A saying ascribed to Prince Shōtoku, the founder of Japanese civilization, compares the three religious and moral systems found in Japan to the root, the stem and branches, and the flowers and fruits of a tree. Shinto is the root embedded in the soil of the people’s character and national traditions; Confucianism is seen in the stem and branches of legal institutions, ethical codes, and educational systems; Buddhism made the flowers of religious sentiment bloom and gave the fruits of spiritual life.
History of Japanese ReligionQuotes
The True Focus of Devotion
Nichiren felt that clarifying what should be the true focus of devotion for Buddhists was of great importance, because it reveals the nature of our aspirations and determines the focus of our concentration and energy. To this end, Nichiren taught that the proper focus of devotion is the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha in the act of transferring the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sutra to all sentient beings during the ongoing Ceremony in the Air described in the sutra itself.
Lotus World: An Illustrated Guide to the Gohonzon‘A Wonderful Dispensation of Nature’
“Ho” generally means a “rule” or “precept” today. Originally, “Ho” came from the Sanskrit word “Dharma,” which means “holding” and “law”, but when used in a Buddhist context it has a unique meaning. It means “a wonderful dispensation of nature” and “permanent truths” or “Universal Law,” and also means the Buddha’s teaching. This is because of the Buddha’s enlightenment 2,500 years ago. His achievement was to fully understand the “Universal Law.” So, “Ho” or “Dharma” means both “Universal Law” and the Buddha’s teachings. The essence of the “Universal Law” is expounded by the Buddha in the Lotus Sutra.
Spring WritingsThe Teachings of Nirvana
In the Parable of the Magic City, the Buddha continues with his message explaining that all he had taught before the Lotus Sutra was only designed to get folks to the place where they would be able to understand and follow the Lotus Sutra. Because the Lotus Sutra is being taught the other teachings are not invaluable, nor are they to be discarded.
The teachings of Nirvana are not the final objective of Buddhist practice; it can be compared to the magic city the guide conjured in the Parable of the Magic City. If the Buddha had not taught Nirvana and instead opened his teaching career with the Lotus Sutra then people would have thought it was impossible and not have made the effort. The Buddha knew the road to the enlightenment equal to all Buddhas is a long and difficult path and he knew that the people of his time, his disciples, would not be able to complete the journey if he had started with that as the objective. As it is, even in their own lifetime his disciples could not attain enlightenment, they are only able to attain this after several lifetimes and only in places other than this Saha World.
Lecture on the Lotus SutraThe Lesson of Bodhisattva Never Despise
Because all human beings have the potential to become Buddhas – their lives contain the world of Buddhahood because of ichinen sansen – we should treat all other people was we wish to be treated ourselves. We should keep in mind the lesson of Bodhisattva Never Despise in Chapter 20 of the Lotus Sutra, who told everyone that he met that he respected them because they would become Buddhas one day.
Awakening to the LotusA Common-Sense Religion
A common-sense religion, Buddhism is concerned first not with abstracts beyond human ken but with the world of actual experience and with enabling human beings to live well in it. To this end the Buddha presented the teachings of the seals of the Law, dependent origination, and the Four Noble Truths.
Basic Buddhist ConceptsEqual to the Whole Lotus Sutra
[T]he Lotus Sutra was expounded in accordance with the Buddha’s true heart and intention. In Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra is says:
“All the teachings of the Tathāgata, all the unhindered, supernatural powers of the Tathāgata, all the treasury of the hidden core of the Tathāgata, and all the profound achievements of the Tathāgata are revealed and expounded explicitly in this sutra.” (Murano, p.294)
Thus, the Lotus Sutra is equal to the Buddha himself.
The Buddha is also included in the five characters of Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo, which is the Chinese title of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren Shōnin said:
“A name has virtue representing its body.” (Jissh ō-shō, WNS2, p.4).
Therefore, the five [Chinese] characters of the Odaimoku are equal to the whole Lotus Sutra.
Buddha Seed: Understanding the OdaimokuThe Mission of the Sect of Nichiren
The first and greatest mission of Sakyamuni in this world is to help the multitude to unfold and develop their Buddha-intellect, and cleanse and purify their nature. When they are once able to unfold this Buddha-intellect of theirs, they will perceive the real nature of this world of evils, that is, the glory of that eternal reality which underlies the world of outward sense. Hence, to proclaim the identity of the evil or phenomenal world with the glorious underlying reality, or noumenon; to point out the way to Buddhahood; to open the path of salvation; above all, to convince the people that one and all of them may become Buddhas, here and now. This is the mission of the sect of Nichiren.
Doctrines of Nichiren (1893)Slowly and Deliberately
When we really take the time to engage our whole life into our practice, a quality practice, we truly benefit more than if we approach our practice from a point of accumulating quantity. This also has a spillover effect into all areas of our life. Give it a try; go slowly and deliberately.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Possible Joy
Illness is not just the sicknesses that lead us to medical practitioners. It is also the many illnesses that rob us of the joy that is possible in each of our lives.
Physician's Good Medicine