The individual, the nation, the world, and the Kingdom of Buddha — these terms stand for different aspects of the one ideal. The Holy Catholic Church of Buddhism is to have the world, the whole cosmos, as its stage; while the cosmos is not to be conceived as a mere universe in space, but essentially exists in the heart of every true Buddhist. Buddha is the Father and Lord of the Kingdom, and his children should strive for the realization of the Kingdom both in their own lives and in the community of all beings.
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetQuotes
For a Spiritual World and a Peaceful Mind
As our desires develop into deep grasping, our troubles also develop into spiritual suffering. We need a spiritual teaching to bring spiritual peace, hope and guidance to our life. This teaching is called “religion.” For a spiritual world and a peaceful mind, Buddhism is the specialty, and the Lotus Sutra the specialist. This teaching makes an analysis of the poison of suffering, explains the cause of suffering, and prescribes a good medicine for us to make harmony in body, mind and nature. That is the teaching of “Enlightenment.”
Spring WritingsHaving Joy
As we begin to wander into the Lotus Sutra, I think the most important thing is to understand those things that in this moment enhance your practice, encourage you, and deepen your relationship with the Lotus Sutra. In all things I believe that joy should be at the root. While the Lotus Sutra may at times seem perplexing or impossible to understand I do think that joy is possible to establish. Having joy well up from within your life and manifest in actuality is very important. When you have joy then you will have greater praise, which leads to further joy. The message of joy and gratitude are as much at the heart of the Lotus Sutra, as is any complex doctrinal message.
Lecture on the Lotus SutraMiddle Way of the Middle Way
Both the Middle Way as practice and the Middle Way as insight are dependent on each other. By practicing the Middle Way, we attain the insight of the Middle Way, and through the insight of the Middle Way, we are able to live in accord with the practice of the Middle Way. Ultimately, the Middle Way is the unity of practice and insight.
Lotus SeedsThe Pure and Beautiful Flower of Enlightenment
All living beings have the potential for Buddhahood. All people possess that seed, as explained in the concept of Inga Guji [both cause and effect are mutually possessed]. So when we recite Namu Myoho Renge Kyo in front of the Mandala Gohonzon, the pure and beautiful flower of enlightenment contained within our lives blossoms, develops and flourishes.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoSculpting an Image of the Buddha
When we think of carving an image of the Buddha I suspect that generally we think in terms of taking some material and simply carving a Buddha. But if we think about this in terms of our lives and sculpting our day and lives we can see another meaning to this.
If we want ourselves to be like the Buddha, an image of the Buddha, we need to carve it out of our lives. Every day, slowly and carefully, chipping away at all the things in our lives that are keeping us from being Buddhas.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1The Six Difficult Things
The Six Difficult things are: 1) Expound this Sutra, 2) Copy and keep this Sutra, 3) Read this Sutra, 4) To keep this Sutra and expound to even one person, 5) To hear and receive this Sutra, and 6) Keep this Sutra after the death of the Buddha. In other words it is extremely difficult to keep, read, recite, copy, and teach the Lotus Sutra in this age so far removed from the historical Buddha. These things are more difficult than “putting the great earth on the nail of a toe and go up to the Heaven of Brahman.”
Physician's Good MedicineBehold, the Kingdom of God
‘Behold, the kingdom of God is within you!’ This was the creed of Nichiren also, witnessed by his life, confirmed by the Scripture, and supported by his metaphysical speculation. When he concentrated his thought on his own calling, he was in communion with the saints in the Lotus; when he expressed anxiety about his country, yet with confidence in its destiny, he was a prophet and an ideal patriot; when he reflected on his tranquil life among the mountains, he was almost a lyric poet, glorifying his surroundings by his religious vision; he was a scholastic philosopher when he interpreted the truths of existence and the nature of the religious community; and he was a mystic in his vision of the future realization of Buddhahood in himself and in the Kingdom of Buddha.
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetLotus Sutra Meaning in Your Life
[A]s we begin to study the Lotus Sutra – not just from a theoretical point but from a life embracing point – the critical thing is what creates meaning for you in your life. It may be at first the divisions are simply nice to know about, but have little relevance to your day-to-day practice. Eventually though you may come to feel a stronger personal connection to the sutra and wish to understand more deeply where our practice comes from and the reasons for Nichiren’s adoption of the object of veneration, or even things like why recite the two chapters we do over others in the sutra.
Lecture on the Lotus SutraEmerging from the Muddy Water
The lotus grows in muddy ponds and stagnant waters. It is often said that the dirtier the water, the more beautiful the flower. If we establish an analogy between this and everyday life, it illustrates that with pure Buddhist faith and practice, the problems and sufferings we experience every day are transformed into the pure and wonderful conditions of Buddhahood, in the same way a beautiful and pure lotus emerges from muddy water.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo