Grand Master T’ien-t’ai interprets the five Chinese characters of myō, hō, ren, ge, and kyō in his Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra, 10 fascicles. The first fascicle of this Profound Meaning roughly explains the general meaning of the five characters while the six fascicles from the second to the seventh fascicles explain in detail … Continue reading Interprets the Five Chinese Characters of Myō, Hō, Ren, Ge, and Kyō→
The teaching of the “3,000 in one thought” is based on the “mutually-possessed characteristics of the Ten Realms” meaning that each of the Ten Realms has the characteristics of the other nine. Ignorant of the Ten Realms, the Hossō and Sanron Sects established the Eight Realm theology, missing the realm of bodhisattvas and that of … Continue reading ‘Mutually-Possessed Characteristics of the Ten Realms’→
QUESTION: What are the merits of chanting only the daimoku? ANSWER: Śākyamuni Buddha appeared in this world to expound the Lotus Sūtra, but He kept the sūtra’s name in secrecy during the first forty years or so of preaching. From the age of about 30 to 70 or so, the Buddha solely expounded the expedient … Continue reading The Merits of Chanting Only the Daimoku→
QUESTION: What should a believer of the Lotus Sūtra regard as the Honzon (the Most Venerable One)? How should one perform the Buddhist rites and practice daily training? ANSWER: First of all, the Honzon could be eight fascicles, one fascicle, one chapter or the title alone of the Lotus Sūtra. This is preached in the … Continue reading Recommended Daily Practice→
Among the many disciples of Śākyamuni Buddha there are ten representative ones known as the “ten great disciples.” Venerable Maudgalyāyana among them was foremost in his supernatural power. He traveled around the entire world preaching without losing even a single strand of his hair. How could he accomplish such a feat? It is said that … Continue reading Distance Traveled Show Depth of Aspiration→
Day 19 concludes Chapter 14, Peaceful Practices, and begins Chapter 15, The Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Underground. Having last month considered at the start of Chapter 15 the question posed by Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas, more than eight times the number of the sands of the River Ganges, who had come from the other worlds, we greet the … Continue reading Day 19→
If those words of the sūtra prove to be empty, Venerable Śāriputra will not be Flower Light Buddha, as stated in the Lotus Sūtra. Likewise, Venerable Kāśyapa will not be Light Buddha, Venerable Maudgalyāyana will not be Tamalapatra-candana Fragrance Buddha, Ānanda will not be Mountain Sea Wisdom Supernatural Power King Buddha, Bhikṣunī Mahā-Prajāpatī will not … Continue reading Could Lotus Sūtra Words Prove To Be Empty?→
Day 7 concludes Chapter 3, A Parable, and begins Chapter 4, Understanding by Faith. Having last month considered the fate of those who scowl at this sūtra, we conclude the listing of punishments for slandering the Lotus Sūtra After that they will be reborn In the world of animals. Some of them will become dogs … Continue reading Day 7→
The third chapter of the Lotus Sūtra, called “A Parable,” states that this triple world is the Buddha’s world and all the people living in it are His children. We, ignorant people, full of evil passions, can be as meritorious as Śākyamuni Buddha because He bestows upon us all His merit. The Sūtra’s second chapter, … Continue reading ‘All My Children’→
What we should chant all the time as the practice of the perfect teaching is “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō,” and what we should keep in mind is the way of meditation based on the truth of “3,000 existences contained in one thought.” Only wise men practice both chanting “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō” and meditating on … Continue reading The Practice Of The Perfect Teaching→
