Twice each year at the Spring and Winter Equinox Nichiren Buddhists are asked to “strive to consciously reflect upon ourselves and our deeds. Have our words hurt anyone around us? Are our actions serving ourselves more than others? How can we be productive for the sake of society? Are our decisions creating a world of strife rather than peace? Does our lifestyle encroach upon the liberty or happiness of others? Are we aware of how our actions may adversely affect our environment – the soil, air, plants, insects, fish, birds, and animals? In sum, the basic question from a Buddhist point of view is whether or not we are following the right path.” (Higan brochure)
Specifically, Nichiren Buddhists are asked to reflect on the six pāramitās of Bodhisattva practice for three days before the equinox and for three days after.
This year for Higan week, which begins tomorrow, I’m going to post content taken from Chinese Master Hsuan Hua’s commentary on the Lotus Sutra and specifically from Chapter 1, Introductory.
The subject of Bodhisattva Practices and the Six Pāramitās comes up after the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the white curls between his eyebrows, and illumined all the corners of eighteen thousand worlds in the east and prompting Maitreya Bodhisattva to ask what this omen meant.
Hsuan Hua’s commentary includes on outline of the Lotus Sutra created by Ouyi Zhixu (1599-1655 CE).
Hsuan Hua Lotus Sutra Commentary, pv2, p260Asking About Cultivation Of Bodhisattva Practices In Other Lands
- Asking In General
- Asking About The Six Pāramitās In Sequence
- Jl. Question About Giving
- J2. Question About Upholding Precepts
- J3. Question About Patience
- J4. Question About Vigor
- J5. Question About Dhyāna
- J6. Question About Wisdom
- Asking About The Six Pāramitās Out Of Sequence
- Jl. Question About Dhyāna
- J2. Question About Vigor
- J3. Question About Upholding Precepts
- J4. Question About Patience
- J5. Question About Dhyāna
- J6. Question About Giving
- J7. Question About Wisdom
I’m going to post content from “Asking About The Six Pāramitās In Sequence” beginning tomorrow and “Asking About The Six Pāramitās Out Of Sequence” in September for the Fall Equinox.