There is a lot of messy stuff in our lives for which a lot of work is required to sort out. There is no instant on button for Buddhist practice, regardless of the path chosen. Just as there is a whole
growing cycle required for the lotus blossom to manifest, so it is in our lives. Simply put there is a lot of self-work in order to manifest the lotus blossom in our lives.
Quotes
The Impermanent Nature of Things
The Buddha taught that what we are today is a result of what we have thought and done in the past, and what we shall be in the future will be a result of what we think and do in the present.
Unfortunately, we trap ourselves in a vicious cycle of suffering by not recognizing the impermanent nature of things. Neither do we realize the ways in which we are setting in motion the various causes that will eventually determine the nature of our lives. Because of this ignorance, in our attempts to get those things that we mistakenly believe will bring permanent self-fulfillment, we act in ways that are far from beneficial, both for ourselves and for others. Most of us are familiar with the phrase “what goes around comes around,” but how many of us actually make sure that all of our words, actions, and thoughts are the kind that we would like to see mirrored back to us by the people, places, and events in our daily lives?
Lotus SeedsNamas
Namu or Namas assumes a variety of meanings and literally signifies devotion. Namas further signifies to return, restore or entrust one’s life, as well as to express one’s gratitude, a respectful greeting, reverence, to sincerely believe and to take refuge in.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoContinuous Action
The lives of the Buddha and Nichiren were all about continuous action. All of the wisdom, all of the enlightenment they attained was transformed from theory into valuable lessons by the actions of those teachers. If they had lived without action and only taught theory, then we would be sorely pressed to manifest enlightenment ourselves. They are our examples and the proof it can be done.
Physician's Good MedicineThe Unity of Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha
[T]he Buddhist conception of reality is the existence in which the universal nature of existence is realized in the enlightened mind which is the realization of the all-embracing fellowship. It rejects reality apart from this personal enlightenment; it rejects an enlightenment in a secluded self — the former being externalism and the latter transcendentalism. But both aspects of being embraced and “aufgehoben” in the realization of the universal Dhammata. In short, the true conception of reality is brought to light only in the unity of Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.
Nichiren, The Buddhist ProphetActions and Their Consequences
In general, the law of cause and effect explains how all phenomena appear and disappear as a result of actions and their consequences. Everything that exists, from people to planets to subatomic particles to states of mind, are the effects of previous causes and will in turn generate the causes that will bring about future effects. When we become aware of this process, we realize that nothing exists independently of its causes and conditions, and that nothing possesses any kind of permanent existence. Everything exists as a momentary and mutually supportive element in the dynamic process of cause and effect. This also means that when we try to grasp onto anything within this process, it invariably slips away and fails to provide us with the lasting satisfaction and security that we are seeking.
Lotus SeedsNourishing the Seed of Buddhahood
[T]he Lotus Sutra opens the seed of Buddhahood or potential enlightenment that each and everyone of us possess, and with the continued chanting of the Odaimoku, it gives that seed the nourishment it needs to sprout, grow and mature into a real living Buddha, transforming lives into that of an enlightened being, blessed with all the same wonderful and varied qualities, virtues and merits that Shakyamuni Buddha himself attained.
Odaimoku: The Significance Of Chanting Namu Myoho Renge KyoThe Door to Our Lives
When we begin to practice and study Buddhism, we begin to open the door to our lives; we open our door, our inner door. But whom do we open the door to? It could be said that we open the door to no one but ourselves.
It is similar to the opening of the door to the great stupa of Many Treasures, the opening of the door to the practice of Buddhism. We practice the Lotus Sutra so that we can purify our lands, so that we can be of one mind and one body focused on living in the present both fully and mindfully. We open our door to reveal the Many Treasures Buddha that resides within ourselves and we also invite the Eternal Buddha to manifest in our lives.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Listening to the Buddha and Responding
Oratio Divina is an intimate dialogue between ourselves and the Buddha. We listen to the Buddha as we read the Lotus Sutra. Our response is based upon what we hear, and what we hear may change over time or due to our present life condition. Based upon what we hear the Buddha say, we decide on which actions we will take. It is up to us to move the study and reading beyond mere theory or beyond simply the parable and choose the most appropriate actions to engage in. We listen to the Buddha. We respond by taking action.
Physician's Good MedicineThe Universal Bodhi and Particular Buddhas
The epithet “Tathagata” is an adequate expression of the relation between the universal Bodhi and particular Buddhas. Buddha’s personal life is a particular phenomenon, and the significance of his Buddhahood is lost, is a vacuity, when considered apart from the Truth he has attained and revealed to us. Yet the Truth (tatha) is a mere abstraction, a dead name, unless there appears a Tathagata in concrete human life. The true reality in the person of Buddha consists in the dignity of the Tathagata attained by a particular person, in virtue of the universal Bodhi which is the essential condition of his communion with the Buddhas of the past and of the future.
Nichiren, The Buddhist Prophet