The Buddha, moreover, showed the ten supernatural powers in the “Divine Powers of the Buddha” chapter. These divine powers were far superior to the omens displayed in the “Introductory” and “Emergence of the Bodhisattvas from the Earth” chapters. In the case of the “Introductory” chapter, the rays of light emitted from the forehead of the … Continue reading ‘Divine Powers of the Buddha’ Omens
Now in my humble opinion, there are many differences between those scriptures preached by the Buddha during the first forty years or so and the Lotus Sūtra, which was preached during the last eight years. However, what scholars consider to be most important, with which I certainly agree, are the concepts of nijō-sabutsu (obtaining Buddhahood … Continue reading Nijō-Sabutsu and Kuon-Jitsujō
Now, the great omens of the “Divine Powers of the Buddha” chapter are excellent signs for the essence of the Lotus Sutra, the five Chinese characters of myō, hō, ren, ge, and kyō, to be spread in the Latter Age of Degeneration after 2,000 years of the Ages of the True and Semblance Dharmas following … Continue reading Great Omens of the “Divine Powers of the Buddha” Chapter
QUESTION: Do you have any scriptural passages proving that the Lotus Sūtra alone will remain even after other sūtras all disappear? ANSWER: In the tenth chapter on “The Teacher of the Dharma” of the Lotus Sūtra, Śākyamuni Buddha declared in order to spread the sūtra, “The sūtras I have preached number immeasurable thousands, ten thousands, … Continue reading Lotus-Nirvana Sūtras Will Not become Extinct for Immeasurable Centuries
[What Śākyamuni] preached during His life of fifty years is Mahāyāna (greater vehicle) as a teaching of salvation when compared to geten and gedō. Ever since His attainment of Buddhahood till the eve of His entering Nirvana, He preached only the truth. Considering the 80,000 teachings preached by the Buddha in various sūtras for fifty … Continue reading The True Words of Our Lord Śākyamuni Buddha
[T]he most important thing for non-Buddhist teachings is, like Confucianism, to prepare the way to Buddhism. This is why some non-Buddhists maintain that the Buddha will be born 1,000 years later, while others insist on 100 years later. It is said, therefore, in the Nirvana Sūtra that what is written in all the non-Buddhist scriptures … Continue reading Preparing the Way to Buddhism
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 – May 1, 2019
Having calmed down somewhat, the traveler stated: Though I am unable to understand you completely, I think I understand what you mean roughly. However, from Kyoto, the seat of the imperial court, to Kamakura, the capital of the shogunate, none of the eminent priests and able leaders of the Buddhist world has yet presented a … Continue reading Seeing the Buddhist Dharma Declining
You also stated in your letter that you have worshipped daily chanting the seven characters of the daimoku three times a day and have chanted, “Namu Ichijō Myōden” (Hail to the One-Vehicle Teaching of the Lotus Sutra!) 10,000 times but have discontinued these practices as well as recitation of the sūtra during menstruation. You would … Continue reading Practicing During Menstruation
Day 21 covers all of Chapter 16, The Duration of the Life of the Tathāgata. Having last month learned why Śākyamuni says ‘I shall pass away,’ we begin the Parable of the Skillful Physician and His Sick Children. “Good men! All the Buddhas, all the Tathāgatas, do the same as I do. [They expound their … Continue reading Day 21