Whether renunciant or layperson, the practitioner will not need a mentor, will not need stewards, and will not need to take vows in a ceremony because of the power of accepting, keeping faith with, reciting, and internalizing the Great Vehicle sutras, and because of All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva’s [Fugen] encouragement to engage in this practice. This is the core of the true Way of the buddhas in the ten directions. By means and reason of this Way, the practitioner will naturally attain the five attributes of an enlightened one: perfection in behavioral principles, perfection in concentration, perfection in wisdom, perfection in emancipation, and perfection in the perspective that pertains to emancipation. Buddha tathāgatas become so by following this Way; the promise of their buddhahood is obtained in the Great Vehicle sutras.
The Sutra Expounded by the Buddha on Practice of the Way Through Contemplation of the
Bodhisattva All-Embracing Goodness
BDK English Tripitaka
Accomplished my first full cycle – Morning Shindoku reading of the Lotus Sutra, afternoon BDK English Tripitaka’s Infinite Meanings Sutra followed by the BDK’s Sutra Expounded by the Buddha on Practice of the Way through Contemplation of the Bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness and finishing with English Lotus Sutra. I am really looking forward to doing this for another 18 days.
From the start I have planned eventually to start adding quotes from my reading but had not expected to start this soon. The quote above jumped out at me today, resonating with my solitary stay-cation retreat, without mentor or stewards or vows, relying only on faith in the Great Vehicle sutras and the encouragement of All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva [Fugen].
And when I wasn’t seated in front of my altar, I was at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church working with Rev. Kenjo Igarashi to add plywood to protect the windows of the chicken shed, so named because that is where we barbeque chicken twice a year. Earlier this year I replaced all of the plastic windows, hence the blue film, something Rev. Igarashi had wanted for years. Once I had those installed Rev. Igarashi was insistent that the windows should be protected during the 10 months of the year when the shed is unused. So there I was, painting and installing the eighth-inch plywood sheets. I consider my support of the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church a major part of my practice and a suitable activity during my stay-cation retreat.
