[L]et me explain why we should discard provisional sūtras, putting faith in the true sūtras instead. QUESTION: What scriptural statements support your contention? ANSWER: Ten scriptural statements support my contention. First, it is stated in the Lotus Sūtra, chapter 3 on the “Parable”, “You should try to uphold only Mahayana sūtras … without putting faith … Continue reading Day 87 of 100
In the past there was a daimyō (feudal lord) named Ōhashi Tarō in northern Kyushu. Having incurred the rage of Lord Minamoto no Yoritomo, General of the Right, he was imprisoned in a dungeon in Yuigahama Beach at Kamakura for as long as 12 years. When leaving home under arrest, Ōhashi Tarō said to his … Continue reading Day 74 of 100
Day 7 concludes Chapter 3, A Parable, and begins Chapter 4, Understanding by Faith. Having last month completed Chapter 3, A Parable, we begin Chapter 4, Understanding by Faith. Thereupon the men living the life of wisdom: Subhūti, Mahā-Kātyāyana, Mahā-Kāśyapa, and Mahā-Maudgalyāyana felt strange because they heard the Dharma from the Buddha that they had … Continue reading Day 7
Day 2 completes Chapter 1, Introductory. Having last month learned about Sun-Moon-Light Buddha and his eight sons in gāthās, we consider the ray of light illumining 18,000 Buddha worlds in the east. This ray of light illumined Eighteen thousand Buddha-worlds in the east. It showed the region To which each living being was to go … Continue reading Day 2
In the first place, the “Wheel-turning Noble King” is the foremost among humans. When this king appears in the world, a huge tree called uḍumbara grows in the ocean, blossoms and bears fruits as an omen. There are four kinds of “Noble King” based on the different qualities of the wheel. When the “Golden-wheel King” … Continue reading Day 56 of 100
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 – April 20, 2018
Even after the death of the Buddha, however, the provisional sūtras may be preached first for those whose capacity is not for the Lotus Sūtra. Also, those who place emphasis on giving joy to the people should preach provisional sūtras first just as Śākyamuni Buddha did, while those who emphasize relieving the people of their … Continue reading Day 21 of 100
Hell of Regeneration The life span of these sinners in this hell is as follows. Suppose 50 years in the human world is equal to one day in the Four-king Heavens, the first heaven in the realm of desire, where heavenly beings’ life span is 500 years. Suppose 500 years in the Four-king Heavens correspond … Continue reading Day 20 of 100
This daimoku chanting has not yet been spread in the world. For 2,225 years after the extinction of the Buddha no one has chanted this yet. I, Nichiren, alone have been chanting “Namu Myōhōrengekyō, “Namu Myōhōrengekyō without saving my voice. As you know, the size of waves depends on the strength of the winds, the … Continue reading Day 16 of 100
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 – March 5, 2018