The medicine the Lotus Sutra offers us from the skilled physician, the Buddha, is that we are not who we seem to be. We truly are Buddhas who have awaken to an understanding that we have always been disciples of the Eternal Buddha and as such possess all the inner potential required to become equal to the Buddha.
Physician's Good MedicineQuotes
Nichiren’s Great Remorse
This was his great remorse, caused by the sense of his own sinfulness as well as by concern for his countrymen. His curse was not a product of mere self-righteousness nor of mere hatred of others, but an expression of his deep regret for his country and of his own ideal. There was always, for him, a link between the present danger and the future destiny, between the nation’s curse and his own expiation; and this connection was a result of his view of the inseparable tie uniting the individual to the community in which he lives.
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetA Test of Weakness and Faith
[P]racticing a teaching is not easy. It is hard work to struggle against your own ego and laziness. The human being’s mind can be tempted with laziness, and we lose faith easily when it should be firm. Laziness and ego are strong rivals against faith. In fact, it is harder to defeat our own mind than to defeat others. An example is a person who is determined to chant every morning. Somehow they manage to keep their determination for a couple of weeks. Then, one morning, they have a headache and think, “Today is special, I will rest.” Before long, the special days turn into regular days. Usually the battle between laziness and faith results in the laziness achieving “victory.” At that time we need to have firm faith to brush off the whisper of laziness, and should think: “This is a trial to test my weakness and my faith.”
Spring WritingsAwakening to the Living Reality of Our Own Lives
[Within the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha], the Buddha shows us the possibility that we can awaken to the truth about life. Shakyamuni Buddha provided us with a model of human wisdom and compassion. When we take refuge in him, we take refuge in the possibility of our own awakening. In different schools of Buddhism, the Buddha is interpreted as anything from an abstraction to an almost god-like celestial being, but in Nichiren Buddhism, we do not regard Shakyamuni Buddha as an other-worldly reality, abstract ideal, or long dead teacher. He is the awakening to the living reality of our own lives, which we realize when we take faith in Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
Lotus SeedsSeeing the Buddha
Although Shakyamuni passed away nearly 3,000 years ago, he still remains alive today through his words which have been written and passed down to us through the sutras. Therefore, if we wish to encounter the Buddha today, all we need to do is read, study and embrace the Lotus Sutra and its heart and essence, the Odaimoku of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. Nichiren Shonin explains this specific point in the Kanjin Honzon Sho: People can attain Buddhahood in two ways: by meeting the Buddha and listening to the Lotus Sutra, or by believing in the Sutra, even if they are unable to (physically) see the Buddha.”
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoOur Indestructible and Complete End to Suffering
We travel through existence after existence, through suffering after suffering going from one desire to another or from one way to trying to fulfill a fleeting desire to a different way, always to no avail.
One of the reasons we fail is because we have not clearly understood what it is that we are truly seeking. We think that if we change this one condition or another or if we were in a different situation we would be happier. We fail to understand that the condition of Buddhahood, the condition of our indestructible and complete end to suffering exists within us already.
Some situations aren’t meant for us to change, they are meant to change us.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Participating in Life
As the woman who was dying of cancer became aware, we do need to participate in our dying and equally so in our living. In some ways this in itself is the medicine as much as is the reality of our own Buddha potential. It isn’t enough to simply be aware of or to believe in our Enlightened nature. We must participate in it. We must act upon it.
Physician's Good MedicineUnited by the Adoration of the Lotus of Truth
Thus, all those who live in communion, united by the Adoration of the Lotus of Truth, are fellows of the universal and eternal fraternity. Within the communion, however, there are relations of parents and children, of master and disciples — the aspects of human life which remain through eternity, as in the case of the primeval Buddha and his disciples, and similarly in that of the prophet and his followers. Yet this relation does not mean mere subordination on the part of the disciples, but gratitude, and its fruit, the perpetuation of the truth transmitted and committed to them.
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetLearning and Practicing of the Dual Path
Practicing is regarded as the principal conduct in the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Although we might meet a wonderful teaching, we do not always practice the teaching in our lives. The teaching then becomes meaningless. For example, if you wish to become a good tennis player and you memorize all the rules and theories perfectly, this does not mean you will be able to play tennis. Why? Because you have not practiced on the court. Therefore, learning diligently first, and then practicing the teaching after having learnt the theory, are the conditions which give rise to enlightenment. This is called “learning and practicing of the dual path.”
Spring WritingsThe Three Treasures
Most people find that pursuing lofty goals such as achieving wisdom and living in accord with the Middle WaY are easier with some structure and community. These are provided by the Three Treasures in which all Buddhists take refuge: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
Lotus Seeds