Monthly Archives: October 2021

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Oct. 20, 2021

Many priests in the Latter Age of Degeneration do not discern the capacity of people. When it is impossible to discern the capacity of people, the true teaching should be preached vigorously.

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Treatise on Chanting the Great Title of the Lotus Sūtra (Shō Hokke Daimoku-shō). When the Buddha taught using expedient means, he could see the delusions and attachments of those whom he taught, and adjust his teachings to them for their benefit. For us who live in this time where most people are not aware of the ever-present Buddha Śākyamuni, all we need to know about those whom we wish to benefit is that they are convinced that this age is headed towards ruin. We cannot know who is ready to receive the Buddha’s highest teaching. Therefore our generosity compels us to provide the teaching that leads towards enlightenment, not merely the teaching that leads away from suffering.

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

LS32

Day 2

Chapter 1, Introductory (Conclusion).

Day 2 Text with annotationsPlay MP3
Having last month considered consider the lazy man, we conclude Chapter 1, Introductory.

The ray of light of [Sun-Moon-] Light Buddha,
That is, the good omen, was the same as what I see now.
Judging from this, the present Buddha also will expound
The Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

The good omen I see now is like that of old.
This is an expedient employed by the Buddhas.
The present Buddha is also emitting a ray of light
In order to reveal the truth of the reality [of all things].

[Mañjuśrī said to the multitude:]

All of you, know this, join your hands together,
And wait with one mind!
The Buddha will send the rain of the Dharma
And satisfy those who seek enlightenment.

The Buddha will remove
Any doubt of those who seek
The teaching of the Three Vehicles.
No question will be left unresolved.

See The Wave and the Water

history

The Formation of Abhidharma Thought

The term abhidharma consists of “dharma” with the prefix “abhi,” which means “towards.” It means “approaching the Dharma,” or “Dharma analysis.” From around the second century BCE, interpretations of Śākyamuni’s teachings were written and gradually systematized in the form of treatises. These included what are referred to as the “six treatises”: (1) the Saṃgītiparyāyapādaśāstra or Pronouncements Treatise. This is based on the text translated into Chinese as the Shòngji jing or Communal Recitation Sūtra. It organizes doctrines using groups of dharmas, or phenomena, with sections numbering from one to ten. (2) the Dharmaskandhapādaśāstra or Aggregation of Factors Treatise. This explains doctrines such as the path of religious training, delusion, and various dharmas with quotes from the Buddha’s teachings. (3) the Prajñāptipādaśāstra or Designations Treatise. This establishes a worldview centered on Mt. Sumeru. (4) the Vijñānakāyapādaśāstra or Collection on Consciousness Treatise. This expounds a theory of consciousness that uses the doctrine of the “triple world of saṃsāra”: the mundane world of birth and death, and the “three natures”: good, evil, and neither good nor evil. (5) the Dharmaskandhapādaśāstra or Treatise on the Collection of Elements. This categorizes mental factors into “omnipresent,” “major afflictions,” “minor afflictions,” and other groupings. (6) the Prakaravapādaśāstra or Exposition Treatise. This further develops the topics in the previous five treatises and organizes all dharmas.

History and Teachings of Nichiren Buddhism, p 32
WONS

Undergoing Persecution for the Lotus Sūtra.

[T]he official oppression of the followers of the Lotus Sūtra does not seem to end, and I am worried about what the future holds. Nevertheless, the fact that you endured the oppression till today is too surprising to be a reality. Please keep doing your best as it is preached by the Buddha that it is difficult to put faith in the Lotus Sūtra even for a moment during the Latter Age of Degeneration. This is so even though a person may be able to enter a fire without being burnt or jump into water without getting wet, even if a huge mountain were to fly to the sky or an ocean ascend to the heavens.

Emperor Hui-tsung, the sovereign of Sung China, was taken prisoner by the Mongols. Ex-Emperor Gotoba was the ruler of Japan, but he was defeated by Lord Hōjō Yoshitoki (Ukyō no Gonnotayū) and died on Oki Island as an exile. If these sovereigns had died for the cause of the Lotus Sūtra, they would have become Buddhas with their present bodies. As you know, people risk their lives for trivial matters, but no one is willing to undergo persecution for the cause of the Lotus Sūtra. Nevertheless, you have done so and experienced it yourself. How noble you are! How noble it is!

Ueno-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Ueno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers II, Volume 7, Page 46-47

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Oct. 19, 2021

World-Honored One! I have never seen anyone like you before. Your teachings have these inconceivable, wonderful merits. The practices performed according to your teachings and precepts are peaceful and pleasant. From today on, I will not act according to my own mind. I will not have wrong views, arrogance, anger or any other evil thought.

King Wonderful-Adornment makes this declaration to Cloud-Thunderpeal-Star-King-Flower-Wisdom Buddha in Chapter Twenty-Seven of the Lotus Sūtra. The king had been led to this Buddha by his sons, who showed him the wonders they learned from their practice of the Buddha Dharma. With his mind purified by hearing the Buddha’s teachings, he makes this aspiration to behave differently. Whether or not he can keep this aspiration, he shows his realization that hearing the teachings is not enough. Practicing them means changing our minds and how we live.

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

LS32

Day 1

Day 1 covers the first half of Chapter 1, Introductory

Day 1 Text with annotationsPlay MP3
Having last month considered the ray of light emitted by the Buddha, we consider Maitreya’s question.

Thereupon Maitreya Bodhisattva thought:

“The World-Honored One is now displaying a wonder [, that is, a good omen]. Why is he displaying this good omen? The Buddha, the World-Honored One, has entered into a samadhi. Whom shall I ask why he is displaying this inconceivable, rare thing? Who can answer my question?”

He thought again:

“This Mañjuśrī, the son of the King of the Dharma, has already met innumerable Buddhas and made offerings to them in his previous existence. He must have seen this rare thing before. Now I will ask him.”

At that time the bhikṣus, bhikṣunīs, upāsakās, upāsikās, gods, dragons, and other supernatural beings thought, “Whom shall we ask why the Buddha is emitting this ray of light, that is, why he is displaying this wonder?”

At that time the congregation included the four kinds of devotees: bhikṣus, bhikṣunīs, upāsakās and upāsikās. They also included gods, dragons, and other supernatural beings. Maitreya Bodhisattva, wishing to have his doubts removed, and also understanding the minds of the congregation, asked Mañjuśrī:

“Why is the World-Honored One displaying this good omen, this wonder? Why is he emitting a great ray of light, illumining eighteen thousand worlds to the east, and causing us to see those beautifully-adorned worlds of the Buddhas?”

See Maitreya and Manjusri

history

Four Immeasurable Minds

Maitrīkaruṇā, or compassion, is one of the major virtues in Buddhism. Maitrī means loving-kindness or affection, and karuṇā means compassion or sympathy. The former is said to be the providing of comfort, and the latter the removing of suffering. This way of thinking about compassion was systematized into the “four immeasurable minds”: (1) loving-kindness: providing comfort to sentient beings, (2) compassion: removing suffering, (3) sympathetic joy: taking joy in sentient beings’ suffering having been removed, and (4) equanimity: leaving behind love and hatred. Buddhism preaches putting compassion into practice based on these four states of mind.

History and Teachings of Nichiren Buddhism, p 31
Lecture on Lotus Sutra

The Changes in Our Lives

Quote

We learn of the many protections that come to us naturally by merely upholding this sutra in the Dharanis Chapter. Dharanis are special incantations that were given by various beings solely for the protection of those who practice the Dharma. These protections and merits do not come to us merely because we read of them but are in a sense activated because our practice calls forth the changes in our lives that otherwise would remain dormant.

Lecture on the Lotus Sutra

WONS

The Lotus Sūtra Is Deep-Rooted and Its Source Afar

They say when the roots of a tree grow deep in the soil, the branches of the tree flourish; and that when the source of water extends into the distance, the river covers a long distance. All the Buddhist sūtras are shallow-rooted and cover only a short distance. However, the Lotus Sūtra is deep-rooted and its source is afar. Therefore, Grand Master T’ien-t’ai states that the Lotus Sūtra not only prospers during the lifetime of Śākyamuni Buddha but will also be transmitted and spread into the Latter Age of Degeneration.

Shijō Kingo-dono Gohenji, Response to Lord Shijō Kingo, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers I, Volume 6, Page 151

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Oct. 18, 2021

The merits of the [fiftieth] person
[Who hears this sūtra] are immeasurable.
Needless to say, so are the merits of the first person
Who rejoices at hearing it in the congregation.

The Buddha sings these verses to Maitreya Bodhisattva in Chapter Eighteen of the Lotus Sutra. This chapter includes a story of a person who hears the Wonderful Dharma, then explains it to the best of their ability to someone else. In this way there is a chain of fifty people who hear versions of this teaching modified by the capacities of those transmitting it. The effectiveness of this teaching does not depend on who delivers it. No matter what our capacity, any of us can teach the Lotus Sutra and practice it in our lives.

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