It is not allowed to explain the true meaning of the doctrine of “3,000 existences contained in one thought” even in the theoretical section of the Lotus Sūtra. Needless to say, it is not mentioned at all in the pre-Lotus sūtras. The doctrine stems from the passage describing the ten aspects of existence in the … Continue reading The True Meaning of 3,000 Existences Contained In One Thought
The Three Constituents of the World (San Seken) are:
Each of the constituents has the ten suchnesses, so one thousand suchnesses multiplied by the Three Constituents equal 3,000 realms.
In other words, the Ten Worlds are all present and within each world is the potential of all Ten Worlds. Those 100 worlds all contain the Ten Suchnesses. And those 1000 worlds and suchnesses are all Void, Temporary and the Middle Way, creating 3,000 conditions in each moment, all present, all connected and all related always.
Physician's Good MedicineTendai had examined the manifold views of reality, and found justification in each of them; and his ambition was to unify them, by looking at every particular existence as if it were an adequate representative of the whole cosmos (dharma-dhatu). His conception of reality is equivalent to seeing every thing sub specie aeternitatis, but his … Continue reading 3,000 Aspects
It has taken me a week to go through the hour-long recording of last week’s adult study class and the sermon that followed the service. While that does disappoint me, the purpose here is to make the information available. Even a week later. I have seen many diagrams of the concept of Ichinen Sanzen (this, … Continue reading The Logic of 3000 Realms and a Missionary Life
Day 13 covers all of Chapter 8, The Assurance of Future Buddhahood of the Five Hundred Disciples. Having last month considered the Buddha’s prediction for the twelve hundred Arhats, we consider in gāthās . Thereupon the World-Honored One, wishing to repeat what he had said, sang in gāthās: Kauṇḍinya Bhikṣu will see Innumerable Buddhas. After … Continue reading Day 13
Day 31 covers Chapter 27, King Wonderful-Adornment as the Previous Life of a Bodhisattva. Having last month considered the two sons’ efforts to show some wonders to their father, we consider the reaction of the father to the sons’ wonders. “Seeing [these wonders displayed by] the supernatural powers of his sons, the father had the … Continue reading Day 31
To see a Buddha is as difficult As to see an udumbara[-flower]. To avert a misfortune is also difficult. These verses are sung by two sons of a king in a story told by the Buddha in Chapter Twenty-Seven of the Lotus Sūtra. In the story, the boys have heard the Dharma from a previous … Continue reading Daily Dharma – July 3, 2023
When the sky is blue, the land is bright. In this way those who know the Lotus Sutra can see the reasons for occurrences in the world. For those who are incapable of understanding the truth of the “3000 existences contained in one thought,” Lord Śākyamuni Buddha with his great compassion, wraps this jewel with … Continue reading Daily Dharma – June 25, 2023
Day 31 covers Chapter 27, King Wonderful-Adornment as the Previous Life of a Bodhisattva. Having last month considered the wonders the two sons displayed to lead their father to seek the Buddha teaching, we consider the effect of the two son’s demonstration of supernatural powers. “Thereupon the two sons descended from the sky, came to … Continue reading Day 31