Monthly Archives: December 2021

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Dec. 11, 2021

Why do you look at me so anxiously? You do not think that I assured you of your future attainment of Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi because I did not mention you by name, do you? Gautamī! I have already said that I assured all the Śrāvakas of their future attainment [of Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi]. Now you wish to know my assurance of your future attainment [of Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi].

The Buddha has this discussion with his aunt, Mahā-Prajāpatī, also called Gautamī, in Chapter Thirteen of the Lotus Sutra. She raised the young Siddhartha after his mother Queen Māyā died when he was only six weeks old. Gautamī was also the first woman to be ordained into the Sangha. Since women then were thought by some to be not as capable as men, the Buddha specifically assures Gautamī, and thus all women, of the certainty of her enlightenment.

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

LS32

Day 20

Day 20 completes Chapter 15, The Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Underground, and concludes the Fifth Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

Day 20 Text with annotationsPlay MP3
Having last month considered in gāthās a black-haired man twenty-five years old pointing to men a hundred years old whom he says are his sons, we conclude Chapter 20.

You are like the father.
You attained enlightenment quite recently.
These Bodhisattvas are resolute in mind.
They are not timid.
They have practiced the Way of Bodhisattva
For the past innumerable kalpas.

They are good at answering difficult questions.
They are fearless and patient.
They are handsome, powerful and virtuous.
They are praised by the Buddhas
Of the worlds of the ten quarter .
They expound [the Dharma] clearly.

They did not wish to live among men.
They preferred dwelling in dhyana-concentration.
They lived in the sky below
In order to attain the enlightenment of the Buddha.

We do not doubt your words
Because we heard them direct from you.
Explain all this so that the living beings in the future
May be able to understand your words, Buddha!

Those who doubt this sūtra
And do not believe it
Will fall into the evil regions.
Explain all this to us now!

How did you teach these innumerable Bodhisattvas
In such a short time,
And cause them to aspire for enlightenment
And not falter in seeking enlightenment?

[Here ends] the Fifth Volume of the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

See The Answer to the Most Important Question

history

The Four Methods of Teaching

The four teachings … are the methods of conversion that are like medical prescriptions for the world. …

1. THE SUDDEN METHOD
When the Buddha attained perfect complete awakening, he taught the Flower Garland Sūtra of the Mahāyāna teachings. According to its category and period, this sūtra reveals the sudden method of teaching. Other sūtra classification systems before and since Zhiyi treat “sudden” as a doctrinal category, rather than as a method of presenting doctrine. This sudden type of doctrine differs from the sudden method in that the doctrine itself can result in sudden awakening without the Buddha providing his listeners with preparatory knowledge.
2. THE GRADUAL METHOD
Because of the nature of the capacities of the listening disciples, the gradual method of preaching leads from the shallow teaching of Hinayāna to the deep teaching of Mahāyāna. This gradual method was used during the period of the Deer Park, the period of the Expanded teachings, and the period of the Perfection of Wisdom. The gradual method is also divided into three periods. The initial portion of the gradual method is the period of the Deer Park, when the teaching of Hinayāna was expounded in the Agama sūtras to guide the disciples and other people of lesser capacities. The middle portion of the gradual method is the period of the Expanded teaching, when the teachings of Hinayāna and Mahāyāna were mixed, and the Buddha admonished his disciples who were still following Hinayāna teachings in order to lead them to aspire for the Mahāyāna. The final portion of the gradual method is the period of the Perfection of Wisdom when only the teaching of Mahāyāna was expounded, and the Buddha taught the emptiness of the dharmas and that the separation between Hinayāna and Mahāyāna is illusory. Thus, the Buddha reveals his teachings in a specific order, according to people’s capacities.
3. THE SECRET METHOD
The secret method is indeterminate but hidden. Listeners hear the same teaching, but each understands it according to his or her respective capacity. Each therefore receives a different benefit from the teaching, without realizing that there is a difference between their understanding and that of other listeners.
4. THE INDETERMINATE METHOD
The indeterminate method is manifest and not hidden. Listeners hear the same teaching, but according to their capacities some take Mahāyāna as Hinayāna, while others take Hinayāna as Mahāyāna. Not only do they understand and benefit differently but they are aware of the difference.

These are the preaching methods of the four early periods of Flower Garland, Deer Park, Expanded, and Wisdom. However, the period of the Lotus and the Nirvāṇa Sūtras is not included in the four methods of teaching. That period transcends this classification system.

History and Teachings of Nichiren Buddhism, p 105-106
WONS

One Who Listens to the Lotus Sūtra Will Never Fail To Attain Buddhahood

The Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma is compared to a lotus flower. The māndāra flower in the heavenly realm and the cherry blossoms in the human world represent happiness. However, the Buddha doesn’t use them as symbols of the Lotus Sūtra. There is a reason why the Buddha chose this flower (the lotus) over all the flowers in the world to represent the Lotus Sūtra.

Some plants have flowers that bloom before bearing fruit, while others bear fruit before flowering. Some produce many fruits from a single flower, while others though having many flowers produce only one fruit, while still others have fruit without any flowers. But only the lotus flower bears fruit and a flower at the same time.

It is said that the merit of all the Buddhist scriptures (except the Lotus Sūtra) is found in the promise that men can become Buddhas after they have done good deeds, which means the attainment of Buddhahood is not certain. In the case of the Lotus Sūtra, however, when one touches it, one’s hands immediately become Buddhas, and when one chants it, one’s mouth instantly becomes a Buddha. For example, when the moon rises above the eastern mountain, its reflection immediately shows on the water. Sound and resonance also occur simultaneously. It is written (in the Lotus Sūtra) that one who listens to the Lotus Sūtra will never fail to attain Buddhahood. The meaning of this passage is that whether there be a hundred, or even a thousand people, all those who believe in this sūtra (the Lotus Sūtra) attain Buddhahood.

Ueno-dono Gozen Gohenji, Reply to My Lady, the Nun of Ueno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers II, Volume 7, Page 58-59

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Dec. 10, 2021

Those who come to this teacher of the Dharma
Will be able to complete the Way of Bodhisattvas quickly.
Those who follow him and study will be able to see
As many Buddhas as there are sands in the River Ganges.

The Buddha sings these verses to Medicine-King Bodhisattva in Chapter Ten of the Lotus Sūtra. By teacher of the Dharma, the Buddha means anyone who keeps, reads, recites, copies and expounds this Sūtra. As we continue on this Way, we learn to recognize the Buddha’s presence in every aspect of our experience. We learn to appreciate everything the Buddha does for us, and to show that gratitude to all those in whom we recognize the Buddha. Then we realize there is no shortage of teachers, no shortage of joy and no shortage of opportunities to benefit others.

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

LS32

Day 19

Day 19 concludes Chapter 14, Peaceful Practices, and begins Chapter 15, The Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Underground.

Day 19 Text with annotationsPlay MP3
Having last month considered the Parable of the Priceless Gem in the Top-Knot, we repeat in gāthās the peaceful practice of compassion.

Thereupon the World-Honored One, wishing to repeat what he had said, sang in gāthās:

Be patient, and compassionate
Towards all living beings,
And then expound this sūtra
Praised by the Buddhas!

Anyone who keeps this sūtra
In the latter days after my extinction
Should have compassion towards laymen and monks
And towards those who are not Bodhisattvas.
He should think:
‘They do not hear this sūtra.
They do not believe it.
This is their great fault.
When I attain the enlightenment of the Buddha,
I will expound the Dharma to them
With expedients
And cause them to dwell in it.’

The Daily Dharma from May 18, 2021, offers this:

Anyone who keeps this sūtra
In the latter days after my extinction
Should have compassion towards laymen and monks
And towards those who are not Bodhisattvas.
He should think:
‘They do not hear this sūtra.
They do not believe it.
This is their great fault.
When I attain the enlightenment of the Buddha,
I will expound the Dharma to them
With expedients
And cause them to dwell in it.’

The Buddha sings these verses to Mañjuśrī in Chapter Fourteen of the Lotus Sūtra. In our zeal to help other beings, we may create expectations of how they will receive our efforts, or how they will change themselves after hearing the Buddha Dharma. We may even blame them for not improving as quickly as we might want. These verses remind us that there is no shortage of time available for our efforts to benefit others.

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

history

Three Standards of Comparison

The sūtra classification system of the Lotus Sūtra explains how it differs from other sūtras. This system is called the “three standards of comparison,” which measure the worth of a teaching. The first measure is whether people of all capacities can attain buddhahood through a particular sūtra. The second is whether the process of teaching is revealed in full. The third standard is whether the original relationship between teacher and disciples is revealed. The five periods and eight teachings are treated as exemplifying the first standard of comparison.

History and Teachings of Nichiren Buddhism, p 104-105
WONS

24 Messengers of the Buddha

Setting aside for now the period when Śākyamuni Buddha lived in this world, there have been 24 messengers of the Buddha during the period of 2,200 years or so spanning the Age of the True Dharma, the Age of the Semblance Dharma, and the Latter Age of Degeneration since the passing of Śākyamuni Buddha. Namely 1. Mahākāśyapa; 2. Ānanda; 3. Madhyāntika; 4. Śaṇavāsa; 5. Upagupta; 6. Dhṛṭaka; 7. Mikkaka; 8. Buddha-nandi(ya); 9. Buddhamitra; 10. Pārśva; 11. Puṇyayaśas; 12. Aśvaghoṣa;13. Kapimāla; 14. Nāgārjuna; 15.
Āryadeva; 16. Rāhulata; 17. Saṃghanandi; 18. Saṃghayośas; 19. Kumārata; 20. Jayata; 21. Vasubandhu; 22. Manorhita; 23. Haklenayaśas; and 24. Ven. Siṃha. These twenty-four transmitters of the Buddhist Dharma are described in the Sūtra of Transmission of Buddhist Teaching by Śākyamuni Buddha Himself. These priests, however, are messengers of the Buddha spreading only the Hinayāna and the provisional Mahāyāna teachings. They are not the messengers of the Buddha spreading the true Mahāyāna teaching of the Lotus Sūtra.

Tayūsakan-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Ikegami Munenaka, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers I, Volume 6, Page 106

Daily Dharma

Daily Dharma – Dec. 9, 2021

Thereupon Pure-Flower-Star-King-Wisdom Buddha said to Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva: “Do not despise that world! Do not consider it to be inferior [to our world]! Good Man! The Sahā-World is not even. It is full of mud, stones, mountains and impurities. The Buddha [of that world] is short in stature. So are the Bodhisattvas [of that world]. You are forty-two thousand yojanas tall. I am six million and eight hundred thousand yojanas tall. You are the most handsome. You have thousands of millions of marks of merits, and your light is wonderful. Do not despise that world when you go there! Do not consider that the Buddha and Bodhisattvas of that world are inferior [to us]! Do not consider that that world is inferior [to ours]!”

In Chapter Twenty-Four of the Lotus Sūtra, the Buddha sends a light from his forehead to the world in which Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva lives. When that Bodhisattva saw this light from Śākyamuni Buddha, he asked permission from the Buddha he was attending to visit our world of conflict. The instruction he receives from his Buddha reminds us that no matter what advantages we have gained from our practice of the Buddha Dharma, these do not make us any better or worse than those we are determined to benefit.

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

Daily Dharma

Day 18

Day 18 concludes Chapter 13, Encouragement for Keeping this Sutra, and begins Chapter 14, Peaceful Practices.

Day 18 Text with annotationsPlay MP3
Having last month concluded Chapter 13, Encouragement for Keeping this Sutra, we begin Chapter 14, Peaceful Practices, and consider Mañjuśrī’s question.

Thereupon Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas, the Son of the King of the Dharma, said to the Buddha:

“World-Honored One! These Bodhisattvas are extraordinarily rare. They made a great vow to protect, keep, read, recite and expound this Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma in the evil world after your extinction because they are following you respectfully. World-Honored One! How should an [ordinary] Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas expound this sūtra in the evil world after [your extinction]?”

The Buddha said to him:

“A Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas who wishes to expound this sūtra in the evil world after [my extinction] should practice four sets of things.

See Actions, Words, Thoughts and Vows