“Furthermore, Ajita! Those who hear of my longevity of which I told you, and understand the meaning of my words, will be able to obtain innumerable merits, which will help them attain the unsurpassed wisdom of the Tathāgata. Needless to say, those who hear Myōhō Renge Kyō, cause others to hear Myōhō Renge Kyō, keep Myōhō Renge Kyō, cause others to keep Myōhō Renge Kyō, copy Myōhō Renge Kyō, cause others to copy Myōhō Renge Kyō, or offer flowers, incense, necklaces, banners, streamers, canopies, perfumed oil, and lamps of butter oil to a copy of Myōhō Renge Kyō, will be able to obtain immeasurable merits. These merits will help them obtain the knowledge of the equality and differences of all things.
Category Archives: Promises
Myōhō Renge Kyō Promise for Feb. 4, 2025
Just as the sea is larger than the rivers, Myōhō Renge Kyō is more profound than any of the other sūtras expounded by the Tathāgatas.
The ‘Cloudy and Obscure’ Tale of a Past Life
Note: This is another in the monthly excerpts from “Tales of the Lotus Sutra.”
Buddhism in Practice, p437-438There was a certain monk–his name has been forgotten–who lived in a monastery in the eastern section of Qin commandery. [In residence at the monastery] was a young novice who could recite the Lotus Sūtra with extraordinary fluency, except for the fact that whenever he reached the two words, “cloudy and obscure” (ai-dai), in the “Medicinal Herbs” chapter, he would forget them no sooner than he was taught them. This must have happened well over a thousand times. Finally his master scolded him bitterly, saying, “You are able to learn to recite the entire sutra perfectly [from memory]. How is it that you can’t muster the concentration to memorize these two words?!”
That night the master dreamt of a Buddhist monk, who told him: “You should not blame this novice. In his previous life he lived in a village on the east side of this monastery, where he had the form of a laywoman. Basically she devoted herself to reciting the single scripture of the Lotus Sūtra. But at that time, silverfish had eaten away the two characters “cloudy and obscure” in the “Medicinal Herbs” chapter of the household copy of the Lotus. Thus the two characters were originally missing from the sūtra. [As a result], when in this present life the novice monk tries to learn the words anew, he cannot do it. The surname [of the family] is such and such, and this copy of the sūtra may still be found there. If you don’t believe my tale, you can go and verify it for yourself.”
The very next day the master went to the village and sought out the household. After introducing himself he said to the head of the family, “Do you have a special place for making offerings?” The man replied, “We do.” “What scriptures do you keep there?” he asked. To which the man replied, “We have a single copy of the Lotus Sūtra.” The master sent him to fetch it so that he might have a look. Sure enough, the two characters were missing from the “Medicinal Herbs” chapter. [The head of the house] went on to relate, “This is the scripture that the deceased spouse of our elder son kept devotedly while she was alive. Since she passed away it has been seventeen years now.”
As it turned out, the dates corresponded perfectly with the month and year of the novice’s gestation. No one knows where and when he died.
For comparison, see Priest Ezō of the Daigoji Temple
Myōhō Renge Kyō Promise for Feb. 3, 2025
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.
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!
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.
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].
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.
Myōhō Renge Kyō Promise for Jan. 29, 2025
Anyone who keeps Myōhō Renge Kyō should be considered
To have already built a monastery
Made of the cow-head candana,
installed with thirty-two beautiful halls,
Eight times as tall as the tala-tree,
Provided with delicious food and drink,
With wonderful garments and bedding,
With accommodations for one hundred thousand people,
With gardens, forests, and pools for bathing,
And with promenades and caves for the practice of dhyāna.
He should be considered lo have already offered
That monastery to me in my presence.
Myōhō Renge Kyō Promise for Jan. 28, 2025
Anyone who keeps Myōhō Renge Kyō
Will be able to expound
The meanings of the teachings,
And the names and words of Myōhō Renge Kyō.
Their eloquence will be as boundless
And as unhindered as the wind in the sky.