Daily Dharma – March 12, 2023

Rivers come together to form an ocean. Particles of dust accumulate to become Mt. Sumeru. When I, Nichiren, began having faith in the Lotus Sutra, it was like a drop of water or a particle of dust in Japan. However, when the sutra is chanted and transmitted to two, three, ten, a million and a billion people, it will grow to be a Mt. Sumeru of perfect enlightenment or the great ocean of Nirvāṇa. There is no way other than this to reach Buddhahood.

Nichiren wrote this passage in his essay on Selecting the Right Time (Senji-shō). In our quest for enlightenment, we may become discouraged by the enormity of our task. When we sweep away one delusion, another appears. When we benefit one being, the needs of millions more become clear. Nichiren reminds us persevering though these difficulties and strengthening our faith in the Buddha’s wisdom are more important than any outcome we seek.

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

Another Innumerable Day Before Day 1

Having last month considered that the buddhas have but one message, we conclude Chapter 2, Dharma Discourse.

The Buddha having thus spoken, this universe of a thousand-million Sumeru worlds trembled and shook in six ways, and several varieties of heavenly blossoms—blue, crimson, yellow, and white lotus flowers—rained spontaneously from the sky. Also, a rain of many and various kinds of heavenly incense and garments, garlands of celestial jewels, and priceless celestial treasures came spiraling down from the skies above as offerings to the Buddha, the bodhisattvas, the śrāvakas, and the great multitude. Celestial bowls and containers were filled to overflowing with hundreds of heavenly delicacies. Celestial flags, celestial banners and canopies, and marvelous celestial amusements were arranged everywhere, and heavenly music and songs were played and sung in praise of the Buddha. Also, buddha worlds in the eastern direction, as numerous as the Ganges River’s sands, likewise trembled and shook in six ways. Heavenly flowers, heavenly incense and garments, garlands of celestial jewels, priceless celestial treasures, celestial bowls and containers with hundreds of heavenly delicacies, celestial flags, celestial banners and canopies, and marvelous celestial amusements also rained down. Heavenly music and songs were played and sung in praise of those buddhas as well as those bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, and great assemblies. In the southern, western, and northern directions, in the four intermediate directions, and in the upper and lower regions it was like this as well.

Within the gathering, thirty-two thousand great-being bodhisattvas attained the specialized focus of mind of infinite meanings, and thirty-four thousand great-being bodhisattvas gained access to countless and innumerable Dharma-grasping empowerments and became capable of turning all nonretrogressing Dharma wheels of the buddhas of the past, present, and future. The monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, the heavenly beings, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas, and the leaders of empires great and small—rulers of silver-wheel, iron-wheel, and lesser-wheel domains, kings, princes, officials of state, and citizens who were noblemen, noblewomen, or people of great means—with hundreds of thousands of their numerous followers assembled together there, upon hearing the Buddha Tathāgata expound this sutra, variously realized the stage of an ardent mind, the stage of attaining the highest still-unsettled condition, the stage of attaining irreversible good roots, the stage of ultimate worldly perception, the fruit of entering the stream, the fruit of one remaining return, the fruit of non- returning, the fruit of arhatship, or the fruit of pratyekabuddha. Or they achieved the bodhisattva stage in which phenomena are grasped as being without origination or cessation. Or they obtained one Dharma-grasping empowerment, or obtained two Dharma-grasping empowerments, or obtained three Dharma-grasping empowerments, or obtained four Dharma-grasping empowerments, or five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten Dharma-grasping empowerments, or obtained hundreds of millions of myriads of Dharma- grasping empowerments, or obtained innumerable Dharma-grasping empowerments—as countless and immeasurable as the Ganges River’s sands; all, accordingly, became capable of turning a nonretrogressing Dharma wheel. Innumerable living beings awakened the aspiration for the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment.

See Rock and Roll in the Time of Śākyamuni

Three Paths and Two Outcomes

Q: Why do those of the two vehicles sever their bonds in this life and quickly attain the fruit of the Path, but Bodhisattvas do not yet sever their bonds while traversing from their first aspiration to the stage of conquering evil and do not attain the fruit of the Path quickly?

A: Those of the two vehicles contemplate the Four Noble Truths and Twelvefold Conditioned Co-arising and thus grow weary of the cycle of birth and death, seek Nirvāṇa on their own, and prepare themselves for their own salvation. Therefore they sever their bonds first and attain the fruit [of the Path] in this life. The Bodhisattva has compassion and thus puts [the benefits of] others first and himself last. For three incalculable aeons he cultivates the Six Perfections; therefore he does not attain the fruit quickly.

Tendai Lotus School Teachings, p 28

Daily Dharma – March 11, 2023

Do not doubt him even at a moment’s thought!
The Pure Saint World-Voice-Perceiver is reliable
When you suffer, and when you are confronted
With the calamity of death.

The Buddha sings these verses in Chapter Twenty-Five of the Lotus Sūtra. The calamity of death is something we all will face eventually, whether our own or that of those we love. The other calamities in our lives are relatively minor losses which can prepare us for this great calamity. The Bodhisattva World-Voice-Perceiver is the embodiment of Compassion: the desire to benefit all beings. When we learn to use all of the suffering in our lives, especially the calamity of death, as a way to remove our delusions and benefit others, then we can see the world with the eyes of the Buddha and know the joy he declares is at the core of our being.

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

Between Day 32 and Day 1: Welcoming Many-Treasures Buddha

Having last month considered purification of the sense faculty of sight, we consider the arrival of the stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha.

After purifying the sense faculty of sight, the practitioner must further internalize and recite the Great Vehicle sutras and, at the six specified times of day and night, kneel formally and undertake self-amendment. Additionally, the practitioner must speak these words:

“Why is it that I can now see only Śākyamuni Buddha and buddhas emanated from him, but not the stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha, the reliquary of his entire body? The stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha is always present – it does not cease to exist; I cannot see the stupa because my eyes are yet faulty and impaired.”

After saying these words, the practitioner must do further self-amendment. After seven days have passed, the stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha will emerge from the ground. Śākyamuni Buddha will then open the door of the stupa with his right hand, and Many-Treasures Buddha – fully engaged in the specialized focus of mind regarding his universal manifestation in any figure or form – will be perceived. Rays of brilliant light as numerous as all the grains of sand in the Ganges River flow out from every pore of his body, and a hundred-thousand myriad koṭis of manifested buddha forms are present in every ray of light. The practitioner will become joyful when this condition appears; then she or he must walk around the stupa while offering praise in verse. After seven circuits have been completed, Many-Treasures Tathāgatha will praise the Dharma successor with a great voice, saying:

“Truly you now capably practice in accordance with the Great Vehicle, faithfully following Universal Sage and doing self-amendment for the sense faculty of sight! As the result of this act, I come to you as your proof!”

Having spoken thus, he will then say in commendation:

“Well done, Śākyamuni Buddha! Well done! You skillfully expound the Great Dharma, pouring down the Great Dharma’s rain to bring all manner of muddled living beings to clarity!”

See The Practice of the Lotus Teaching

Bodhisattvas: Four Vows and Four Truths

Q: Next, is the term “Bodhisattva” Sanskrit or Chinese?

A: It is Sanskrit. [In Chinese] the longer transliteration is P’u-t’i-sa-ta, but here we use the abbreviation P’u-sa.

Q: What is the meaning in Chinese?

A: Bodhi means “enlightenment,” or “the mind that aspires for the Buddhist Path,” and sattva means “a sentient being.”

Q: What vows are made by a Bodhisattva?

A: He makes four great vows at the time of his first aspiration for enlightenment.

Q: What are these four great vows?

A: (1) To save all who are not yet saved, by the vow “Though there are unlimited sentient beings, I vow to save them.” (2) To awaken those who do not yet understand, by the vow, “Though there are unlimited passions, I vow to sever them.” (3) To soothe those who are not yet settled, by the vow, “Though there are inexhaustible doctrines, I vow to know them.” (4) To lead to Nirvāṇa those who have not yet attained Nirvāṇa, by the vow “Though the Buddhist Path is supreme, I vow to fulfill it.”

Q: Concerning these four great vows, what conditions allow one to arouse the aspiration for enlightenment?

A: One arouses the aspiration for enlightenment and vows to save all who have yet to be saved by contemplating the truth of suffering. One arouses the aspiration for enlightenment and vows to lead to understanding those who do not yet understand by contemplating the truth concerning the causes of suffering. One arouses the aspiration for enlightenment and vows to sooth those who are not yet settled by contemplating the truth of the Buddhist Path. One arouses the aspiration for enlightenment and vows to lead to Nirvāṇa those who have not yet attained Nirvāṇa by contemplating the truth concerning the extinction of suffering.

Tendai Lotus School Teachings, p 22-23

Daily Dharma – March 10, 2023

The Śrāvakas will have already eliminated āsravas,
And reached the final stage of their physical existence.
They will become sons of the King of the Dharma.
Their number also will be beyond calculation.
Even those who have heavenly eyes
Will not be able to count them.

The Buddha sings these verses in Chapter Six of the Lotus Sūtra. The Śrāvakas are those who want only to eliminate their delusions and end their suffering. They do not yet realize that the Buddha leads them to become Bodhisattvas and work for the benefit of all beings. They do not believe they can reach the Buddha’s own wisdom. The Buddha assures even these beings that in the course of time, as they realize their true nature, they too will become enlightened.

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

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.


Having last month considered Universal-Sage Bodhisattva’s vow given to those who study and practice the Lotus Sutra for three weeks, we consider Universal-Sage Bodhisattva’s promise to those who keep the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

Anyone who keeps the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma [while it is] propagated in the Jambudvipa, should think, ‘I can keep [this sūtra] only by the supernatural powers of Universal-­Sage.’ Anyone who keeps, reads and recites this sūtra, memorizes it correctly, understands the meanings of it, and acts according to it, know this, does the same practices that I do. He should be considered to have already planted deeply the roots of good under innumerable Buddhas [in his previous existence]. He will be caressed on the head by the hands of the Tathāgatas. Anyone who copies this sūtra will be reborn in the Heaven of the Trāyastriṃs̒a Gods immediately after his present life. On that occasion, eighty-four thousand goddesses will come and receive him, making many kinds of music. A crown of the seven treasures will be put on his head, and he will enjoy himself among the ladies in waiting. Needless to say, [more merits will be given to] the person who [not only copies this sūtra but also] keeps, reads and recites it, memorizes it correctly, understands the meanings of it, and acts according to it. Anyone who keeps, reads and recites this sūtra, and understands the meanings of it, will be given helping hands by one thousand Buddhas immediately after his present life. He will be fearless. He will not fall into any evil region. He will be reborn in the Tusiita Heaven. There he will go to Maitreya Bodhisattva who, adorned with the thirty-two marks, will be surrounded by great Bodhisattvas, and attended on by hundreds of thousands of billions of goddesses. He will be given the benefits of these merits. Therefore, anyone who has wisdom should copy this sūtra with all his heart, cause others to copy it, and also keep, read and recite it, memorize it correctly, and act according to it.

“World-Honored One! I will protect this sūtra with my supernatural powers so that it may be propagated and not be destroyed in the Jambudvipa after your extinction.”

The Daily Dharma from June 30, 2022, offers this:

Anyone who keeps the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma [while it is] propagated in the Jambudvīpa, should think, ‘I can keep [this sūtra] only by the supernatural powers of Universal-Sage.’

Universal-Sage Bodhisattva (Fugen, Samantabhadra) makes this declaration to the Buddha in Chapter Twenty-Eight of the Lotus Sūtra. The supernatural powers of this Bodhisattva are beyond the perception of our human senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell and thought. When we hear thunder, we know something causes it whether or not we understand that cause. In the same way, when we are practicing this Wonderful Dharma, we know it is because of the great help we receive from innumerable beings, even if we do not understand the powers they use to reach us.

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

Pratyekabuddhas

Q: Next, is the term “Pratyekabuddha” Sanskrit or Chinese?

A: It is Sanskrit.

Q: What is it in Chinese?

A: This is translated [into Chinese] as “one who is awakened concerning conditions.” This refers to one who lives during the time of a Buddha and, by hearing an exposition on Twelvefold Conditioned Co-arising, immediately awakens to Pratyekabuddhahood.

Q: How many varieties of Pratyekabuddhas are there?

A: There are two kinds. Those who appear during the time of the Buddha have already been mentioned. If they are to appear during a time when there is no Buddha in the world, they have an immediate spontaneous awakening to Pratyekabuddhahood while contemplating the scattering of flowers or the falling of leaves.

Tendai Lotus School Teachings, p 22

Daily Dharma – March 9, 2023

If you wish to dwell in the enlightenment of the Buddha,
And to obtain the self-originating wisdom,
Make offerings strenuously to the keeper
Of the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma!

The Buddha sings these verses to Medicine-King Bodhisattva at the beginning of Chapter Ten of the Lotus Sūtra. This teaching does not mean that we who practice the Buddha Dharma should expect offerings because of our practice. Rather, it encourages us to appreciate all those who are seeking enlightenment, whether or not they are aware of their true nature as Bodhisattvas. It also means that innumerable beings are helping us reach enlightenment. We are never alone in this practice.

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