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Sunday, April 17, 2016

Daimoku is Dharma, not Buddha

"Kanjin Honzon Sho. "Entrustment means: it is this Sutra that is only entrusted to the Bodhisattvas Who Sprang Forth From the Direction Below . . ." (STN, v. 1, 717) 

The meaning is clear. The Daimoku is the Dharma entrusted to the Bodhisattvas Who Sprang from the Earth. Such an interpretation agrees entirely with the Sutra, and is reasonable. The Eternal Buddha, who is ever present but hides His Presence, entrusts His Dharma, "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" to his own disciples from the most distant past. 

Daimoku is Dharma, not Buddha 

On Rebuking Slander and Eradicating Sins (Kashaku hobo metsuzai sho) says, "During this period of twenty-two hundred and more years, worthy rulers and sage rulers have honored painted images of Shakyamuni, the lord of teachings, as their principle object of devotion. But although they have made depictions of the Buddhas of the Hinayana and the Mahayana teachings; of the Flower Garland, Nirvana, and Meditation sutras; of the theoretical teaching of the Lotus Sutra and of the Universal Worthy Sutra; of the Mahavairochana and the other True Word sutras; and of the Buddhas Shakyamuni and Many Treasures of the Treasure Tower chapter, the Shakyamuni Buddha of the Life Span chapter has never been depicted in any mountain temple or monastery anywhere..."*

The Object of worship, not yet actually installed in Buddhist temples, is to be none other than the Eternal Lord Shakya. The Dharma is the Daimoku and the ones who are entrusted with that Dharma are the Bodhisattvas Who Sprang from the Earth. 

The Daimoku is especially formed as the Essence of the Sutra by the Buddha, Lord Shakya, and he has specifically summoned the Bodhisattvas Who Sprang from the Earth and given His Own Inner Realization (the unity of Wisdom and its Field or Object) in the form of "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" to them to spread at the beginning of this age of the Latter Dharma. 

It is obvious then: 

1) The source of the Daimoku which contains the Buddha's Inner Realization is Lord Shakya.

2) That same Lord Shakya transfers this Daimoku to the Bodhisattva Jogyo and his fellow Bodhisattvas Who Sprang from the Earth; 

3) This transfer has already taken place as described in an undeniable Sutra text referring to forming the Essence and its Entrusment. In other words, the doctrine is Sutra -based; 

4) Nichiren Shonin modestly denies that he is actually that Bodhisattva but indicates he is at least their forerunner. 

Despite Nichiren Shonin's modesty, it is obvious from the other documents cited above that he and his immediate followers identified him as being precisely that Bodhisattva, who had received the Daimoku from Lord Shakyamuni." -- Graham Lamont

*Here I substituted the translation from the WND for Mr. Lamont's because it is more fluid.

7 comments:

  1. One could also look at the actual behavior of those who claim to be "Buddha" ; that chanting daimoku is the cause for their awakening to their True identity as Buddhas --? They proceed to form ideas about how to propagate the teachings they have " awakened " to . Proud and boastful at heart they are the foremost slanderers of the Lotus Sutra!!
    ~Katie

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  2. the sword cuts both ways = enlightenment/delusion.

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    1. Spot on Greg we all have to watch ourselves especially you Katie who think you are the great know it all of Nichiren Buddhism while accusing others of the very thing that are guilty of

      Noël

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    2. I defer to Nichiren, Noel.

      "The Brahmin believers, having incorrectly received and transmitted teachings of the earlier Buddhas, displayed hostility toward the later Buddha, Shakyamuni. the scholars of the various sects today are doing the same sort of thing, In effect, they have let their own way of understanding the Buddha's teachings lead them to heretical views. They are like persons who dizzy from drink, think that the large mountain in from of them is spinning round and round. And so we now have these eight sects to ten sects all disputing with one another over their various doctrines."

      "The scholars of the various sects continue to cling to the mistaken opinions of their respective teachers. Therefore, they declare that religious practices must be accommodated to the people's capacities, or they defer to the opinion of their founders or try to persuade the worthy rulers of their time to be their allies. The upshot of all this is that in the end they give themselves wholly to evil intentions, engage in wrangling and doctrinal disputes, and take delight in inflicting injury upon persons who are guilty of no fault." ( Letter From Teradomari)

      Gosho!
      ~Katie

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    3. The same thing is happening today by those who say they represent Shakyamuni and Nichiren. We have to develop the wisdom to know what stands to reason because that will more likely lead us to the True Buddha that exists within and without) and his representatives for this age

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  3. not really whoever you are(anonymous). neither one of us thinks we are superior to nichiren. for me, there is a lot that i cannot understand intellectually. katie may feel the same, or maybe not. so i stick close to the teacher for the latter day, nichiren. don't follow me. nichiren teaches - it is a lack of courage that prevents one from attaining buddhahood even if they have encountered the lotus sutra many times in previous lifetimes. also the eternal budda teaches - if one tries to uphold the lotus sutra in the age of degeneration(mappo), they will surely be despised. just my opinion, and it matters not. however, i think you belong in nichiren shoshu. look at your ownself. shakubuku = break and subdue. break false attachments. and subdue ones shallow ego, so one can take real faith in the lotus sutra. everyday i think about this. cheers.

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    1. not really whoever you are(anonymous). Noel

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