If anyone keeps, reads, recites, expounds and copies even a gāthā of Myōhō Renge Kyō, and respects a copy of Myōhō Renge Kyō just as he respects me, and offers flowers, incense, necklaces, incense powder, incense applicable to the skin, incense to burn, canopies, banners, streamers, garments and music to it, or just joins his hands together respectfully towards it, Medicine-King, know this, he should be considered to have appeared in the world of men out of his compassion towards all living beings, although he already made offerings to ten billion Buddhas and fulfilled his great vow under those Buddhas in a previous existence.
Tao-sheng: Sun-Moon-Light Buddha’s Expounding Innumerable Teachings Sūtra
Tao-sheng Commentary on the Lotus Sutra, p176“Thereupon the last Sun-Moon-Light Buddha expounded a Sūtra of the Great Vehicle called the ‘Innumerable Teachings, the Dharma for Bodhisattvas, the Dharma Upheld by the Buddhas.’ “
This is cited now in order to corroborate that the present portents are identical with [those in the past].
Myōhō Renge Kyō Promise for Feb. 2, 2025
Expound Myōhō Renge Kyō to those
Who are not angry
But upright, gentle,
Compassionate
Towards all others,
And respectful to the Buddhas!
Tao-sheng: The Importance of the Eight Sons
Tao-sheng Commentary on the Lotus Sutra, p176He had eight sons born to him before he renounced the world.
The reason why the eight sons appear is twofold. First, to prove what Mañjuśrī says about what happened in the remote past, namely, that he was none other than the master of Torch Burner (Dīpaṃkara), [that is, Fine Luster (Varaprabha)], and that Torch Burner was in turn the master of Śākyamuni. As such, there cannot be anything false in what Mañjuśrī has said. Second, speaking in reverse, [it suggests that] one’s longevity [makes one] gradually open up one’s eyes.
Reciting the Lotus Sutra in Shindoku
Today I began my monthlong recitation of the Lotus Sutra in shindoku. In my morning service, I play the recording for the chapter found here on my phone and follow along in the Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Greater New England’s Myoho Renge Kyo Romanized.
For the 10 previous years, I recited a portion of the Lotus Sutra in the morning and then read aloud the same section of the sutra in English in the evening. That was my 32 Days of the Lotus Sutra practice. This year I decided to recite an entire chapter of the sutra in shindoku each day for the 28 days of February.
I will continue my 45-day cycle of reading aloud the Lotus Sutra in English in the evening.
Myōhō Renge Kyō Promise for Feb. 1, 2025
It is not difficult
To grasp the sky,
And wander about with it
From place to place.It is difficult
To copy and keep Myōhō Renge Kyō
Or cause others to copy Myōhō Renge Kyō
After my extinction.
Tao-sheng: 20,000 Buddhas
Tao-sheng Commentary on the Lotus Sutra, p176“After his extinction there appeared a Buddha also called Sun-Moon-Light. After his extinction there appeared another Buddha also called Sun-Moon-Light. In the same manner, seventy thousand Buddhas appeared in succession, all of them being called Sun-Moon-Light with the surname Bharadvaja.”
The purpose underlying the description of twenty thousand buddhas as witnesses for Śākyamuni Buddha is to describe the transformative teaching of the two vehicles, and thus to expound the beauty of the One Vehicle. Thus he must describe a wide variety of Buddhas. Although there are many [of these buddhas,] their path (tao) is in the end one.
Myōhō Renge Kyō Promise for Jan. 31, 2025
Myōhō Renge Kyō opens the gate of expedients and reveals the seal of the truth. The store of Myōhō Renge Kyō is sound and deep. No one can reach its core. Now I show Myōhō Renge Kyō to the Bodhisattvas in order to teach them and cause them to attain [Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi].
Tao-sheng: Right Teachings
Tao-sheng Commentary on the Lotus Sutra, p176He expounded the right teachings. His expounding of the right teachings was good at the beginning, good in the middle, and good at the end.
[The true Dharma] that is good at beginning refers to the voice hearers (Śrāvakas); good at middle refers to the pratyekabuddhas; and good at end refers to the bodhisattvas. Listed next are those who belong to the three vehicles, and that is followed by a description of the events involved. The three kinds of transformative teaching (hua) also were preached earlier; what was said there remains true in the present case, as well.
Myōhō Renge Kyō Promise for Jan. 30, 2025
“Mañjuśrī! It is difficult to hear even the title of Myōhō Renge Kyō [even if you try to do so, walking about] innumerable worlds. Needless to say, it is more difficult to see, keep, read and recite Myōhō Renge Kyō.