When I think about the difference between the actions of the original disciples of the Buddha who approached the Buddha asking for a prediction of their future enlightenment, and the actions of the Bodhisattvas from beneath the ground who approached the Buddha and only asked about the health of the Buddha, I am struck by the contrast. As Bodhisattvas practicing the Lotus Sutra we assume many different personalities. The variety among us is endless. There are also countless others who are not practicing the Lotus Sutra who have many different personalities as well and require our examples to inspire them to practice the Lotus Sutra.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Quotes
Seeking Enlightenment
Enlightenment is the ongoing engagement of seeking enlightenment. When we no longer engage ourselves in the activity of being enlightened, when we no longer seek enlightenment, then we are, in fact, no longer enlightened and have left the path. It may not look like regressing, especially at first, but the spiritual light dims, it becomes clouded and corrupted. Enlightenment becomes a disappointment but only because there is no longer enlightenment present. Complacency and enlightenment cannot coexist within the same spirit.
Physician's Good MedicineInnumerable Aeons of Work
Since I have attained Buddhahood, … I have constantly been preaching truths, And helping innumerable beings to maturity, Leading them in the Way of Buddhas; Thus, innumerable aeons have passed in this work. (Chapter XVI).
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetA Spiritual Anchor
The faith of religion is based on the awe of religious mystery, and a reverence for the greatness of the founder’s teaching. Everyone can be honest and have a pure mind before the Buddha, just like a child, by opening their minds and allowing the teachings to become a spiritual anchor.
Spring WritingsFour Bodhisattva Vows
A bodhisattva is a person who has reached a high level of spiritual maturity and has realized that his or her awakening depends upon the awakening of others. Seeing the suffering of others, a bodhisattva works to assist them to free themselves from suffering and then attain awakening. This intention is expressed in the “Four Bodhisattva Vows.” These vows are a part of the Nichiren Shu daily practice.
Sentient beings are innumerable.
I vow to save them all.
Our defilements are inexhaustible.
I vow to quench them all.
The Buddha’s teachings are immeasurable.
I vow to know them all.
The Way of the Buddha is unexcelled.
I vow to attain the Path Sublime.
The Four Principles of Learning
The Nirvana Sutra was the last lesson taught by Sakyamuni just before his death; and it was this lesson that Rencho had accepted as part of the “Treasured Gem” which he had received through his vow to Akasagarbha (Kokuzo Bosatsu), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. The four principles of learning which the sutra established were:
- Rely on the law (The Dharma), and not on any person;
- Follow only the teachings of that sutra which is regarded as complete and final;
- Follow meanings, not words;
- Follow wisdom, not biased thinking.
With these guidelines strong in his mind, Rencho began the final steps of his studies in fulfillment of the vow he had made to Akasagarbha. He would read every Buddhist text ever brought to Japan, the writings of every saint, and the commentaries of every great thinker; he would master the teachings of all ten Japanese Buddhist Sects; he would draw the truth from them in order to discover the true meaning of Buddhism and the one Sutra which revealed that meaning.
Nichiren, Leader of Buddhist Reformation in JapanExperiencing Enlightenment
As we use our entire body to chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, the sound of the Odaimoku permeates our entire being and the environment around us. We use our voice to chant the Odaimoku and our lips, mouth and voice become enlightened. We maintain our hands in Gassho (prayer form) as we chant, the words of the Buddha lightly brush across our hands, thus our hands become enlightened. As we chant the Odaimoku, our ears hear the enlightened words of the Buddha and our ears, heart and mind become enlightened. This sound enters and then resonates throughout our entire body and every cell within our body becomes enlightened. This process lasts for the entire time we sit in front of the Mandala Gohonzon and chant the Odaimoku. It is because, as we just explained, our life is able to come into direct connect with the enlightened life of the Eternal Buddha at that time. When we finish, we then return to being the common mortals we all are. However, thanks to the teachings left us by Nichiren Shonin, we are able to experience this enlightenment, even for a short while, every time we say Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoCultivating Childlike Eagerness
One of attitudes toward our practice that Bodhisattvas try to cultivate is childlike. That is with an open-eyed pure eagerness to embrace Buddhism in our lives without all the filters and conditions that we impose upon things as we age. If we think of a puppy or a young child, someone who is eagerly and openly enjoying every experience then we can really begin to get to the depths of having the sutra expounded to ourselves.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Telling Your Story
People have approached me on occasion, saying they feel incapable of teaching people about Buddhism or about the Lotus Sutra. Really all it takes is to learn to tell your story. It doesn’t need to be complex. It doesn’t need to be fancy. It simply needs to be your story as a person who practices the Lotus Sutra. You might be a visual person so your story might not even contain words. It might be pictures. It can be anything as long as your story is in there somewhere. Your story will connect with others in ways technical explanations may not.
Physician's Good MedicineThe Link Between the Past and Future
The link between the past and future is Nichiren, who represents in this country at this moment the solemn pledge of salvation, and is commissioned to work in the days of degeneration. Thus his person is the key to the efficacious working of the everlasting Truth, which has its origin in eternity and is destined to prevail forever in the future. This was Nichiren’s conviction about his person and his mission. In order to open the eyes of all fellow-beings to this, it was necessary to bring them to the same enlightenment concerning themselves. For this purpose, each must, first of all, know the true relation existing between himself and the eternal Buddhahood, which is represented, preeminently, by the Lord Sakya, and is to be realized in one’s own self. This metaphysical relation between the Master and the disciples, between the cosmos and the individual, is the very foundation of all religion and ethics. Open the eyes to this cardinal relation, then all enlightenment will naturally follow.
Nichiren, The Buddhist Prophet