The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (pgs 221-223)
The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (pgs 221-223)
All the Twenty-eight Chapters of the Lotus Sutra Are Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
[Speaking of the Sutra as a whole]
Words and Phrases, volume ten says, “The sutra as a whole is summed up in these four phrases.* These four represent the essence of the sutra. The Buddha hands it on to others.”
(*”These four phrases” refers to the following four phrases (indicated by the numbers) in the passage from chapter twenty-one, “Supernatural Powers,” which reads, “To put it briefly, (1) all the doctrines possessed by the Thus Come One [the principal of name], (2) all the freely exercised supernatural powers of the Thus Come One [the principle of function], (3) the storehouse of all the secret essentials of the Thus Come One [the principal of essence], (4) all the most profound matters of the Thus Come One [the principal of quality]—all these are proclaimed, revealed, and clearly expounded in this sutra.”)
The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: “The sutra as a whole” refers to the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra, the essential teaching and the theoretical teaching. “These four phrases” refers to the four principals of name, function, essence, and quality. “The essence of the sutra” refers to the five characters of the daimoku. “Hand it on to others” means handing it on to Bodhisattva Superior Practices. “It’ refers to Myoho-renge-kyo.
This passage of the commentary is perfectly clear. Now when Nichiren and his followers propagate Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, this is the principal of essence or heart. The twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra are the principal of function. The recitation of [any of] the twenty-eight chapters is a supplementary practice, while the recitation of the daimoku is the main practice. The supplementary practice is included within the main practice.
Regarding the Immeasurable Meanings Sutra
The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra serves as an introduction to the Wonderful Law. Therefore all of the Ten Worlds may be regarded as an introduction to Myoho-renge-kyo.
1. Introduction
The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: “If one gives careful consideration to the four opening characters of the chapter that represent “This is what I heard,” then one can easily understand all the immeasurable meanings of the entire sutra. What is “heard” is the wonderful truth of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds and of the inclusion of the three thousand realms [in a single moment of life]. Because that which is heard is Myoho-renge-kyo, it means that in the Dharma-realm of the Wonderful Law the ten worlds are mutually possessed, and that the three thousand realms are clean and pure.
The four characters permeate the entire sutra from beginning to end. The meaning behind each and every word and phrase of the twenty-eight chapters of the sutra refers to the hearing of this doctrine as it applies to one’s own self, and this is summed up in the words “This is what I heard.”
This thing that is heard is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Therefore the sutra says that all achieve the Buddha way (chapter one). The two words “all achieve” refer to all the Ten Worlds and three thousand realms, because “all achieve” means that all beings attain [the Buddha Way through] the Wonderful Law. Again, the word “Buddha” refers to the single mind of the individual, to the various minds of the Ten Worlds and three thousand realms. The word “way” indicates something that allows one to pass through, and hence it refers to the [Buddha] way that these various minds of the Ten Worlds pass through. When this happens, then the state characterized as “all achieve the Buddha way” is manifested. The Law underlying the words “all achieve the Buddha way” is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
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The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (pgs 221-223)
All the Twenty-eight Chapters of the Lotus Sutra Are Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
[Speaking of the Sutra as a whole]
Words and Phrases, volume ten says, “The sutra as a whole is summed up in these four phrases.* These four represent the essence of the sutra. The Buddha hands it on to others.”
(*”These four phrases” refers to the following four phrases (indicated by the numbers) in the passage from chapter twenty-one, “Supernatural Powers,” which reads, “To put it briefly, (1) all the doctrines possessed by the Thus Come One [the principal of name], (2) all the freely exercised supernatural powers of the Thus Come One [the principle of function], (3) the storehouse of all the secret essentials of the Thus Come One [the principal of essence], (4) all the most profound matters of the Thus Come One [the principal of quality]—all these are proclaimed, revealed, and clearly expounded in this sutra.”)
The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: “The sutra as a whole” refers to the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra, the essential teaching and the theoretical teaching. “These four phrases” refers to the four principals of name, function, essence, and quality. “The essence of the sutra” refers to the five characters of the daimoku. “Hand it on to others” means handing it on to Bodhisattva Superior Practices. “It’ refers to Myoho-renge-kyo.
This passage of the commentary is perfectly clear. Now when Nichiren and his followers propagate Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, this is the principal of essence or heart. The twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra are the principal of function. The recitation of [any of] the twenty-eight chapters is a supplementary practice, while the recitation of the daimoku is the main practice. The supplementary practice is included within the main practice.
Regarding the Immeasurable Meanings Sutra
The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra serves as an introduction to the Wonderful Law. Therefore all of the Ten Worlds may be regarded as an introduction to Myoho-renge-kyo.
1. Introduction
The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: “If one gives careful consideration to the four opening characters of the chapter that represent “This is what I heard,” then one can easily understand all the immeasurable meanings of the entire sutra. What is “heard” is the wonderful truth of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds and of the inclusion of the three thousand realms [in a single moment of life]. Because that which is heard is Myoho-renge-kyo, it means that in the Dharma-realm of the Wonderful Law the ten worlds are mutually possessed, and that the three thousand realms are clean and pure.
The four characters permeate the entire sutra from beginning to end. The meaning behind each and every word and phrase of the twenty-eight chapters of the sutra refers to the hearing of this doctrine as it applies to one’s own self, and this is summed up in the words “This is what I heard.”
This thing that is heard is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Therefore the sutra says that all achieve the Buddha way (chapter one). The two words “all achieve” refer to all the Ten Worlds and three thousand realms, because “all achieve” means that all beings attain [the Buddha Way through] the Wonderful Law. Again, the word “Buddha” refers to the single mind of the individual, to the various minds of the Ten Worlds and three thousand realms. The word “way” indicates something that allows one to pass through, and hence it refers to the [Buddha] way that these various minds of the Ten Worlds pass through. When this happens, then the state characterized as “all achieve the Buddha way” is manifested. The Law underlying the words “all achieve the Buddha way” is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
[twenty-seven more to share...]
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