If study is not followed with prayer and prayer not followed by action then the study is merely an intellectual indulgence. If the only response to our study is to hold that information inside, keeping solely for one’s own benefit, then the message of the Lotus Sutra has not fully been realized. The Buddha says teach others, cause others to experience joy and benefit them. How is it possible to say one believes in the Lotus Sutra and then not be moved to action?
Physician's Good MedicineCategory Archives: Physicians Good Medicine
The Bodhisattvas from Underground
The Bodhisattvas who arose in Chapter 15, The Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Underground, did not go to the Buddha and say, “What will you give us?” They went to the Buddha and asked him how he was, if he was in good health, and if he was well enough to teach. They did not sit and wait for things to come to them. They vowed to spread the Lotus Sutra in this Saha world. They promised the Buddha that they would work tirelessly to teach others no matter the difficulty they faced.
Physician's Good MedicineDevotion to All of Life
The Lotus Sutra is more than a theoretical teaching to ponder. It is a teaching that repeatedly both demonstrates action as well as instructs each practitioner to engage in action. The formula that Nichiren gave us is the action of Namu based upon Myoho Renge Kyo. It isn’t simply a devotion to the Lotus Sutra. It is a devotion to all of life from the Lotus Sutra manifest in our individual actions.
Physician's Good MedicineThe Boiling Pot of Water
Study leads to prayer and prayer leads to action. This is what chanting the Odaimoku is all about. It is not enough to sit and chant. One must get up and do something. The water never boils unless placed in a pot and the pot placed above a fire. No matter how much I may know about the theory of boiling water, it is useless without action. Expressing joy and devotion to Myoho Renge Kyo by chanting needs to be followed with Myoho Renge Kyo being manifest in our devotion to saving, teaching, and bringing benefit to our entire environment.
Physician's Good MedicineContinuous Action
The lives of the Buddha and Nichiren were all about continuous action. All of the wisdom, all of the enlightenment they attained was transformed from theory into valuable lessons by the actions of those teachers. If they had lived without action and only taught theory, then we would be sorely pressed to manifest enlightenment ourselves. They are our examples and the proof it can be done.
Physician's Good MedicineListening to the Buddha and Responding
Oratio Divina is an intimate dialogue between ourselves and the Buddha. We listen to the Buddha as we read the Lotus Sutra. Our response is based upon what we hear, and what we hear may change over time or due to our present life condition. Based upon what we hear the Buddha say, we decide on which actions we will take. It is up to us to move the study and reading beyond mere theory or beyond simply the parable and choose the most appropriate actions to engage in. We listen to the Buddha. We respond by taking action.
Physician's Good MedicineBeing Your Own Physician
Being our own physician to our own lives and seeking the medicine to cure our sufferings and attain enlightenment, we use the prescription of oratio divina by listening to what the Buddha tells us, by considering that in relation to our lives in the moment and then taking appropriate action.
Physician's Good MedicineSelf-Work
Buddhism is fundamentally about making changes in one’s own life. At the core, it is about self, and self in service to others. It really isn’t possible for anyone to do someone else’s self-work.
Physician's Good MedicineConnecting to the Stories of the Lotus Sutra
Stories are a fascinating and interesting entry point into and from a person’s life. The Lotus Sutra on one level is a collection of stories that can seem baffling, even intimidating. Sometimes it may be helpful to simply relish the splendor of the story and allow it to connect with your life, your heart, your soul, rather than simply your brain.
Physician's Good MedicineThe Physician’s Good Medicine
Studying The Lotus Stura, Volume 2
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In December 2014 I was invited to Las Vegas by then Bishop Shokai Kanai of the Nichiren Order of North America. He suggested that I do a presentation on the Parable of the Skillful Physician and His Sick Children found in Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra. On many occasions I have been asked to share my experiences as a hospital chaplain. It seemed like a good opportunity to combine both and so I began writing this book. This book is the second volume in my series “Studying the Lotus Sutra”. In this book as in all the books of this series I take one portion of the Lotus Sutra and examine it more deeply. This book focuses on the parable found in Chapter XVI of the Lotus Sutra; The Physician and His Ill Children. As I write about this parable I am tying to do so in a way that brings the stories told over 2500 years ago into our contemporary lives. I hope that through this little effort of mine a door will open for you to have a greater sense of connection to the Sutra.