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Hosshin

Resolve

To leave us with no choice but to restore faith day by day, Nichiren Shōnin expounds his teachings as follows:

“Reflecting deeply on my past, I, Nichiren, studied Buddhism from childhood and began to ponder and wish as follows: People’s life spans are never, for a single moment, static and continue to change. If you look closely at the state of one’s dying moment, you will find that the breath once exhaled is never inhaled again. That is exactly like when dew on top of a leaf falls off to the ground. Our life ends regardless of wisdom or foolishness, old age or youth. Therefore, since we have such a transitory life, we must learn about it deeply, keeping in mind day after day that the end of life is just before us, and that our life is limited.

“Thinking about it in this way, you must come to realize that the most important thing upon death is the noble heart as a fundamental part of human beings. There is no other way to realize the existence of that noble heart and cultivate it than to follow the proper faith. Since the proper faith is precisely the faith in the Odaimoku, you should devote yourself to it without delay.

“Since the proper mental activity arises with the proper faith, true peace is achieved only when people who are engaged in such a mental activity collectively form a nation. At that time, those who live there will live at peace both in mind and body.”

Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō
Easy Readings of the Lotus Sutra

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Sange

Repentence

For deep reflection on everyday life: The causes of all troubles and sufferings in life all come from your misunderstanding. If you wish to notice your errors, you should correct your mind and see the truth in all matters. You must have proper belief to do so. If you deeply reflect upon your errors, even if they are errors which come from misunderstanding, and if you see the true appearance in things, it will be like when fog and dew disappear in the sunlight. You will eventually realize your error and certainly be forgiven.

Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō
Easy Readings of the Lotus Sutra

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Kie

Prayer to declare faith

In order to live a life of proper faith: Let us continue to chant the Odaimoku so that we will never forget our kind hearts of compassion towards all living beings and walk along the proper way, together with all of our companions.

We swear to devote ourselves to fostering, with love and care, the relationship of our faith in the Odaimoku, which has just been accorded to us, the rest of our life.

Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō
Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō
Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō
Easy Readings of the Lotus Sutra

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Phrases of Nichiren Daishōnin

  • You should quickly bring your mind to faith and follow the sole good of the True Vehicle. If the country does not decline, our safety is secured and we will be able keep our mind tranquil. (Risshō-ankoku-ron)
  • The treasures of the body are superior to treasures in a store house. The spiritual treasures are superior to the treasures of body. I advise you to accumulate spiritual treasures. (Sushun Tennō Gosho)
  • My head is the head of my father and mother. My legs are the legs of my father and mother. My ten fingers are the ten fingers of my father and mother. My mouth is the mouth of my father and mother. (Bōjikyōji)
  • Yesterday, it happened to others. Today, it happens to oneself. Flowers bear fruit. Likewise, a young bride will become a mother-in-law. Will you not neglect faith and chant Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō? (Jakunichi-bō Gosho)
  • Arrows fly with the bow’s power. Men’s acts are the results of women’s power. When we see smoke arising, we find fire. When we see men, we find women. (Toki-ama Gozan Gosho)
  • Mishaps come from our mouth and ruin us. Happiness comes from our mind and adorns us. Those who believe the Lotus Sutra necessarily gather happiness from afar. (Omosu-dono Nyōbō Gohenji)
  • Pray to the Lotus Sutra wishing for longevity such as that of a crane or a turtle, and for happiness as when the moon is waxing and the tide is rising. (Toki-dono-ama Sho)
  • A lamp glows when fed with oil. Grasses and trees grow thick when it rains. People will prosper without fail when they do good acts. (Ueno-dono Gohenji)
  • All living beings should respect three things: master, teacher and parents.
    (Kaimoku-shō)
  • Consider this in your deliberations: Because of the principle that life is impermanent, those who are born never fail to die. (Matsuno-dono Gohenji)
  • With Nichiren’s boundless compassion, Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō will spread beyond the ten thousand year period and into the boundless future. (Hō-onjō)
  • Strive to carry out the two ways of practice and learning. Without practice and learning, Buddhism will cease to exist. (Shohō-jissō-shō)
  • Disciples of the Buddha should not fail to feel grateful for the Four Favors received from parents, people, nation, and Buddhism and repay them. (Kaimoku-shō)
  • Even though no specific reason may exist, the occasion of our death is certain to happen. (Kyōdai-shō)
  • To study Buddhism, first of all we must know the time. (Senji-shō)
  • Hell exists in the mind of those who have contempt for their father and treat their mother like a fool. (Omosudono Nyōbō Gohenji)
  • You may have become ill because of the compassion of the Buddha. This illness may cause you to become aware of faith. (Myōshin-ni Gozen Gohenji)
  • Though parents bring up as many as ten children, children do not sustain their one mother. The Buddha says, parents are always mindful of their children, but children do not worry about their parents. (Gyōbu-saemon-no-jō Nyōbō Gohenji).
  • Some people recite the Lotus Sutra only with their mouths. They read the words of the sutra, but not the mind of the sutra. Even if they read the mind of the sutra, they read it without the experience of the sutra. (Tsuchi-no-rō Gosho)
  • When things go well, we should regard it as a miracle. When things go badly, we should regard it as a matter of course. (Shōnin-gonanji)
Easy Readings of the Lotus Sutra
Easy, Books

Easy Readings of the Lotus Sutra

easy-readings-coverFrom the NBIC Online Store
This prayer book is a handy new edition by Rev. Jodo Kiyose of Nichihonji Temple, published by Rev. Shukai Oikawa of Joenji Temple, designed to serve as an introduction to the liturgy of the Nichiren Order. Although it is impossible to replace a teacher who could explain the liturgy, this book will be helpful for those who may have been chanting the Japanese without a clear notion of its meaning as many of the important quotations of the liturgy have been extracted and broken down into simple components to acquaint the practitioner with its basic meaning.

Contents:

  1. Dojokan – Establishing the Place of Prayer
  2. Sanmon – Adoration of Gohonzon
  3. Seigon – Words of oath before reciting the Lotus Sutra
  4. Hobempon – Chapter 2: Expedients
  5. Juryohon – Chapter 16: The Duration of the Life of the Tathāgata
  6. Shodaigyo – The Practice of Odaimoku Chanting
  7. Shikyonanji – Chapter 11: Beholding the Stūpa of Treasures (Hōtōge)
  8. Iyogonshi – Chapter 21: The Supernatural Powers of the Tathāgatas
  9. Eko – Offering of Merits
  10. Hosshin – Resolve
  11. Sange – Repentence
  12. Kie – Prayer to declare faith
  13. Japanese Readings ‐ Shindoku for Hobenpon and Juryohon
  14. Phrases of Nichiren Daishonin ‐ Short snippets from Nichiren’s writings

Published: April 28th, 2014

Editor: Rev. KIYOSE Jōdō
Nichihon-ji Temple, 1820-1, Tako-machi, Katori-gun, Chiba-ken 289-2257

Publisher: Rev. OIKAWA Shokai
Jōen-ji Temple, 7-12-5, Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō 160-0023

174 pages, bound in traditional Japanese expandable accordion style

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Easy Readings of The Lotus Sutra is 174 pages, bound in traditional Japanese expandable accordion style

For the next 12 days, I’ll be publishing excerpts from Easy Readings of The Lotus Sutra, a fascinating little book that is both “easy” to read and informative. It certainly meets its stated objective: “Although it is impossible to replace a teacher who could explain the liturgy, this book will be helpful for those who may have been chanting the Japanese without a clear notion of its meaning.”

An excellent example of this is the English translation of the Ten Suchnesses from Chapter 2

This true state of all things must be viewed from the following 10 kinds of perspectives: “sō” is the outside appearance; “shō” is the nature hidden inside; “tai” is the combination of the two. These three factors are the fundamentals of existence. “Riki” is the inner power; “sa” is the outside effect; “in” is the direct cause; “en” is the indirect cause; “ka” is the result; “hō” is a new interrelationship with the surroundings suitable to its effect. The factors of “hon”, which encompasses “sō” , “shō” and “tai”, and “matsu”, which encompasses the rest, are the factors existing in all things and always complement one another. This is “tō” or equality.

After I add this material I will incorporate it into my “Where to Begin” content.