Chanting Growers Group

[Babbabud]

Great post today and yesterday PTD and SoCal . Thank you so much for taking the time to post these awesome teachings. I am here and i am reading them everyday and I totally appreciate the time it takes to post. I am reading and learning more daily and its you guys I have to thank. So thank you

nam myoho renge kyo!

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Hey Bud! Show everyone the path to receiving the Gohonzon!

Hey Bud! Show everyone the path to receiving the Gohonzon!

The most important thing in faith is a spirit of non-regression. One must be non-regressing in deed, word, and thought. Never losing the spirit to keep struggling for as long as we live—this is the spirit of Nichiren Buddhism, and the heart of the Soka Gakkai.

[Source: SGI Newsletter 6537 issued on Tuesday, August 2, 2005. From SGI President Ikeda’s Study Lecture Series Lectures on “The Opening of the Eyes”[14] “I Will Be the Pillar of Japan”—Standing Alone and Dedicating One’s Life to the Vow for Kosen-rufu. Translated from the June 2005 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai study journal]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Buddhahood manifests in the lives of people of strong faith who make the Buddha’s vow their own and dedicate their lives to its fulfillment.
...
A vow is central to our efforts to spread the Mystic Law in the evil age of the Latter Day. Without a powerful pledge or commitment to uphold and spread the correct teaching throughout our lives, we cannot turn back the raging currents of this polluted age, we cannot defeat the destructive and devilish tendencies in human life.

[SGI Newsletter 6537. Excerpts from SGI President Ikeda's Study Lecture Series LECTURES ON "THE OPENING OF THE EYES" [14] "I Will Be the Pillar of Japan"-Standing Alone and Dedicating One's Life to the Vow for Kosen-rufu.Translated on August 2, 2005]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

* "He has exerted himself bravely and vigorusly, and his name is universally known." - The Lotus Sutra, "Expedient Means" chapter

** "Buddhist practice has to be carried out with determination and courage. When we bravely challenge ourselves with the spirit to accomplish 'more today than yesterday' and 'more tomorrow than today,' we are truly practicing."

"He (President Makiguchi) also once said: 'You must bravely and vigorously exert yourself. You must take action. Even though I am now an old man, I, too, am practicing in this manner.'

'Exerting oneself bravely and vigorously' truly is the wellspring of the Soka Gakkai spirit. When we bravely challenge ourselves through faith, our lives stir, wisdom is born, our beings overflow with joy and hope." - Lectures on the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters of the Lotus Sutra, Volume 1, page 58-61

 

[SoCal Hippy]

...Taking action because one is told to amounts to slavery of the spirit. Kosen-Rufu will be advanced by brave people armed with the spirit of independence... (SGI Newsletter, No. 89, p. 23)

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Pray for all for those folks in the southern US who are suffering right now. So much sorrow; such a tragic loss of life.

The property goes the cycle of all things. There are no archeological “ruins” on earth that were not once bustling centers of human activity

I send my Daimoku to all of you! From the bottom of my heart! If any of you are among the effected, now is the time to start chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I say that for your ability to have your prayers answered. If you ask sincerely, NO PRAYER WILL GO UNANSWERED. And I hope if you are more fortunate, that you chant for those that are not.

It’s up to you. I feel it’s up to all of us to think about each other right now and recognize that there is some fucked up juju going on with the environment. We could all still get our asses kicked, no matter who it is that has the bombs. Care about the rest of the world in your heart for the next few days. There are so many people suffering.

Everywhere

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

 

[Babbabud]

Thanks for saying so well what Im sure many of us are feeling

nam myoho renge kyo!

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings

Chapter Twenty: The Bodhisattva Never Disparaging

Thirty important points (continued)


Point Eight, on the words “Among the four kinds of believers there were those who gave way to anger, their minds lacking in purity..”

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teaching says: Those who slander the Law are impure in both body and mind. First, impurity in the element of the mind is what this passage refers to when it says that “their minds” were “lacking in purity.” The impurity of the body is referred to in the passage in the “Simile and Parable” chapter that reads, “His body will always smell bad, / filthy and impure.”

Now Nichiren and his followers, who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, are pure and clean in both body and mind.

Purity of the body is referred to in the passage in the “Benefits of the Teacher of the Law” chapter that reads, “If one upholds the Lotus Sutra / his body will be very pure.” Purity of the mind is referred to in the “Devadatta” chapter in the words “believe and revere it with pure hearts [minds].” The word “purity” refers to the mind that has faith in the Lotus Sutra, while the words “impurity” or “lack of purity” refer to slanderers of the Law.


Point Nine, on the words “Among the four kinds of believers there were those that gave way to anger, their minds lacking in purity, and they spoke ill of him and cursed him, saying, ‘This ignorant monk—‘”

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: This is a famous passage in the Lotus Sutra in which the four kinds of believers in their overbearing arrogance curse the bodhisattva Never Disparaging, calling him an “ignorant monk.” To call “ignorant” the bodhisattva who bows in obeisance to whatever persons he happened to meet is the work of the devil king of the sixth heaven.

This passage of the sutra acts as a bright mirror, showing us that, now that the world has entered the Latter Day of the Law, Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, will be slandered by being called “ignorant monks.” Without doubt, it is this very “ignorance” that gives us the capacity to embrace the Lotus Sutra.


Point Ten, on the words “when they saw that he had gained great transcendental powers, the power to preach pleasantly and eloquently, the power of great goodness and tranquility, and when they heard his preaching, they all took faith in him and willingly became his followers.”

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teaching says: The word “heard” refers to the stage of hearing the name and words of the truth, the second of the six stages of practice. In effect, this passage concerns the daimoku that [as volume ten of Words and Phrases says] is “preached in a forceful manner, though it angers them.”

The word “all” refers to the four kinds of believers who were overbearingly arrogant. The word “faith,” shin, refers to the faith or belief that is without a doubt. The word “willingly,” fuku, which literally means “to submit,” indicates that one submits and gives full allegiance to the Lotus Sutra. The word zui in the compound of zuiju, which literally means “to obey and follow’ and is expressed as “became his followers’ in the text, means that one’s mind is dedicated to the Lotus sutra. The word ju means that one’s body is dedicated to the Lotus Sutra. *

In effect this is saying that now Nichiren and his followers, practitioners of the Lotus sutra who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, are the bodhisattva Never Disparaging of the Latter Day of the Law.


*This paragraph explains the four words that comprise the passage “[they all] took faith in him and willingly became his followers” (shimpuku-zuiju). The four words—shin or shim (believe), fuku or puku (submit), zui (obey), and ju (follow)—make up shimpuku-zuiju.

 

[Babbabud]

Chanting

Chanting

I find myself amazed at my need to chant with others. Ive only been to two meetings now and so Ive only had the opportunity to chant with others twice. With all the thats going on in our country and all the suffering I do feel compelled to chant. This would have been the third meeting this past wednesday but because of personal reasons the person that holds the meeting at their home is out of town for the holidays. I am surprised at how much I feel the need to chant with someone else instead of just myself. Althouigh Ive only attended two meetings I am sure missing the interaction that we feel when we chant together. Im surprised at how much i missed this weeks meeting. Im so looking forward to the next wednesday. If I wasnt so shy with ppl I would have driven to the next closest meeting. But I do have hopes of meeting the ppl from the next chapter south of us as I understand the plan is for some of them to show up at our next meeting. The chapter here in my county is very small , there are only 5 or 6 at meeting and I do long to chant with a much larger group I hope this post finds all feeling high and healthy . much love
Man Ill bet they have some big groups in the Bay Area. hmm :smile:

Nam myoho renge kyo!

 

[PassTheDoobie]

(Pssst, dude--shakabuku your wife.)

<wink>

 

[Babbabud]

(psssst, brother Im working on her she is very shy but chants to herself-my dream now is to get her to a meeting but I think she needs to cut loose and chant with me first) ppl that know her see she spreads love. Mother of all things
nam myoho renge kyo!
moving forward to the gohonzon

 

[BushyOldGrower]

Hello

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for all the sufferring...

I wish I hadn't been trained to hate church as a kid but when I was young my mom paddled me with the bristly side of a hairbrush on my bare ass every Sunday after church. I was trained to hate church and I know you dont have a church.

I was just trying to make an excuse. BOG

I hope mercy can be given to those poor people and their children.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Goddamn I wish you knew how much I miss you posting here.

Yes my brother, that's why you and all the rest of us are chanting right now. We are all Buddhas extending our long broad tongues when we have the heart of compassion that is motivating our chanting of the daimoku. Trust me. Your prayers are very powerful. Pray for them. It is impossible for that prayer not to be heard.

You are a Buddha. Praying for the relief of suffering of others is what comes naturally to a Buddha. Let's all keep doing from the bottom of our hearts what is coming naturally. Mercy is compassion. Compassionate prayer manifests wisdom. Help them.

 

[BushyOldGrower]

I miss posting here.

It would be easier not to care. My wife tells me she was talking to a friend at work on break about how sad seeing the sufferring was when another woman overheard their conversation and said, "they got what they deserved, they were told to leave."

That's just like people do when someone dies unexpectedly. They sometimes say things like, well he was so fat no wonder he died or maybe if he had quit the smoking he wouldnt be dead. Even hospital workers always blamed the victims and I think I know why.

It isnt because they are mean hearted often. It may be a way of dealing with the fear of dying they have or that something as bad as this catastrophy could happen to them. As usual the least able to provide for themselves are left to suffer most. The ones who most need care are most neglected.

Do the elite snobs sit in their ivory towers blaming the blackies and lowlife addicts who remained there? Do they not understand poverty or infirmaty? Good lord how could people leave their sick relatives. Where were the buses to take the poor to safety before the storm hit?

I am sickened because I have compassion as I know all of you have too. Perhaps I will try again to be a part of this group because I need you. This is a hard time and I will try not to offend or push my beliefs on any of you if I can help it. BOG

Nam myoho renge kyo again and again to my mountain do I chant and I hear it coming back in echoes. I wish we could all chant together here someday...

 

[PassTheDoobie]

FYI...

FYI...

Information on the aftermath of the Hurricane

Updates

Guidelines for Reporting Information about Evacuated Members

Names of Located Members

FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

Donate

Related SGI-USA Memos (in pdf format)

Messages from SGI-USA National Leaders


Hurricane Katrina

On Aug. 29, Hurricane Katrina, a Category 4 storm (winds 131–55 mph with waves between 13 and 18 feet) hit the southern part of the United States, destroying much of the coast of Mississippi and Louisiana. The city of New Orleans was heavily damaged from flood waters after the storm had passed.

At this time, the majority of the SGI-USA members have evacuated New Orleans. Local SGI-USA leaders are trying to maintain contact with the New Orleans members and those in Gulf Port and Biloxi, Mississippi.

The SGI-USA Southeast Zone leaders and South Central Region leaders have been praying together and contacting all the members one by one. Members from all over the southeast were doing their best to lend support as best they could.

Also in support, SGI President and Mrs. Ikeda sent several messages to the SGI-USA members in the area. One message read: “My wife and I are very concerned about the effects of the hurricane. We are chanting and sending our sincerest prayers for all the people in those affected areas.”

SGI-USA General Director Danny Nagashima is now visiting members affected by the disaster to offer encouragement and assess the situation.

Everyone's prayers for the victims' safety and speedy return to normal life are sincerely appreciated.


Updates
Friday, September 2, 2005
SGI President Ikeda provided detailed instructions to General Director Nagashima to immediately visit these members and personally deliver his message and packages containing food coupons, gift certificates and other essentials. Both President and Mrs. Ikeda have been sending messages and receiving constant updated reports about the condition of the members
.
The members, although struggling with many worries, were filled with tears of appreciation to receive this outpouring of encouragement from President and Mrs. Ikeda as well as the prayers and concern of their SGI-USA family.

Mr. Nagashima has also been encouraging every youth to change poison into medicine as they take on the challenge to enroll in new schools.

Furthermore, Mr. Nagashima met with the families who have taken evacuated members into their homes and local leaders to extend President Ikeda’s messages and appreciation for their support of our precious members of the SGI-USA family.

As of now, General Director Nagashima has met with 10 evacuated members in Dallas, Texas, and 14 members in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Saturday, SGI-USA members from Houston will support disaster relief efforts at the Houston Astrodome. Two SGI-USA staff members will also be dispatched to Houston to identify any additional opportunities for SGI-USA members to support relief efforts.

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Thursday, September 1, 2005
Yesterday, two SGI-USA staff members were dispatched to support SGI-USA members who have been evacuated from their homes and relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi. General Director Danny Nagashima also departed today to support evacuees who have gathered at various locations throughout Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. In addition, a control center has been established at the SGI-USA National Headquarters to help locate and account for the safety of SGI-USA members that have been evacuated from their homes.

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Guidelines for Reporting Information About Evacuated Members

An SGI-USA Email Address and Help Line have been established to collect reports on evacuated members. Both the SGI-USA Email Address and Help Line are meant for the exclusive use of the following individuals:

Evacuated SGI-USA members.
Family members of evacuated SGI-USA members.
Anyone with information about the location, contact information and status of evacuated SGI-USA members.
SGI-USA Email Address

Members that have been evacuated or anyone with information about the location, contact information or status of evacuated SGI-USA members are asked to report to the SGI-USA National Headquarters by sending an email to [email protected]. A database of all evacuated members will be maintained to account for their whereabouts and safety and to report to family members and local leaders of the affected area. In the near future, we will post the names of SGI-USA members that have been located.

Please include in your email report as much of the following information as possible.

Your First and Last Name
Your Phone Number (cell, home, etc.)
Your Location (Address)
First and Last Name of Evacuated Member(s)
Current or Last Known Location of Evacuated Members(s)
Contact Information for the Evacuated Member(s) (cell, home, email, etc.)
Any Additional Information
SGI-USA Help Line

SGI-USA National Headquarters staff members are also available to answer calls from the SGI-USA Help Line (877-424-7744) from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM PDT. Again, due to limited phone lines, this Help Line is for the exclusive use of evacuated SGI-USA members , family members of evacuated SGI-USA members and anyone with information about the location, contact information and status of evacuated SGI-USA members.

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FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
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Question:
Which parts of the SGI-USA organization have been affected by Hurricane Katrina?
Answer:
Various parts of South Central Region, Southeast Zone (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas and portions of the Florida Panhandle). Major cities that were impacted include New Orleans, Louisiana and Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi.

Question:
What is the condition of SGI-USA members in South Central Region affected by Hurricane Katrina?
Answer:
About 90% of SGI-USA members from New Orleans evacuated the city prior to the hurricane. Since then, all city residents were evacuated by government authorities. Local leaders are making every effort to contact the members in Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi where communication networks are down. The Southeast Zone leaders and South Central Region leaders are all praying together and taking action to contact each member one-by-one.

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Question:
How can I get information about missing relatives and friends who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina?
Answer:
On the SGI-USA.ORG Website

A name list of all evacuated SGI-USA members who have been located will be posted and continuously updated on the SGI-USA website at www.sgi-usa.org/katrina/.

Red Cross

Those seeking information on friends and loved-ones, who may have remained in the affected areas, should contact www.redcross.org or call 1-800-GET-INFO (1-800-438-4636), as Louisiana State Police are not maintaining a databank of rescued individuals.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

To find loved ones, please go to www.fema.gov and click “Locate missing relatives and friends.” Once you click this you will see a list of websites that provide help in locating missing loved ones.

Please be prepared with the following information:

1. Missing person’s first name and last name
2. Neighborhood of residence
3. Street address, city, state, ZIP (if known)
4. Missing person’s home phone number
5. Missing person’s cell phone number
6. Years at this residence
7. Date of birth
8. Missing person’s physical description
9. Health condition
10. Employer name and address
11. Employer contact information
12. When/where last contacted
13. How to contact person who is looking

Question:
Are there any phone numbers available for evacuated people in distress?
Answer:
Louisiana: The Coast Guard strongly urges people in distress in the New Orleans area to contact the search and rescue emergency lines for the State Office of Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge , Louisiana:

(225) 925-7708
(225) 925-7709
(225) 925-3511
(225) 925-7412


Louisiana State Police:

(225) 922-0325
(225) 922-0332
(225) 922-0333
(225) 922-0334
(225) 922-0335
(225) 922-0341
(225) 925-7398

Mississippi: Call the State Emergency Operation Center (EOC) at (601) 360-0054

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Question:
What can I do to help?
Answer:
If you would like to support SGI-USA members who have been evacuated as a result of Hurricane Katrina please consider any or all of the following:

Sending prayers and/or organizing group prayer meetings for the safety and quick recovery all those impacted by this disaster.
Making a financial donation to support relief efforts at www.sgi-usa.org/katrina

Question:
How can I make a financial donation to support SGI-USA members affected by Hurricane Katrina?
Answer:
You can make a financial donation to support the SGI-USA efforts to help the members who are victims of Hurricane Katrina through credit cards or personal checks.

Credit Card
Credit card donations can be made online through a secure SGI-USA website
or the form can be printed and faxed to 310-260-8970.

Personal Check
Send a check payable to “SGI-USA” and note “For disaster relief” in the lower left-hand corner.

The address is:

SGI-USA Disaster Relief
PO BOX 1427
Santa Monica, CA 90406-1427
(PLEASE do not use pre-addressed SGI-USA envelopes)

Question: Can I volunteer?
Answer:
At this time, there is no system in place to recruit and organize SGI-USA volunteers from across the country. Louisiana State Police have requested all individuals who are offering assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims or to the rescue operation contact the Red Cross via www.redcross.org or call 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-495-7669).

Citizens should not travel to the affected areas to assist in the rescue operation. Volunteers are not being accepted in New Orleans. Their concern is much appreciated; however, their presence will interfere with emergency personnel's efforts.

All sanctioned support efforts are locally based. SGI-USA organizations in closest proximity to affected areas are best suited to initiate and manage a sustained volunteer support effort. SGI-USA members from outside of the affected area may want to consider supporting through any or all of the following:

Sending prayers and/or organizing group prayer meetings for the safety and quick recovery all those impacted by this disaster.
Making a financial donation to support relief efforts.

Question:
What is the status of the SGI-USA New Orleans Community Center?

Answer:
Because of the initial flooding caused by the hurricane we have been unable to confirm the status of the community center. We will post updates as we receive more information.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"... I have believed it is most important to understand one's obligations to others, and made it my first duty to repay such debts of kindness. In this world, we owe four debts of gratitude. One who understands this is worthy to be called human, while one who does not is no more than an animal."

(Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 122) Selection source: SGI President Ikeda's speech, Seikyo Shimbun, September 1st, 2005

 

[PassTheDoobie]

When I took faith in Nichiren Buddhism, my strict, taciturn father was a devout follower of the True Word (Shingon) school of Buddhism, and he vehemently opposed my decision: "Why do you refuse to carry on the family faith?" he shouted at me. My mother was deeply concerned about how this rift between father and son would turn out. She observed the situation with an almost pitiable degree of intensity. She respected and loved both of us, which made it very difficult for her to take sides.

I still remember her, always so hard at work in her white apron. My heart aches when I think how much she must have suffered over our discord.

My mother, as if agreeing with my father, said just this one thing to me in a quiet, gentle voice: "Isn’t it important to respect the religion that has been in the family for so many generations?" She then turned to my father and, with a look communicating her troubled position, suggested: "Perhaps the religion that Daisaku is studying under such a fine man as Mr. Toda may be right after all."

[From SGI Newsletter 6546. SGI President Ikeda’s Essay The Light of the Century of Humanity, Memories of My Youth. Translated from the July 18, 2005 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai daily newspaper.]

* On August 24, 2005, President Ikeda completed 58 years since joining this practice.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings

Chapter Twenty: The Bodhisattva Never Disparaging

Thirty important points (continued)


Point Eleven, on the words, “Among the four kinds of believers he preached the Law with no fear in his mind.”

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: The words “four kinds of believers” refer to all living beings in the country of Japan. The words “preached the Law” refer to Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. “With no fear in his mind” describes the manner in which Nichiren and his followers now call out Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as they perform their shakubuku practice. *

* “Shakubuku” is the Buddhist method of leading people, particularly its opponents, to the correct teaching by refuting their erroneous views. In Nichiren’s teaching it means to correct another’s mistaken views and awaken that person to Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.


Point Twelve, on the words “The bodhisattva Never Disparaging who lived at that time—could he be unknown to you? In fact he was none other than I myself!”

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: The bodhisattva Never Disparaging is the present-day Shakyamuni Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha is the lord of teachings of the “Life Span” chapter. And the lord of teachings of the “Life Span” chapter is we who are the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra.

This passage, then, is about us. Now Nichiren and his followers are the bodhisattva Never Disparaging.


Point Thirteen, concerning the passage “Gainer of Great Authority, at that time the four kinds of believers, the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, because anger arose in their minds and they treated me with disparagement and contempt, were for two hundred million kalpas never able to encounter a Buddha, to hear the Law, or to see the community of monks. For a thousand kalpas they underwent great suffering in the Avichi hell.”

The Record of the Orally Transmitted teachings says: This passage relates how the four kinds of believers, because they treated the bodhisattva Never Disparaging with disparagement and contempt, were never able to encounter the three treasures for two hundred million kalpas, but fell into hell and underwent great suffering. But now that we entered the Latter Day of the Law, those who treat Nichiren and his followers, who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, with disparagement and contempt are even worse than those others. Those others suffered for a thousand kalpas, but these will suffer “for a countless number of kalpas” (chapter three, Simile and Parable).

The “Buddha” spoken of in this passage, the Buddha of the Latter day of the Law, is an ordinary mortal and an ordinary priest. The “Law” is the daimoku. The “community of monks” is we, the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra. We may be called Buddha, and we may also be called ordinary priests, because “to have a profound realization of the perfect principle is being called a Buddha” (from volume seven of The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra). The perfect principle is the Lotus Sutra.


Point fourteen, on the words “After they had finished paying for their offenses, they once more encountered the bodhisattva Never Disparaging, who instructed them in anuttara-samyak-sambodhi [supreme perfect enlightenment].”

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: Though people may have regretted their error in slandering the Lotus Sutra and have taken faith in and given allegiance to the teachings, if their faith is shallow, they will still have to fall into the hell of incessant suffering. This is due to the vehemence with which they had earlier committed slander. But after they have been plunged into the hell of incessant suffering for a thousand kalpas and the time has come for their release, then they will meet Nichiren once again. As the sutra says, “they once more” will encounter Nichiren.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

I miss posting here.

It would be easier not to care. My wife tells me she was talking to a friend at work on break about how sad seeing the sufferring was when another woman overheard their conversation and said, "they got what they deserved, they were told to leave."

That's just like people do when someone dies unexpectedly. They sometimes say things like, well he was so fat no wonder he died or maybe if he had quit the smoking he wouldnt be dead. Even hospital workers always blamed the victims and I think I know why.

It isnt because they are mean hearted often. It may be a way of dealing with the fear of dying they have or that something as bad as this catastrophy could happen to them. As usual the least able to provide for themselves are left to suffer most. The ones who most need care are most neglected.

Do the elite snobs sit in their ivory towers blaming the blackies and lowlife addicts who remained there? Do they not understand poverty or infirmaty? Good lord how could people leave their sick relatives. Where were the buses to take the poor to safety before the storm hit?

I am sickened because I have compassion as I know all of you have too. Perhaps I will try again to be a part of this group because I need you. This is a hard time and I will try not to offend or push my beliefs on any of you if I can help it. BOG

Nam myoho renge kyo again and again to my mountain do I chant and I hear it coming back in echoes. I wish we could all chant together here someday...

My goodness, yes, we do all miss you posting here!

Please understand we all need each other, my brother. There isn't a one of us here by accident. And I am sure no one agrees with your self-assessment of you ever trying to "offend or push my beliefs on any of you." We all love you BOG!

And hope to see your posts again soon!

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings

Chapter Twenty: The Bodhisattva Never Disparaging

Thirty important points (continued)


Point Fifteen, concerning the passage “Gainer of Great Authority, you should understand that this Lotus Sutra richly benefits the bodhisattva and mahasattvas, for it can cause them to attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi [supreme perfect enlightenment]. For this reason, after the Thus Come One has passed into extinction, the bodhisattvas and mahasattvas should at all times accept, uphold, read recite, explain, preach, and transcribe this sutra.”

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: The practices carried out by the bodhisattva Never Disparaging are such as are described here. And as we may see, after the Buddha has passed into extinction, one should carry out the five types of practices related to the Lotus Sutra, [namely, accepting and upholding it, reading it, reciting it, explaining and preaching it, and transcribing it].

Properly speaking, the twenty-five characters beginning with the words “For this reason” apply to Nichiren and his followers in the Latter Day of the Law. Therefore the text makes a point of saying “For this reason,” and goes on to explain that what follows applies to the time “after the Thus Come One has passed into extinction.” This is done because this is one of the chapters that pertain to the transmission of the sutra.

As a rule, the passages on the transmission of the sutra are meant for people of the present and the future. In a sense, the entire Lotus Sutra was preached for the sake of people who lived when the Buddha was in the world. But in a strict sense, it was meant for the people of the present time, the Latter Day of the Law. Therefore the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo have been approved jointly by all the Buddhas of the three existences as something that is meant for people living in a future time “after the Thus Come One has passed into extinction.”

All the doctrines set forth in the various different chapters of the sutra are functions or applications of the daimoku, or title, of the sutra. For if [the daimoku of] the Wonderful Law that is the entity is meant to be applied in the Latter Day of the Law, then how could the same not apply to the various individual chapters? But this doctrine should be kept secret.

The Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai explains this idea by saying, “When one pulls on the main cord of a net, there are no meshes that do not move.” (from volume one of Profound Meaning). And the Great Teacher Miao-lo says, “When for the sake of brevity one mentions only the daimoku, or title, the entire sutra is by implication included herein; (from volume eight of The Annotations on “The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra”).

Those who do not understand this are not qualified to propagate [the sutra] in the Latter Day of the Law.


Point Sixteen, concerning the true entity exemplified by the bodhisattva Never Disparaging as he is depicted here in this chapter

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: The bodhisattva Never Disparaging represents the living beings of the Ten Worlds. Constantly throughout the three existences he carries out his practice of bowing in obeisance. And the words that issue from his mouth are the sounds of the Wonderful Law.

Even when the wardens of hell take up their clubs and berate offenders, [the offenders submit to the berating and so] their true entity is a kind of bow of obeisance. They would not dare to respond out of mere disparagement. If the offenders suppose that the wardens are punishing them unjustly, then in turn they are unjustly berating the bodhisattva Never Disparaging. This is what is meant by the practice of shakubuku.