In the Lotus Sutra many teachings emerge, but none has a deeper impact on our faith than the teaching that this world of suffering is indeed the Buddha’s Pure Land. Nichiren explains in his Treatise on Protecting the Nation: “QUESTION: Which “Pure Land” should practicers of the Lotus Sūtra pray to be reborn in? “ANSWER: … Continue reading 800 Years: Recognizing This Pure Land
Day 12 concludes Chapter 7, The Parable of the Magic City, and completes the Third Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma. Having last month considered the Brahman-heavenly-kings of the five hundred billion worlds in Zenith asking the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma, we consider the reaction … Continue reading Day 12
As Column B indicates, we merge with the Odaimoku. It is “Namu” or devotion. Then the Odaimoku merges with us. It is Jinen Jōyo, or transferring naturally. It is not awakening to Ichinen Sanzen with one’s own wisdom, but the Buddha’s Ichinen Sanzen is transferred naturally by one’s faith of Namu, devoting oneself to the … Continue reading 800 Years: Transferred Naturally By One’s Faith of Namu
There are two ways of meditating on the doctrine of “3,000 existences contained in one thought.” One is the “theoretical” way, and the other is the “actual” way. Grand Masters T’ien-t’ai and Dengyō practiced the former. I, Nichiren, now practice the latter. As my method of practicing meditation is superior, difficulties befalling me are harder … Continue reading 800 Years: Have an Unwavering Faith
In the Annotations on the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sūtra, Miao-lê writes: “The single moment of understanding by faith is foremost of the practices in the essential section.” The first of the four depths of faith in the time when the sūtra was taught is the single moment of understanding by faith and … Continue reading 800 Years: The Single Moment of Faith
The reason why those who had received the seed of Buddhahood in the eternal past have been transmigrating the six realms (lower states of existence) ever since for as long as “500 dust-particle kalpa” without attaining Buddhahood, and those who had heard the Lotus Sūtra at the time of the Great Universal Wisdom Buddha have … Continue reading 800 Years: Lost in the Six Realms
The principle point of Nikkyō Niwano’s discussion of Pūrṇa and his example in Chapter 8 is the Principle of Half a Step – leading others but keeping only a half step ahead. The first time through the book I added this quote explaining the idea. Nikkyō Niwano goes on to explain on page 126: This … Continue reading Lesson 11
In Buddhism for Today, Nikkyō Niwano uses Chapter 7 of the Lotus Sutra to discuss several aspects of Buddhism and eventually introduce the theory of Three Thousand Realms in a Single Thought Moment. The first point I wish to single out is his discussion of the 12-linked Chain of Causation. In short, the Law of … Continue reading Lesson 10
Before Nichiren Shonin, Ichinen Sanzen was a theory that Buddhist practitioners attempted to understand through meditation. Nichiren Shonin, however, taught that Ichinen Sanzen could be realized through faith in the Odaimoku. At the very end of the Kanjin Honzon-sho, he wrote: For those who are incapable of understanding the truth of the “3,000 worlds contained … Continue reading 800 Years: Ichinen Sanzen and Faith
This page contains essays I’ve written during a 34-week Rissho Kosei-kai in North America (RKINA) advanced course on the Threefold Lotus Sutra, as interpreted through the writing of Rissho Kosei-kai founder Nikkyo Niwano. The class was taught by Rev. Takashi Yoshizawa, COO and minister of RKINA Online Dharma Center. Below are my weekly observations. These … Continue reading RKINA 201