Chanting Growers Group

[PassTheDoobie]

Kick some karmic ass girl!

Kick some karmic ass girl!

Southern Girl!

There goes SG again, swinging away at obstacles in the way of her happiness. We know that she will be fine, and Gordy, tell her we love her and look forward to seeing her post again real soon! Her need is our need and I am sure everyone will be sending what ever prayer they are most comfortable with, for her speedy recovery.

We miss hearing from you Gordy! What have you been studying about Buddhism that is fascinating you these days? I know you make the time.

"Careful, cause you could run so fast that if you fell, you'ld skin your head back to here!"

Your 40 plus years of friendship mean alot to me. Don't be a stranger!

Thomas

 

[Babbabud]

Great to see you again Gordy, dont be a stranger!!. SouthernGirl best of luck with your medical procedure Im sure everything will be just fine. Anyways ...love from the babba's may your recovery be a quick one
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo !

 

[Guest]

Thank you so very much!

Thank you so very much!

It is always so exciting and humbling to receive benefits from the prayer of NamMyoHoRengeKyo. Thank you from the bottom of my heart GordyP for all your daimoku...I love you! And your thoughts & daimoku too Thomas. There at 7:30am and home by 1pm after General Anesthesia. All was a success! And I have to say that it was the best hospital experience that anyone could have. I was escorted to the surgery suite with surgical nurse, physician, anesthetist and anesthesiologist. I knew at that moment that I was going to be ok. Being in the field for 30 years, I have never seen that happen. Nor get done so quickly. However, the Morphine has had me buzzed today. And I am sitting here looking at emails.
I have to tell you, that my youngest son, who rebuilt my butsudan, of course was with me, and was anxious about time. You see he is moving out today to his new and first apartment. We have the life push happening here. When he went to sign lease afterwards he found out that he received 4 months free rent. Benefit for Mom who was concerned about leaving her baby behind to start his life. We have been blessed with benefits and protection once again.

Babbabud....Thank you so much for your note. And I don't know that I have ever said it....but always a pleasure to read your posts and thoughts.
Continue

Southern Girl

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Southern Girl: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart GordyP for all your daimoku...I love you!"

Does that mean "I LOVE YOU!"?

So happy that everything went so well!

During my last two surgical procedures which were locals, I was able to do shakubuku because everyone in the surgery room wanted to know what it was I was saying over and over again. I was very happy to explain....

Now when are you two going to let everyone know what's going on with you? Are YOU the reason we don't hear from Gordy anymore? Is he too busy?

Lots of Daimoku!

Thomas

 

[Guest]

Love as in Countless aeons of lifetimes

Love as in Countless aeons of lifetimes

Waiting for the shoe to fall? Waiting for the Dorothy Karma to come out! So I can say "See there is nothing in that black bag for me". Can't say why not until now.
But what I can say is that the journey continues from that first daimoku back in July after my son awakening me to what was missing from my life. Finding out the news that Alan, my mens division chief partner had passed away, finding Thomas after 4 years of silence, people spliting on the lease of my home in Texas, joining the thread and developing my relationships with GordyP and all the rest of the gang, the hurricane in Florida, forced to come back to Texas, somehow getting sideways with someone very dear to my heart, ending a very karmic cycle of my life, a surgery today which ended what started out to be something terminal 8 months ago, both of my boys leaving home this week, to GordyP coming to Texas to meet my family and friends this week. My home is on the market as of last Saturday (it has been a busy week ) and whenever it sells, I will be in Hoosierland beginning the rest of my life.

Our relationship has changed and grown as it played out. Surprise for us too!
He has gotten me through with his love and belief in me and his growing interest in this practice which is the base of our relationship. We would not be together without it.It will always be a part of who we are. So don't be too hard on Gordy. We have had alot on our plate, alot of daimoku and gongyo, some study and he is tearing down his bachelor decor! Literally! Other than that he will have to speak for himself. And so it continues......can't tell ya where it is going to end but we will be together whatever it is, I can tell ya that! So that has been the last 8 months of my life. Not too much to chant about. But it has never been anyother way has it PTD? Southern Girl

 

[PassTheDoobie]

I would say that there is enough water under the bridge by now that if there were going to be any peas to be felt under the mattress, they would have been felt by now.

Congratulations!!!

Gordy and Southern Girl
sittin' in a tree
k-i-s-s-i-n-g
first comes love
then comes marriage
then comes SG with a baby carriage!

 

[Babbabud]

Real love is selfless and free from fear. It pours itself out upon the object of its affection, without demanding any return. Its joy is in the joy of giving. Pure, unselfish love draws to itself its own;

 

[Guest]

Rendition of PTD's Poetry

Rendition of PTD's Poetry

GordyP and SG
sitting in a corn field
K-I-S-S-I-N-G :friends:
Love Already Came
Working towards Marriage
And SG's Baby Carriage is NOMORE!

I'm still on Drugs from Surgery, What's your excuse?
Southern Girl

 

[Guest]

Very well put my buddy babba! You do have a way with summing things up. I'm sure there are people around me who would love you to be my interpreter today. SG

 

[BushyOldGrower]

Thank you all. What priviledge this is to be one of you. Somehow my friends on the other side must have brought me to you. When I told my wife of how I saw Tom with Gypsy in Vancouver that I knew it was some kind of sign.

I tried to read my intuitions but it took time to realize that this was another step in my search toward the truth I had been shown so young. No other organization has ever been able to convert me to thier beliefs and many have tried. Mormons, Catholics and Jehovah Witness and Bahai faith folks too. The wickens and all the evangelical christians.

Fredster, you won't hear me denying the truths Christ stated or the truths many christians hold about GOD. Many Christians like myself saw GOD in a more Buddha aspect all along and some parts of the Bible hint at the facts of reincarnation and karma actually. GOD is LOVE is presented in the bible and that isnt the image of Jehovah that many have.

My main goal is to see truth and to have others see it too. My feeling is that the differences between religions are exaggerated by each sect that claims there way is the only way. We all have the right to see the truth as we decide it is and buddhism has many sects as Tom has shown. My view is that Jesus had a vision of a future that is much in alignment with buddhist views of life. Perhaps he was a Jew very much ahead of his time and perhaps he was a Buddha in a strange land of the Jews and Romans of the time.

Fredster, I know you see much truth sir and that it is hard to accept what I am saying but Jesus would love us both for certain as much as we love what he seemed to be to us. From what is attributed to his lips come much wisdom for sure and his love was unconditional of all of us. He never would have wanted different religions to fight and neither would any true teacher of the truth.

Buddha was a lot like Jesus in the way he wanted peace and happiness for Earth. Simple life is always best and its hard now in these days. I like to keep things simple and to practice Buddhism seems quite simple to me actually. I do chant and while I have never spoken in tongues people do increase their spirituality in many ways in many religions. To me there is one GOD or Buddha and this was always the ultimate authority or force like gravity.

It seems that this Lotus Sutra is about this force and this is the true real and omnipotent GOD we believe in. This force probably doesn't care what we think but it is the universal cosmic spirit that I think Jesus called the Holy Spirit and as you may recall Fredster he said you can deny GOD or the Father but you can't deny the Holy Spirit. Jesus was right but he learned some things in the years between his childhood and his mission. Jesus learned that eye for an eye wasn't always best and that forgivness was also an option.

His turn the other cheek non violence position is in synch with hinduism 500 years earlier so he wasn't your normal Jewish boy and he created a huge division. I think he was a true living buddha using expedient means like so many did back earlier in history. Jesus was a leader in opening our hearts to new ways of peace compared to the old Jewish laws and Fredster you arent Jewish now are you?

I see this as evolution and at least you see the truths we see Fredster. You have a good heart and you love people and your GOD. I love you Fredster and not just respect sir but Love. I guess I define Love a bit wider than Tom but there are many kinds of love.

As a Mental Health Worker it was sometimes difficult to love all the clients. Men who had exposed their genitals to a child for instance. I learned that you had to try your best to see something to like in the person and at least to still have some respect even for one who does something hard to understand or forgive. He wasn't really such a villian at all and he didnt think it did that kid any harm. But, I told him why it was wrong and I tried to be of help. You know why? Because we all deserve forgivness and a bit of love no matter what mistakes we make. Mercy is a divine trait that Jesus showed.

So GOD or Buddha bothers me as we so easily offend each other when we use our lables and definitions. I will continue to try and see the truths in all faiths and to have respect for all religions as valid. This quest for the truth moves forward slowly over many generations and I see it as evolution in our spirits that parellels our physical evolution so for a different time in a different place different forms of faith are needed.

There is one truth however that there is only one ultimate GOD or Buddha Force of good. We have been confused with many GODS in the past and the arguments over which one is the Real one but there is only one. Tom says that this force isnt GOD and I understand where he is coming from I think because he sees me as redefining what is the definition of GOD but I have not.

Many people have their own definitions of what GOD is and it isn't necessarily the GOD of the Jews or the Muslims either.

Can I visit one of these SGI centers in Amsterdam Tom? Thanks for being so darned patient with me and feel free to correct my incorrect assumptions without mercy sir. I respect you so much. BOG

Thanks to you all again because I feel so lucky now...

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Nothing to add

Nothing to add

I think I've said it all already. I try and have my views guided by the Daishonin's teachings and my personal relationship with the Buddha of Beginingless Time as it has evolved for the last 32 years. His teachings and those that preceded his advent do not make some of the correlations that may be more apparent to others than they are to me. I have no way of refuting, nor am I inclined in any sense to redefine the calling anyone might have, from any perspective, to embrace and propagate Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in the Latter Day of the Law.

I have studied the Daishonin's teachings for a very long time frankly. I think all that have also done so will relate and agree to the analogy of a process of understanding it in layers. Some of that is because MANY of the translations didn't exist in English thirty years ago. And now all are extremely improved.

But I almost guarantee you my friend, that what you read and study today, and feel deep in your heart you understand, you will read again at some future point, and your entire perspective will change and become more profound from your own perspective. You'll know you've gained a greater truth, and you will embrace it.

You will do so without giving a thought to the fact that in doing so you are leaving behind things that were once heartfelt certainties.

Much love to all

Thomas

 

[Babbabud]

When we embrace the Mystic Law and open up within ourselves the great life of kuon ganjo, we ordinary people can manifest our true identity as champions with a mission who dedicate their lives to the liberation of all people while calmly enduring the difficulties of the saha world.

The way of life of a courageous Bodhisattva of the Earth lies in diving headlong into the most difficult situations, embracing those experiencing the greatest suffering; talking to and protecting friends; and, through it all, creating a revolution of hope-a revolution toward the understanding that the saha world is itself the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light. When we lead such a way of life, our spirit shines.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

 

[Guest]

How true the latter paragraph you quoted Babbbud. I have lived the last 15 years coming to understand that it wasn't a curse but an honor to live th way of life of a couragreous Bodhisattva of the Earth. You learn to understand in your darkest hours the words, "Continue". What an honor and life rush to experience it all. Southern Girl

 

[PassTheDoobie]

pg 731 of The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

pg 731 of The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

from the Gosho: 'On Repaying Debts of Gratitude'

Question: Of the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra, which is the heart, which is the most essential?

Answer: Some would say that each chapter is essential to the matter that it deals with. Some would contend that the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" chapters are the heart, others that the "Expedient Means" alone is the heart, or that the "Life Span" alone is the heart. Some would say that the heart is the passage telling how the Buddhas open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings, show it, cause them to awaken to it, and induce (115) them to enter its path, others that the passage on the "true aspect of all (116) phenomena" is the heart.

Question: What is your opinion?

Answer: I believe that the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo constitute the heart.

Question: What is your proof ?

Answer: The fact that Ananda, Manjushri, and the others wrote, "This is what I heard."

Question: What do you mean by that?

Answer: Over a period of eight years, Ananda, Manjushri, and the others listened to the immeasurable meanings of the Lotus Sutra, never missing a single phrase, a single verse, a single word. Yet, after the Buddha had passed away, at the time of the compilation of his teachings, when the 999 arhats took up their writing brushes and dipped them in ink, they first of all wrote "Myoho-renge-kyo," and after that they intoned the words, "This is what I heard." Therefore, the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo must be the heart of the eight volumes and twenty-eight chapters that compose the work, must they not?

Therefore, the Dharma Teacher Fayün of Kuang-che-ssu temple, who is said to have lectured on the Lotus Sutra ever since the distant age of Sun Moon Bright Buddha, states, "The words 'This is what I heard' indicate that one is going to transmit the doctrines one has heard preached. The title, which precedes these words, sums up the sutra (117) as a whole."

The Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai, who was present on Eagle Peak when the Lotus Sutra was preached and heard it in person, writes, "The word 'this' [of 'This is what I heard'] indicates the essence of a doctrine heard from (118) the Buddha." And the Great Teacher Chang-an writes, "The transcriber [Chang-an] comments on T'ien-t'ai's explanation of the title of the Lotus Sutra, saying, 'Hence [his explanation of the title in] the preface conveys the profound meaning of the sutra. The profound meaning indicates the heart (119) of the text.'"

In this passage, "the heart of the text" signifies that the daimoku, or title, of the text is the heart of the Lotus Sutra. As the Great Teacher Miao-lo states, "It is the heart of the Lotus Sutra that encompasses all the doctrines preached by the Buddha in the course (120) of his lifetime."

India comprises seventy states, but they are known collectively by the name India. Japan comprises sixty provinces, (121) but they are known collectively by the name Japan. Within the name India are contained all the seventy states, as well as all their people, animals, treasures, and so forth. Within the name Japan are contained all the sixty-six provinces. The feathers sent as tribute from Dewa, the gold of the province of (122) Mutsu, and all the other treasures of the nation, as well as the people and animals, and temples and shrines, are contained within the two characters that form the name Japan.

One who possesses the heavenly eye can look at the two characters of the name Japan and see all the sixty-six provinces along with their people and animals. One who possesses the Dharma eye can see all the people and animals now dying in one place, now being born in another place.

It is like hearing someone's voice and knowing what the person must look like, or seeing someone's foot-prints and judging whether the person is large or small. Or it is like estimating the size of a pond by looking at the lotuses that grow in it, or imagining the size of the dragons by observing the rain that they cause to fall. Each of these examples illustrates the principle that all things are expressed in one.

It might appear from this that the daimoku, or title, of any Agama sutra must contain all the teachings of the Buddhas, but in fact it contains only one Buddha, the Shakyamuni of the Hinayana teachings. It might also appear that the titles of the Flower Garland, Meditation, and Mahavairochana sutras must contain all the teachings of the Buddhas, but in fact they do not include the doctrine concerning the attainment of Buddhahood by persons of the two vehicles, or the Shakyamuni Buddha who gained enlightenment in the far distant past. They are like flowers that bloom but are followed by no fruit, thunder that rolls but brings no rain, a drum that has no sound, eyes that cannot see, a woman who bears no child, or a person who has no life or spirit.

The mantras associated with the Buddhas Mahavairochana, Medicine Master, and Amida and Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds are of the same nature. Though in the various sutras containing these mantras they are said to be like a great king, Mount Sumeru, the sun and moon, good medicine, a wish-granting jewel, or a sharp sword, they are as far beneath the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra as mud is beneath the clouds.

Not only are they vastly inferior, but all of them have lost their respective inherent functions. When the sun comes up, the light of the crowds of stars is completely eclipsed; when bits of iron are placed near a magnet, they lose their property. When a great sword is exposed to even a small fire, it ceases to be of any use; when cow's milk or donkey's milk comes into the presence of lion king's milk, it turns to water. A pack of foxes will forget all their tricks if they meet up with a dog; a band of dogs will all quake with fright if they encounter a small tiger.

In the same way, if one chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, then the power of the words Namu Amida Butsu, the power of the mantras invoking Mahavairochana, the power of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds, and the power of all the Buddhas, all the sutras, and all the bodhisattvas will without exception vanish before the power of Myoho-renge-kyo.

Unless these other sutras manage to borrow the power of Myoho-renge-kyo, they will all become worthless things. This is a fact that stands before our very eyes in the present age.

Because I, Nichiren, chant and spread Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the power of Namu Amida Butsu will be like a moon waning, a tide running out, grass withering in autumn and winter, or ice melting in the sun. Watch and see!

115. Lotus Sutra, chap. 2

116. A reference to the "true aspect of all phenomena," as revealed in chapter 2 of the Lotus Sutra.

117. This passage is quoted in Chisho's Collection of Orally Transmitted Teachings as
Fa-yün's words.

118. The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra.

119. Profound Meaning.

120. On "The Profound Meaning."

121. The text reads sixty, although Japan actually had sixty-six provinces, as indicated in the sentence after next.

122. The province of Dewa in northern Japan is said to have been famous for hawk and eagle feathers. Gold was first discovered in Japan in the northern province of Mutsu in the twenty-first year of the Tempyo era (750).

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Pg 757 of The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Pg 757 of The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

from the Gosho: 'The Fourteen Slanders'

The "Teacher of the Law" chapter says: "If you make offerings to the priest who preaches the Lotus Sutra and hear its teachings for even a moment, then you will experience joy because you can gain even greater benefits than one who offers immeasurable treasures to the Buddha for the space of (11) eighty million kalpas."

Even an ignorant person can obtain blessings by serving someone who expounds the Lotus Sutra. No matter if he is a demon or an animal, if someone proclaims even a single verse or phrase of the Lotus Sutra, you must respect him as you would the Buddha. This is what the sutra means when it says, "You should rise and greet him from afar, showing him the same respect you (12) would a Buddha." You should respect one another as Shakyamuni and Many (13) Treasures did at the ceremony in the "Treasure Tower" chapter.

The priest Sammi-bo may be lowly, but since he can explain even a little about the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, you should respect him as you would the Buddha and ask him about the teachings. "Rely on the Law and not (14) upon persons" should be your guideline.

Long, long ago there was a young man who lived in the Snow Mountains and was called the boy Snow Mountains. He gathered ferns and nuts to keep himself alive, made garments of deerskin to clothe his body, and quietly practiced the way. As he observed the world with care and attention, the boy came to understand that nothing is permanent and everything changes, and that all that is born is destined to die. This weary world is as fleeting as a flash of lightning, as the morning dew that vanishes in the sun, as a lamp easily blown out by the wind, or as the fragile leaves of the plantain that are so easily broken.

No one can escape this transience. In the end, all must take the journey to the Yellow Springs, the land of darkness. When we imagine the trip to the other world, we sense utter darkness. There is no light from the sun, the moon, or the stars; not even so much as fire to light a torch. And along that dark road, there is no one to keep you company. When one is in the saha world, one is surrounded by parents and relatives, brothers and sisters, wife and children, and retainers. Fathers may show lofty compassion, and mothers, profound loving sympathy. Husband and wife may be as faithful as two shrimps of the sea who vow to share the same hole and never to part throughout life. Yet, though they push their pillows side by side and sport together under quilts embroidered with (15) mandarin ducks, they can never be together on that journey to the land of darkness. As you travel alone in complete darkness, who will come to encourage you?

Though old and young alike dwell in the realm of uncertainty, it is part of the natural order for the elderly to die first and the young to remain awhile. Thus, even as we grieve, we can find some cause for consolation. Sometimes, however, it is the old who remain and the young who die first. No one feels more bitter resentment than a young child who dies before its parents. No one despairs more deeply than parents who see their child precede them in death. People live in this fleeting world where all is uncertainty and impermanence, yet day and night they think only of how much wealth they can amass in this life. From dawn to dusk they concentrate on worldly affairs, and neither revere the Buddha nor take faith in the Law. They ignore Buddhist practice and lack wisdom, idling their days away. And when they die and are brought before the court of Yama, the lord of hell, what can they carry as provisions on the long journey through the threefold world? What can they use as a boat or raft to ferry themselves across the sea of the sufferings of birth and death to the Land of Actual Reward or the Buddha Land of Tranquil Light? When one is deluded, it is as if one were dreaming. And when one is enlightened, it is as if one had awakened. Thinking in this way, the boy Snow Mountains resolved to awake from the dream of the transient world and to seek the reality of enlightenment. So he secluded himself in the mountains and devoted himself to deep meditation, sweeping away the dust of delusion and befuddlement in his single-minded pursuit of the Buddhist teaching.

The god Shakra looked down from heaven and observed the boy Snow Mountains in the distance. He thought to himself: "Though the baby fish are many, there are few that grow up to be big fish. Though the flowers of the man-go tree are many, there are few that turn into fruit. In like manner, there are many people who set their hearts on enlightenment, but only a few who continue their practice and in fact attain the true way. The aspiration for enlightenment in common mortals is often hindered by evil influences and easily swayed by circumstances; though many warriors don armor, few go without fear into battle. Let me go test this young man's resolve." So saying,Shakra disguised himself as a demon and appeared at the boy's side.

At that time the Buddha had not yet made his appearance in the world, and although the boy Snow Mountains had sought everywhere for the scriptures of the great vehicle, he had been unable to learn anything of them. Just then he heard a faint voice saying, "All is changeable, nothing is constant. This is the law of birth and death." The young man looked all around in amazement, but there was no one in sight except a demon standing nearby. In appearance it was fierce and horrible; the hairs on its head were like flames and the teeth in its mouth like swords, and its eyes were fixed on the boy in a furious glare. When the boy saw this, he was not frightened in the least. He was so overjoyed at the opportunity to hear something of the Buddhist teaching that he did not even question it. He was like a calf separated from its mother that hears the faint sound of her lowing. "Who spoke that verse? There must be more!" he thought, and once more he searched all around, but still there was no one to be seen. He wondered if it could have been the demon who recited the verse. But on second thought that seemed impossible, since the demon must have been born a demon in retribution for some past evil act. The verse was certainly a teaching of the Buddha, and he was sure it could never have come from the mouth of a lowly demon. But as there was no one else about, he asked, "Was it you who preached that verse?" "Don't speak to me!" replied the demon. "I've had nothing to eat for days. I'm starved, exhausted, and almost out of my mind. I may have uttered some sort of nonsense, but in my dazed condition I don't even know what it was."

"For me to hear only the first half of that verse," said the boy, "is like seeing only half the moon, or obtaining half a jewel. It must have been you who spoke, so I beg you to teach me the remaining half." The demon replied sarcastically, "You are already enlightened, so you should feel no resentment even if you don't hear the rest of the verse. I'm dying of starvation, and I haven't the strength to speak - say no more to me!"

"Could you teach me if you had something to eat?" asked the boy. "If I had something to eat, I might be able to," said the demon. Elated, the boy said, "Well, then, what kind of food would you like?" But the demon replied, "Ask no more. You will certainly be horrified when you hear what I eat. Besides, you would never be able to provide it."

Yet the boy Snow Mountains was insistent. "If you will just tell me what you want, I will try to find it for you." The demon answered, "I eat only the tender flesh of humans and drink only their warm blood. I fly through the air far and wide in search of food, but people are protected by the Buddhas and gods so that, even though I want to kill them, I cannot. I can only kill and eat those whom the Buddhas and gods have forsaken."

(to be continued)

 

[PassTheDoobie]

(continued)

(continued)

Hearing this, the boy decided to give his own body for the sake of the Law, so that he could hear the entire verse.

"Your food is right here," he said. "You need look no further. Since I am still alive, my flesh is warm, and since my flesh is warm, so is my blood. Therefore, I ask you to teach me the rest of the verse, and in exchange, I will offer you my body." Then the demon grew furious and demanded, "Who could believe your words? After I've taught you the rest of the verse, who can I call on as a witness to make you you’re your promise?"

The boy replied: "This body of mine is mortal. But if I give my life for the Law, casting away this vile body that would otherwise die in vain, in the next life I will certainly attain enlightenment and become a Buddha. I will receive a pure and wonderful body. It will be like throwing away a piece of crockery and receiving a precious vessel in exchange. I call upon Brahma and Shakra, the four heavenly kings, and the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions to be my witnesses. I could not possibly deceive you in their presence."

The demon, somewhat mollified, said, "If what you say is true, I will teach you the rest of the verse." The boy Snow Mountains was overjoyed and, removing his deerskin garment, spread it out for the demon to sit up-on while he preached. Then the boy knelt, bowed his head to the ground, and placed his palms together in reverence, saying, "All I ask is that you teach me the rest of the verse." Thus he offered his heartfelt respect to the demon. The demon, seating himself on the deerskin, then recited these words: "Extinguishing the cycle of birth and death, one enters the joy of nirvana." The moment he heard this, the boy was filled with joy, and his reverence for the verse was boundless. Resolving to remember it in his next life, he repeated it over and over again, and etched it deep in his heart.

He pondered, thinking to himself, "I rejoice that this verse [though it came from a demon] is no different from the teaching of the Buddha, but at the same time I lament that I alone have heard it and that I am unable to transmit it to others." Thereupon he inscribed the stanza on stones, cliff faces, and the trees along the road, and he prayed that those who might later pass by would see it, understand its meaning, and finally enter the true way. This done, he climbed a tall tree and threw himself down before the demon. But before he had reached the ground, the demon quickly resumed his original form as Shakra, caught the boy, and gently placed him on a level spot. Bowing before him reverently, the god said, "In order to test you, I held back the Thus Come One's sacred teaching for a time, causing anguish in the heart of a bodhisattva. I hope you will forgive my fault and save me without fail in my next life."

Then all of the heavenly beings gathered around to praise the boy Snow Mountains, saying, "Excellent, excellent! He is truly a bodhisattva." By casting away his body to listen to half a verse, the bodhisattva was able to eradicate offenses calling for twelve kalpas of the sufferings of birth and death [and attain enlightenment]. His story is referred to in the Nirvana Sutra.

In the past the boy Snow Mountains was willing to give his life to hear but half a verse. How much more thankful should we be to hear a chapter or even a volume of the Lotus Sutra! How can we ever repay such a blessing? Indeed, if you care about your next life, you should make this bodhisattva your example. Even though you may be too poor to offer anything of value, if the opportunity should arise to give up your life to acquire the Law of the Buddha, you should offer your life in order to pursue the Law.

This body of ours in the end will become nothing more than the soil of the hills and fields. Therefore, it is useless to begrudge your life, for though you may wish to, you cannot cling to it forever. Even people who live a long time rarely live beyond the age of one hundred. And all the events of a lifetime are like the dream one dreams in a brief nap. Though a person may have been fortunate enough to be born as a human being and may have even entered the priesthood, if he fails to study the Buddha's teaching and to refute its slanderers but simply spends his time inidleness and chatter, then he is no better than an animal dressed in priestly robes. He may call himself a priest and earn his livelihood as such, but in no way does he deserve to be regarded as a true priest. He is nothing but a thief who has stolen the title of priest. How shameful and frightening!

In the theoretical teaching of the Lotus Sutra there is a passage that reads, "We care nothing for our bodies or lives but are anxious only for the unsurpassed way.” (16) Another passage from the essential teaching reads, "Not hesitating (17) even if it costs them their lives." The Nirvana Sutra states, "One's body is insignificant while the Law is supreme. One should give one's life in order to (18) propagate the Law." Thus both the theoretical and essential teachings of the Lotus Sutra, as well as the Nirvana Sutra, all indicate that one should give one's life to spread the Law. It is a grave offense to go against these admonitions, and though invisible to the eye, the error piles up until it sends one plummeting to hell. It is like heat or cold, which has no shape or form that the eye can see. Yet in winter the cold comes to attack the trees and grasses, humans and beasts, and in summer the heat comes to torment people and animals.

As a lay believer, the important thing for you is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo single-mindedly and to provide support for the priests. And if we go by the words of the Lotus Sutra, you should also teach the sutra to the best of your ability. When the world makes you feel downcast, you should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, remembering that, although the sufferings of this life are painful, those in the next life could be much worse. And when you are happy, you should remember that your happiness in this life is nothing but a dream within a dream, and that the only true happiness is that found in the pure land of Eagle Peak, and with that thought in mind, chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Continue your practice without back-sliding until the final moment of your life, and when that time comes, behold! When you climb the mountain of perfect enlightenment and gaze around you in all directions, then to your amazement you will see that the entire realm of phenomena is the Land of Tranquil Light. The ground will be of lapis lazuli, (19) and the eight paths will be set apart by (20) golden ropes. Four kinds of flowers will fall from the heavens, and music will resound in the air. All Buddhas and bodhisattvas will be present in complete joy, caressed by the breezes of eternity, happiness, true self, and purity. The time is fast approaching when we too will count ourselves among their number. But if we are weak in faith, we will never reach that wonderful place. If you still have questions, I am waiting to hear them.

Respectfully,

Nichiren

The ninth day of the twelfth month
in the second year of Kenji (1276),
cyclical sign hinoe-ne

Reply to Matsuno

11. Paraphrase of a passage in chapter 10 of the Lotus Sutra.
12. Lotus Sutra, chap. 28.
13. In the "Treasure Tower" chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha assembles all the Buddhas from throughout the universe and then opens the treasure tower. Many Treasures Buddha invites him to share his seat, and the Ceremony in the Air begins.
14. Nirvana Sutra.
15. Mandarin ducks: A symbol of conjugal happiness. The male and female are said to remain faithful to each other throughout their lives.
16. Lotus Sutra, chap. 13.
17. Ibid., chap. 16.
18. The Annotations on the Nirvana Sutra.
19. The eight paths lead in eight directions, that is, toward the eight points of the compass.
20. Mandarava, great mandarava, manjushaka, and great manjushaka flowers. Fragrant red and white flowers that, according to Indian tradition, bloom in heaven.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Another Disclaimer:

Daisaku Ikeda gave this lecture to members of the lay organization he leads internationally. If it sounds like he is beating an SGI drum, he is. His reference to the the Nikken sect is that of the orthodox Nichiren Shoshu sect whose priesthood excommunicated us several years ago. Those of you considering Gohonzon's should contact SGI, as far as I'm concerned. That is just my opinion. Good luck to you if you don't listen. (smooch)

 

[Babbabud]

has anyone read the Herman Hesse book "Siddartha" ? just curious ?

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Lectures on the Hoben and Juryo Chapters of the Lotus Sutra (6)

Lectures on the Hoben and Juryo Chapters of the Lotus Sutra (6)

Lectures on the Hoben and Juryo Chapters of the Lotus Sutra
by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

The Daishonin Established the 'Object of Worship Never Known Before'

Sho-i sha ga. Butsu zo shingon. Hyaku sen man noku. Mushu sho butsu. Jin gyo sho-butsu. Muryo doho. Yumyo shojin. Myosho fu mon. Joju jinjin. Mi-zo-u ho. Zui gi sho setsu. Ishu nange.

What is the reason for this? A Buddha has personally attended a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a million, a countless number of Buddhas and has, fully carried out an immeasurable number of religious practices. He has exerted himself bravely and vigorously, and his name is universally known. He has realized the Law that is profound and never known before, and preaches it in accordance with what is appropriate, yet his intention is difficult to understand.1

Joju jinjin. Mi-zo-u ho.

He has realized the Law that is profound and never known before....2

All People Are Entities of the Mystic Law

According to this passage, the Mystic Law in which we believe is the supreme teaching that has "never been known before." When I read these words, I feel as though the dawn were spreading before my eyes.

In the past, Shakyamuni served countless Buddhas and carried out an immeasurable number of religious practices. This passage says that as a result of his arduous practice for enlightenment over a period of countless kalpas, he "has realized the Law that is profound and never known before."

T'ien-t'ai explains that "profound" means "reaching the very foundation of enlightenment." And "never known before" indicates that until then, no one had known of this Law, and that Shakyamuni himself hadn't known of it until he attained enlightenment.

It was therefore certainly beyond the ken of the people of the nine worlds, including the people of the two vehicles and the bodhisattvas. That's why a little later in the "Expedient Means" chapter Shakyamuni says, "[The true entity of all phenomena] can only be understood and shared between Buddhas."3 In other words, it is a Law that can only be comprehended by Buddhas.

The Lotus Sutra Makes Public the 'Secret Teaching' for Attaining Buddhahood

The Lotus Sutra is the teaching that reveals this "Law ... never known before," this Law that "can only be understood and shared between Buddhas."

The pre-Lotus Sutra teachings were all expounded "according to others' minds" (Jpn zuitai), that is, according to the capacities of the people of the nine worlds. For the people of the nine worlds, therefore, the Lotus Sutra is a teaching they have never before heard; and in this sense, too, it is a Law "never known before."

The Lotus Sutra makes public to all people the "secret teaching" "understood and shared [only] between Buddhas" that has never been known before. A genuine "secret teaching" is not something kept to oneself, hidden from others and used to create an aura of mystery or to appropriate authority to oneself.

The Nikken sect's authoritarianism is evidence that they totally fail to understand the heart of the Lotus Sutra.

When the proper "time" arrives, a genuine "secret teaching" should be expounded vociferously and spread to cure the ills of all humankind and its brilliant force thus proven. That is the purpose of this "secret teaching," of this "Law that is profound and never known before."

In many Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin refers to the Gohonzon of the Three Great Secret Laws as a "great mandala that has never before been known."

" In one place, he says: "Even in the Lotus Sutra Shakyamuni only revealed it (the Gohonzon) in the 'Life Span' chapter; and in the 'Supernatural Powers' (Jpn Jinriki) chapter he entrusted it to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth" (MW-3, 64-65).

In another place, he states:

After the Buddha's death, in the two thousand years of the Former and Middle Days of the Law, not even the term "object of worship of the essential teaching" was mentioned, let alone the object itself being inscribed.... T'ien-t'ai, Miao-lo and Dengyo... never expounded it.... Nichiren was the first to inscribe this great mandala. (MW-1, 211)

Nichiren Daishonin bestowed upon all people of the Latter Day of the Law the great "secret teaching" known only to Buddhas in the form of the "object of worship that has never before been known." And toward that end he underwent great persecutions.

We should always bear in mind the Daishonin's immense compassion as revealed by his actions to spread this teaching. And for the same reason we should always practice faith based on a profound sense of gratitude and joy.

The "Law that is profound and never known before" manifests in our lives when we have ardent faith in the "great mandala that has never before been known."

Advance With the Pride of Bodhisattvas of the Earth Who Are Creating a New Dawn of Human History

President Toda explained the passage "He has realized the Law that is profound and never known before," as follows: "This refers to the establishment of the Dai-Gohonzon of the Buddhism of sowing in Nichiren Daishonin's own life."

The "Law that is profound and never known before" does not exist somewhere else. it manifests in the living bodies, the actual lives of us [who embrace the Gohonzon]. In the well-known Gosho "On the Treasure Tower," the Daishonin says, "Those who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, irrespective of social status, are themselves Treasure Tower and likewise they themselves are Taho Buddha" (MW-1, 30).

We should erect the Treasure Tower of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo within our lives, he is saying. This is the spirit that imbues the passage "He has realized the Law that is profound and never known before."

Not only Shakyamuni, but all people can awaken to the "Law that is profound and never known before." All people can establish the Treasure Tower in their lives and shine brilliantly as entities of the Treasure Tower. In time, the earth will teem with countless shining Treasure Towers of life. From the standpoint of the Daishonin's Buddhism, this will constitute the actual proof of the passage "He has realized the Law that is profound and never known before." We are opening an unprecedented dawn in human history by means of the great and unprecedented Mystic Law.

Because it is a teaching never known before, votaries and courageous Bodhisattvas of the Earth have to appear to spread it. President Toda said, "We are members of the Soka Gakkai family, Bodhisattvas of the Earth, who have emerged from the earth to accomplish the unprecedented widespread propagation of the Law." It is we who have inherited President Toda's spirit and are striving to carry out this "practice never known before."

Please be confident that in advancing this "unprecedented movement of kosen-rufu" we will receive immeasurable and boundless good fortune and blessings, the likes of which have never been known before.

(to be continued)

 

[PassTheDoobie]

(continued)

(continued)

The SGI Puts the Daishonin's 'Intention' Into Practice

Zui gi sho setsu. Ishu nange.

... and [he] preaches it [this Law] in accordance with what is appropriate, yet his intention is difficult to understand.4

In this passage, Shakyamuni explains why the "door to the wisdom" of the Buddhas is difficult to understand and difficult to enter.

Shakyamuni indicates that the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings were expounded according to the various capacities of the people of the nine worlds and that he has not yet explained his intention - that is, the Buddha's true intention in expounding his teaching - and that no one has yet comprehended it.

It is no simple matter to directly expound the "Law that is profound and never known before," which the Buddha has attained as the result of bold practice. That's because the difference in level of understanding between the Buddha and other beings is so great.

Even were the Buddha to expound the true teaching, should the people's understanding be incomplete, there would be the danger they would develop doubt, destroy the Law and fall into the three evil paths of existence.

Shakyamuni, immediately after attaining the Way beneath the Bodhi tree, at first hesitated to expound the Law. However, he realized that unless he expounded his teaching right then and there, people would be forever locked in the darkness of delusion. Herein lay the inner conflict of Shakyamuni, who pioneered the Way for the enlightenment of all human beings. Overcoming his dilemma, he began to expound the Law.

So that people could gain a correct and unerring understanding of the Law, Shakyamuni, exercising every ounce of his wisdom, continuously pondered how he could convey his enlightenment to as many people as possible. He taxed his ingenuity. Such was Shakyamuni's compassion. Wisdom is born of compassion.

The teachings for people of the three vehicles (of Learning, Realization and Bodhisattva) certainly were set forth according to the people's various capacities. The Buddha expounded the way of the voice-hearers, the way of the pratyekabuddhas, and the way of the bodhisattvas, tailoring each teaching to the understanding of each of these groups. In this way, he enabled them to arrive at the "door to the wisdom" of the Buddhas. This was the expedient purpose of the provisional teachings that preceded the Lotus Sutra.

In this passage, Shakyamuni says that he "preaches it in accordance with what is appropriate." In other words, he expounds the Law in accordance with what is appropriate to the capacities of the people.

The Buddha's true intention was always to expound the supreme vehicle of Buddhahood, the path for all people to become Buddhas. However, the voice-hearers and the pratyekabuddhas do not understand this. Having grown attached to provisional teachings, they fail to understand that the Buddha's true intention is to enable all people without exception to become Buddhas. They do not comprehend the true teaching that makes all people Buddhas. This is the meaning of the words "his intention is difficult to understand."

Needless to say, the Buddha did not go out of his way to make his preaching difficult to understand. Rather, the Buddha's intention is difficult to understand because of the disbelief and the attachments of those who receive his teaching.

When people's hearts are closed, they cannot readily accept even sound reasoning. This suggests just how fearful is attachment to mistaken ideas. Such attachment can destroy a persons life.

In fact, the three powerful enemies persecute the Lotus Sutra's votaries precisely because, failing to understand the heart of the Lotus Sutra ("his intention is difficult to understand"), they remain attached to provisional teachings. The sutra says, "The evil monks of that muddied age, failing to understand the Buddha's expedient means, how he preaches the Law in accordance with what is appropriate, will confront us with foul language."5

Evil priests of the muddied Latter Day of the Law, failing to understand that the teachings expounded before the Lotus Sutra are all "expedient means" taught "in accordance with what is appropriate," become attached to these shallow teachings. As a result, they bear malice toward and persecute the votaries of the Lotus Sutra, who refute the teachings they uphold.

Those who fail to understand and who distort the Buddha's true intention will persecute those who practice exactly as the Buddha taught. And in any age the former will be numerous and the latter few.

The Shout of Justice, the Victory of the True Teaching

In a polluted and evil society, those who persecute the Lotus Sutra's votaries will spread malicious rumors and try to turn public opinion against the votaries. And they will seek to drive off people of justice.

Since this is a muddied world of such inverted proprieties, we need to persistently raise the cry of truth and justice. We must win and show proof of the correct teaching.

After the Daishonin died, his correct teaching was protected because Nikko Shonin stood up alone. Had Nikko Shonin remained silent, then no doubt a history of the "justice of the five senior priests" would have emerged. Instead, Nikko Shonin strictly refuted the erroneous teachings of the five senior priests.

The five senior priests did not understand the Daishonin's "intention," the true intention of the original Buddha. The Daishonin's sole "intention" was to accomplish the widespread propagation of the object of worship of the Three Great Secret Laws and enable all people of the Latter Day of the Law to become happy.

The five senior priests lost sight of the spirit of the Daishonin, who revealed the Three Great Secret Laws. Nikko Shonin alone continually followed and served the Daishonin, endured persecutions together with him and boldly developed propagation of his teaching in strict accordance with the mentor's instructions. Because he struggled as one in spirit with the mentor, he understood the Daishonin's "intention."

You can tell whether the spirit of the mentor has been handed down correctly by looking at the conduct of the disciple. No matter how people may claim to uphold the Three Great Secret Laws, if they are not taking action for kosen-rufu out of the desire for the happiness of all people, then we can only conclude that they have lost sight of the Daishonin's "intention."

Seven hundred years after the Daishonin's struggle to spread the teaching in the face of persecution, when his spirit was truly on the verge of becoming extinguished, the Soka Gakkai appeared. The Soka Gakkai is a body that has directly inherited his true teaching and that advances in accord with his will and decree.

The SGI, which is directly connected to the Daishonin, and which thoroughly bases itself on the Gohonzon and the Gosho, is the only body of harmoniously united believers who are correctly passing on the Daishonin's "intention."

As glorious "verifiers of the correct teaching:" let us speak out for kosen-rufu with lofty pride and dignity and with golden eloquence, not begrudging our voices.

'If We Do Not Harbor Doubts in Our Hearts' We Can Definitely Attain the Summit of Happiness

President Toda explained the meaning of the line "his intention is difficult to understand" as it applies to our practice as follows:

Whereas the Buddha sees what is to come, for us the future is totally dark, and we can only see what has already passed. For this reason, it is difficult for us to awaken to the heart of the Gohonzon. It is enough that we believe wholeheartedly in the Gohonzon, no matter what. If we do so, then we will definitely receive benefit. It is no good if we start doubting along the way.

He is discussing the ultimate meaning of faith. Firm faith in the Gohonzon leads to the highest "wisdom." This is the principle of "substituting faith for wisdom."

Nichiren Daishonin's "intention" is to enable all people to become Buddhas. Therefore, it is impossible that those who embrace the Daishonin's Buddhism throughout their lives could fail to realize true happiness.

In the course of our practice, however, various things arise on account of the negative causes and tendencies in our own lives. There may be times when we think, "What did I do to deserve this?" But we should not be swayed every time some such phenomena arise; for it is already certain that we will become happy in the end. We should regard everything that happens to us in our practice to reach the destination of happiness as our training. If we do so, then later on we will see the profound "meaning" and "intention" underlying each of these phenomena.

The Daishonin says, "If we do not harbor doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood" (MW-2, 205). Those who avoid succumbing to doubts no matter what happens are winners in faith. They are people who truly understand the Daishonin's "intention."