higan, perfections

Tolerance: Accepting Reality

Accepting the reality in which we stand, tolerant people do not indulge in moods of resentment; they do not waste energy resenting that things are as they are. In the grip of resentment, we falsify the world, refusing to face the reality that has come to be. Wise patience does not struggle in this way; it does not exhaust resources of mind and body wishing that things were other than they are. Resentment of the real undermines our best efforts to see what we face and to deal with it constructively. Ideally, the practices of tolerance and patience would release us from the grip of these agitations, freeing the mind to deal with the situation calmly and directly. Letting go of unhelpful distractions, we are in a much better position to participate thoughtfully and effectively in the world.

Six Perfections: Buddhism & the Cultivation of Character, p 121
WONS

‘Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō’ Is the Most Wonderful Medicine

The Buddha also declares in the Lotus Sūtra: “For anyone who keeps this sūtra in this evil world during the Latter Age of Degeneration” in the “Variety of Merits” chapter; “Buddhas joyfully display their immeasurable, supernatural powers in praise of those who will keep this sūtra after My extinction” in the “Divine Powers of the Buddha” chapter; “Propagate this chapter throughout this Sahā World in the latter five-hundred year period after My extinction lest it should be lost” in the “Previous Life of Medicine King Bodhisattva” chapter and “This sūtra is a panacea for sick people in this Sahā World” in the same chapter. The Buddha also states in the Nirvana Sūtra: “Suppose there are seven children, their parents love them all equally but care most for a sick child.” Icchantika and slanderers of the True Dharma are like the first and second children of the seven whom parents care most about. Of many illnesses, slandering the Lotus Sūtra is the most serious. Of many medicines, “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō” is the most wonderful medicine.

Hokke Shuyō Shō, Treatise on the Essence of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 212-213

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Mar. 26, 2021

Provisional teachings today are enemies of the True Dharma. If provisional teachings stand in your way as you try to spread the One Vehicle teaching of the Lotus Sutra, you should thoroughly refute them. Of the two ways of propagation, this is the aggressive way of the Lotus Sutra.

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Treatise on the True Way of Practicing the Teaching of the Buddha (Nyosetsu Shugyō-shō). We notice in this passage that his instruction is to refute the provisional teachings and not attack those who are attached to them. Even if those whose teachings we challenge become angry and violent, we can understand that we did not cause this reaction. This is one reason the Lotus Sūtra is so difficult. By keeping a mind of compassion we can maintain our respect for others even when we disagree with them. They too are going to become Buddhas, and we are benefiting them, even if they reject our help.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

LS32

Day 32

Day 32 covers Chapter 28, The Encouragement of Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, closing the Eighth Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

Day 32 Text with annotationsPlay MP3
Having last month considered the promised benefits for anyone who keeps, reads and recites this sūtra, we consider Śākyamuni’s response.

Thereupon Śākyamuni Buddha praised him, saying:

“Excellent, excellent, Universal-Sage! You will protect this sūtra so that many living beings may obtain peace and benefits. You have already obtained inconceivable merits and great compassion. You aspired for Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi and vowed [to protect this sūtra] by your supernatural powers in the remotest past, and have been protecting this sūtra since then. By my supernatural powers, I will protect anyone who keeps your name.

“Universal-Sage! Anyone who keeps, reads and recites this Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, memorizes it correctly, studies it, practices it, and copies it, should be considered to see me, and hear this sūtra from my mouth. He should be considered to be making offerings to me. He should be considered to be praised by me with the word ‘Excellent!’ He should be considered to be caressed by me on the head. He should be considered to be covered with my robe. He will not be attached to worldly pleasures. He will not like to read heretical scriptures or any other writings of heretics. He will not be intimate with heretics, slaughterers, boar-breeders, sheep-breeders, fowl-breeders, dog­breeders, hunters, prostitutes, or any other evil people. He will be upright. He will have correct memory and the powers of merits and virtues. He will not be troubled by the three poisons. He will not be troubled by jealousy, arrogance from selfishness, arrogance from self-assumed attainment of enlightenment, or arrogance from self-assumed acquisition of virtues. He will want little, know contentment, and practice just as you do.

“Universal-Sage! If you see anyone who keeps, reads and recites the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma in the later five hundred years after my extinction, you should think, ‘Before long be will go to the place of enlightenment, defeat Mara and his followers, attain Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, turn the wheel of the Dharma, beat the drum of the Dharma, blow the conch-shell horn of the Dharma, send the rain of the Dharma, and sit on the lion-like seat of the Dharma in the midst of the great multitude of gods and men.’

The Daily Dharma from Dec. 24, 2020, offers this:

Universal-Sage! If you see anyone who keeps, reads and recites the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma in the later five hundred years after my extinction, you should think, ‘Before long he will go to the place of enlightenment, defeat Māra and his followers, attain Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, turn the wheel of the Dharma, beat the drum of the Dharma, blow the conch-shell horn of the Dharma, send the rain of the Dharma, and sit on the lion-like seat of the Dharma in the midst of the great multitude of gods and men.’

The Buddha gives this instruction to Universal-Sage Bodhisattva (Fugen, Samantabhadra) in Chapter Twenty-Eight of the Lotus Sūtra. Nichiren explained that the later five hundred years mentioned in this passage is the time in which we are living today. The Buddha is therefore talking about all of us who practice the Wonderful Dharma. When we can grow our capacity to respect each other as we respect the Buddha, it inspires the respect at the core of all beings, and transforms this world.

The Daily Dharma is produced by the Lexington Nichiren Buddhist Community. To subscribe to the daily emails, visit zenzaizenzai.com

Higan, perfections

Morality: Beyond Rigidity

“Guarding awareness” in the realm of morality, while indispensable, also leads to certain problems. The most significant of these recognized in Buddhist texts is attachment to rules and procedures themselves. “Grasping” the precepts too firmly and too rigidly was thought to prevent the development of more skillful forms of moral awareness. “Clinging” to rules for monks and nuns stands in the way of a deeper moral consciousness, just as craving and attachment cloud perceptions of the world generally. Moreover, attachment to moral rules often undermines the compassionate and liberating connection to other people that morality intends to cultivate in a society. Wherever rule-following becomes mechanical and self-serving, where there is only joyless guarding of one’s own moral standing, there the “perfection” of morality is rendered impossible.

Six Perfections: Buddhism & the Cultivation of Character, p 57-58
WONS

When the ‘Three Treasures’ in Buddhism Are Aligned

Regarding the sūtras, the Lotus Sūtra is the most supreme among all exoteric and esoteric teachings. Regarding the Buddhas, Śākyamuni Buddha is the most supreme among all the Buddhas in all the worlds throughout the universe. Regarding those who practice the faith, Nichiren is worthy of being a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra. When the “three treasures” in Buddhism (the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) are aligned with one another, there can be no doubt that your most sincere hopes and wishes will be realized.

Niita-dono Gosho, A Letter to Lord Niita, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Pages 106-107