Category Archives: WONS

WONS

‘Mutually-Possessed Characteristics of the Ten Realms’

The teaching of the “3,000 in one thought” is based on the “mutually-possessed characteristics of the Ten Realms” meaning that each of the Ten Realms has the characteristics of the other nine. Ignorant of the Ten Realms, the Hossō and Sanron Sects established the Eight Realm theology, missing the realm of bodhisattvas and that of Buddhas. How can they know of the mutually-possessed characteristics of the Ten Realms? The Kusha, Jōjitsu, and Ritsu Sects, based on the Āgama sūtras, preach only Six Realms, ignoring the top four of the ten. They insist on the existence of the one and only Buddha in the worlds throughout the universe, denying the existence of His manifestation in each of these worlds. It is only natural that they leave out the concept of every living being having the Buddha-nature. They do not recognize the possession of the Buddha-nature by man. Nevertheless, the Ritsu and Jōjitsu Sects today speak of the existence of Buddhas in various worlds throughout the universe or of the Buddha-nature in man. It must have been that scholars after the death of the Buddha plagiarized the Mahāyāna doctrines to the advantage of their own schools.

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 35

d27b, WONS

‘The Most Superior of All Living Beings’

The ten parables preached in the “Medicine King Bodhisattva” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra seem to compare the relative merits of the Lotus Sūtra against all other Buddhist scriptures, though this is not the true intent of Śākyamuni Buddha. In actuality, what the Buddha is preaching is that when we compare the practicer of the Lotus Sūtra against the practicer of all other scriptures of Buddhism, the former is like the sun and moon while the latter is like stars and lights.

How do we know this? We know this because of the most important statement in the eighth parable: “Likewise, one who is able to uphold this sūtra is the most superior of all living beings.” These 22 Chinese characters are the foremost essence of the entire Lotus Sūtra. They are the eyes of all living beings. This scriptural statement means, “The practicer of the Lotus Sūtra is like the Sun Deity, Moon Deity, King of the Brahma Heaven, and a Buddha while the practicer of the Great Sun Buddha Sūtra is like a star, river and an ordinary being.”

Therefore, anyone in this world, male or female, laity or clergy, who upholds the Lotus Sūtra will be regarded by the Buddha to be the lord of all living beings and revered by the King of the Brahma Heaven and Indra. When I think of this, my joy is beyond expression.

Shijō Kingo-dono Nyōbō Gohenji, A Reply to the Wife of Lord Shijō Kingo, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Pages 120-121

d22b, d25b, d26b, WONS

Great Omens of the “Divine Powers of the Buddha” Chapter

Now, the great omens of the “Divine Powers of the Buddha” chapter are excellent signs for the essence of the Lotus Sutra, the five Chinese characters of myō, hō, ren, ge, and kyō, to be spread in the Latter Age of Degeneration after 2,000 years of the Ages of the True and Semblance Dharmas following the passing of the Buddha. Therefore, it is preached in the Lotus Sūtra, “Rejoicing at the good news of this Lotus Sūtra to be upheld after the passing of the Buddha, various Buddhas all demonstrated numerous supernatural powers (in the ‘Divine Powers of the Buddha’ chapter),” and “Those who uphold this sūtra in the evil world during the Latter Age of Degeneration earn the same merits gained by donating various offerings to the Buddha (in the ‘Variety of Merits’ chapter).”

Zuisō Gosho, Writing on Omens, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Page 123

WONS

Understanding the Supremacy of the Lotus Sūtra

For 2,200 years or so after the passing of the Buddha, no one had exhaustively expounded the Lotus Sūtra and spread its teaching far and wide as it is preached in it. It was not that T’ien-t’ai and Dengyō did not understand the supremacy of the sūtra. They knew it, but as the time was not right and the capacity of the people was not ripe, they did not fully explain it.

Those who become the disciples of Nichiren can understand it easily. The image of Śākyamuni Buddha revealed in the “Life Span of the Buddha” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra has never been made and enshrined as the Most Venerable One in any temples throughout the world. Why should it not appear now? A discussion of this would take too long, so allow me to omit it.

Hōkyō Hōjū Ji, The Dharma Is More Precious Than Treasures, Wooden Statues or Portraits, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 96

WONS

Faith and Understanding of Buddhist Teachings

Regarding the faith and understanding of Buddhist teachings, there are four types of people: (1) those who believe without understanding, (2) those who understand without having faith, (3) those with both faith and understanding, and (4) those who have neither faith nor understanding.

QUESTION: Do those who believe the teaching without understanding slander it?

ANSWER: The Lotus Sūtra, “A Parable,” preaches that even Śāriputra “was able to gain entrance (to Buddhahood) through faith alone.” The Nirvana Sūtra, fascicle 9, preaches to the same effect, “Upon hearing this sūtra (with faith) everything without exception will be the cause of enlightenment.” With faith one can attain Buddhahood even if one does not possess the knowledge to understand the dharma. How can such a person be a slanderer of the True Dharma?

Ken Hōbō-shō, A Clarificaton of Slandering the True Dharma, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 134-135.

WONS

3,000 Realms Hidden Between the Lines

Twenty important doctrines are in this Lotus Sūtra. Such sects as Kusha, Jōjitsu, Ritsu, Hossō, and Sanron do not know even their names while two sects of Kegon and Shingon plagiarized them to build their own fundamental structure. The “3,000 in one thought” doctrine, is hidden between the lines of the sixteenth chapter on “The Life Span of the Buddha” in the essential (hommon) section of the Lotus Sūtra. Although Nāgārjuna and Vasubandhu were aware of it. It is only our Grand Master T’ien-t’ai who embraced it.

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 34-35

WONS

Attainment of Buddhahood Immediately with the Present Body

Thank you very much for the offerings in memory of your late husband.

Have you had any contact with your husband, the late Lord Ueno since he passed away? I know you have not heard from him in Hades, and you cannot see him unless you have a dream or an illusion. Your late husband in the Pure Land of Mt. Sacred Eagle must be looking at you day and night, but you and your children, who have only human eyes, cannot see him. Nevertheless, you must believe that you will meet him someday in the Pure Land of Mt. Sacred Eagle. During your numerous lives in the past, you have married so many times. However, your latest marriage is the most valuable because due to the advice of your late husband, you became a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra. You must worship him as a Buddha. When your husband was alive, he was in a state of Buddhahood. Now he is dead, and he is still in a state of Buddhahood. A person able to uphold the Lotus Sūtra is a Buddha, whether he is dead or alive. This is the “attainment of Buddhahood immediately with the present body,” which is one of the most important teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha says in the Lotus Sūtra, chapter 11: “If anyone can uphold this teaching, then he upholds the Buddha’s body.”

Ueno-dono Goke-ama Go-henji, A Response to the Nun, Widow of Lord Ueno, Nyonin Gosho, Letters Addressed to Female Followers, Page 44-46

WONS

The Merits of Chanting Only the Daimoku

QUESTION: What are the merits of chanting only the daimoku?

ANSWER: Śākyamuni Buddha appeared in this world to expound the Lotus Sūtra, but He kept the sūtra’s name in secrecy during the first forty years or so of preaching. From the age of about 30 to 70 or so, the Buddha solely expounded the expedient teachings to prepare the way for preaching the Lotus Sūtra. At the age of 72, the Buddha for the first time called for the title of the Lotus Sūtra. Thus, it is incomparably superior to the titles of other sūtras. Moreover, the two Chinese characters of myō and hō (Wonderful Dharma) in the title of the Lotus Sūtra are equipped with the “3,000 existences contained in one thought” doctrine and the “attainment of Buddhahood by Śākyamuni Buddha in the eternal past” doctrine, the essence of the Lotus Sūtra revealed in the “Expedients” chapter and the “Life Span of the Buddha” chapter respectively.

Shō Hokke Daimoku-shō, Treastise on Chanting the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 19-20

d15b, d16b, WONS

Lotus-Nirvana Sūtras Will Not become Extinct for Immeasurable Centuries

QUESTION: Do you have any scriptural passages proving that the Lotus Sūtra alone will remain even after other sūtras all disappear?

ANSWER: In the tenth chapter on “The Teacher of the Dharma” of the Lotus Sūtra, Śākyamuni Buddha declared in order to spread the sūtra, “The sūtras I have preached number immeasurable thousands, ten thousands, and hundred millions. Of the sūtras I have preached, am now preaching, and will preach, this Lotus Sūtra is the most difficult to believe and to understand ” It means that of all the sūtras which the Buddha has preached, is now preaching, and will preach during 50 years of His lifetime, the Lotus Sūtra is the supreme sūtra. Of the 80,000 holy teachings, it was preached especially to be retained for people in the future.

Therefore, in the following chapter on “The Appearance of the Stupa of Treasures,” the Buddha of Many Treasures emerged from the great earth, and Buddhas in manifestation from the worlds all over the universe gathered. Through these Buddhas in manifestation as His messengers, Śākyamuni Buddha made this declaration to bodhisattvas, śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha, heavenly beings, human beings, and eight kinds of supernatural beings who filled the innumerable (400 trillion nayuta) worlds in eight directions:

“The purpose of the Buddha of Many Treasures to emerge and gathering of Buddhas in manifestation all over the universe is solely in order for the Lotus Sūtra to last forever. Each of you should vow that you will certainly spread this Lotus Sūtra in the future worlds of five defilements after the sūtras which have been preached, are being preached, and will be preached, will have all disappeared and it will be difficult to believe in the True Dharma.”

Then 20,000 bodhisattvas and 80 trillion nayuta of bodhisattvas each made a vow in the 13th chapter on “The Encouragement for Upholding This Sūtra”, “We will not spare even our lives, but treasure the Unsurpassed Way.” Bodhisattvas emerged from the great earth, as numerous as dust particles of the entire world, as well as such bodhisattvas as Mañjuśrī and all also vowed in the 22nd chapter on the “Transmission,” “After the death of the Buddha … we will widely spread this sūtra.” After that, in the 23rd chapter on “The Previous Life of the Medicine King Bodhisattva” the Buddha used ten similes in order to explain the superiority of the Lotus Sūtra over other sūtras. In the first simile the pre-Lotus sūtras are likened to river-water and the Lotus Sūtra, to a great ocean. Just as ocean water will not decrease even when river-water dries up in a severe drought, the Lotus Sūtra will remain unchanged even when the pre-Lotus sūtras with four tastes all disappear in the Latter Age of defilement and corruption without shame. Having preached this, the Buddha clearly expressed His true intent as follows, “After I have entered Nirvana, during the last five-hundred-year period you must spread this sūtra widely throughout the world lest it should be lost.”

Contemplating the meaning of this passage, I believe that the character “after” following “after I have entered Nirvana” is meant to be “after the extinction of those sūtras preached in forty years or so.” It is, therefore, stated in the Nirvana Sūtra, the postscript of the Lotus Sūtra:

“I shall entrust the propagation of this supreme dharma to bodhisattvas, who are skillful in debate. Such a dharma will be able to last forever, continue to prosper for incalculable generations, profiting and pacifying the people. ”

According to these scriptural passages the Lotus-Nirvana Sūtras will not become extinct for immeasurable centuries.

Shugo Kokka-ron, Treatise on Protecting the Nation, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Pages 25-27

WONS

Revealing the Truth

Śākyamuni Buddha declared that, although the scriptures preached during the first forty years or so are as numerous as sands of the Ganges River, they did not reveal the truth, which would be explained in the Lotus Sūtra during the following eight years. At the moment the Buddha of Many Treasures emerged from the earth and attested it all to the truth. Then various Buddhas in manifestation (funjin) came crowding together from various worlds in the universe attesting it to be true and rejoicing by touching the Brahma Heaven with their long, wide tongues. The meaning of these words in the Lotus Sūtra is shiningly clear—brighter than the sun in the blue sky and the full moon at midnight. Look up and put your faith in it. Prostrate yourself before it and think hard about it.

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 34