(Lotus Sutra, Chapter 3, verse section)
"The jewels of this jeweled vehicle are the seven precious substances
which adorn the great cart. The seven jewels are precisely the seven
orifices in one's head, and these seven orifices are precisely the
[seven characters] na-mu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo, the essential Dharma for
the Final Dharma Age. For us, living beings, the five characters of
the daimoku will become a boat at the river of the three crossings ;
they will remove the cold in the crimson-lotus hell. In the hell of
burning heat, they will become a cool breeze, and on the mountains of
death, they will become lotus blossoms. When we are thirsty, they will
become water, and when we are hungry, they will become food. When we
are naked, they will become a robe. They will become a wife, a child,
retainers, a clan--benefitting all living beings by conferring their
inexhaustible responsive workings. This is the meaning of "directly
arriving at the place of enlightenment." Accordingly, the fact that
one dwells nowhere else but in the Land of Tranquil Light is called
"directly arriving at the place of enlightenment." You should fix
your mind on the word "directly" and ponder it." [STN3:2563-64]
(Excerpt of the "Onko Kikigaki" , transcribed by Niko)
which adorn the great cart. The seven jewels are precisely the seven
orifices in one's head, and these seven orifices are precisely the
[seven characters] na-mu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo, the essential Dharma for
the Final Dharma Age. For us, living beings, the five characters of
the daimoku will become a boat at the river of the three crossings ;
they will remove the cold in the crimson-lotus hell. In the hell of
burning heat, they will become a cool breeze, and on the mountains of
death, they will become lotus blossoms. When we are thirsty, they will
become water, and when we are hungry, they will become food. When we
are naked, they will become a robe. They will become a wife, a child,
retainers, a clan--benefitting all living beings by conferring their
inexhaustible responsive workings. This is the meaning of "directly
arriving at the place of enlightenment." Accordingly, the fact that
one dwells nowhere else but in the Land of Tranquil Light is called
"directly arriving at the place of enlightenment." You should fix
your mind on the word "directly" and ponder it." [STN3:2563-64]
(Excerpt of the "Onko Kikigaki" , transcribed by Niko)
Nichiren Daishonin, our founder and teacher, says our Daimoku in the
later age becomes a boat, water, breeze, etc. Let no one tell you that
chanting Daimoku in the later day has no power to grant our needs. Our
purpose in life is notare not to become martyrs, we are in Kempon Hokke
Kai to spread the dharma and show the blessings of Buddha to the
entire world! In Eugene, Oregon, Bonnie Bennett asked Rev. Kubota how
to chant, and he told her to "think of Buddha as your Father, and
chant with a sincere seeking mind. You can chant for anything you
like."
later age becomes a boat, water, breeze, etc. Let no one tell you that
chanting Daimoku in the later day has no power to grant our needs. Our
purpose in life is notare not to become martyrs, we are in Kempon Hokke
Kai to spread the dharma and show the blessings of Buddha to the
entire world! In Eugene, Oregon, Bonnie Bennett asked Rev. Kubota how
to chant, and he told her to "think of Buddha as your Father, and
chant with a sincere seeking mind. You can chant for anything you
like."
From chapt. 23 of the Lotus Sutra
"This Sutra is that which can save all the living; this sutra can deliver all the living from pains and sufferings; this sutra is able greatly to benefit all the living and fulfill their desires." "It is able to deliver all the living from all sufferings and all diseases, and is able to unloose all the bonds of mortal life." "In the last five hundred years after my extinction, proclaim and spread it abroad in Jumbudvipa, lest it be lost and Mara the Evil [One], his Mara-people, gods, dragons, yakshas, kumbhandas, and others gain their opportunity."
The Lotus Sutra stands alone according to the words of Shakyamuni and Nichiren.
We should pay the greatest of respect for anyone who can sit down and
chant the daimoku, even if that person must fight restless thoughts,
impure desires, or an undisciplined mind! The idea that "one sincere
daimoku is worth a million insincere daimoku" is another example of
"beasts wearing the skin of a humans" who try to discourage others
from chanting. They use their own viewpoint that the "state of mind"
is somehow what determines the effectiveness of the chanting. No
human being is in a position to judge such a thing, it's beyond our
abilities. We say that the act of chanting is proof enough of a "mind of
faith". For anyone who has chanted abundantly, they know what a hard
task it is, and how easily the mind wanders. It is not possible to maintain
an ideal condition of unwavering sincerity, with our defiled minds in the
polluted age of Mappo. Common people cannot act like saints, nor
should they feel that their chanting is ineffective, simply because they
doubt their "state of mind". As the Nike commercial says, "Just do it!"
The fact that a person even wants to chant, be it sincere or not, is the
rarest thing for our time period. So, for those who say, "A million daimoku,
chanted mechanically, is not worth anything!", we answer, "A million
daimoku is a million daimoku!" (Actually, a million daimoku is a very
difficult thing to accomplish, so the statement about "mechanical
chanting" does not even make sense!) If anyone claims that they have
the knowledge to judge whether daimoku is sincere or not, they are
acting as a demon who "claims to attain something that they haven't
attained".
Right on with this article. I agree.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree that, "They use their own viewpoint that the "state of mind" is somehow what determines the effectiveness of the chanting."
ReplyDeleteIn fact it does matter...
Nichiren teaches:
"...and put their faith in the correct teaching and the correct doctrines of the correct teacher."
"They entirely look up to groups of icchantikas and rely on them as leaders and, reverencing blasphemers against the Dharma, make them national teachers. Taking up the Classic Filial Piety of Confucious, they beat their parents' heads and, while chanting the Lotus Sutra of Lord Shakya with their mouths, they go against the Master of teachings." (Letter to Tonsured Layman Soya).
Believing in the doctrines of Oneness of Mentor and disciple and interfaith are hardly the correct doctrines of the correct teacher Nichiren
"All I can say is that one should compare the writings of the Great Teacher Kōbō and the pronouncements of the Buddha, and then put one’s faith in the one that proves to be correct."
"I surmised that these events had come about because people did not put faith in the correct Buddhist doctrines."
Today, for example, they put faith in the Human Revolution or Daisaku Ikeda rather than the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha.
"Now you should make a great vow and pray for your next life. If you are disbelieving or slander the correct teaching even in the slightest, you will certainly fall into the great citadel of the hell of incessant suffering. Suppose there is a ship that sails on the open sea. Though the ship is stoutly built, if it is flooded by a leak, those on the ship are sure to drown together. Though the embankment between rice fields is firm, if there is an ant hole in it, then surely, in the long run, it will not remain full of water. Bail the seawater of slander and disbelief out of the ship of your life, and solidify the embankments of your faith. If a believer’s offense is slight, overlook it, and lead that person to obtain benefits. If it is serious, encourage him to strengthen his faith so that he can expiate the sin."
continued
ReplyDeleteChanting with a disbelieving let alone slanderous mind is not efficacious, possibly even harmful.
"The one who was ailing had correct faith at the time of death. Without doubt she has gone to the pure land of Eagle Peak. There can be no doubt about it."
"I urge you therefore to make haste to renounce your erroneous views, abandon the teachings of Bodhidharma, and put your faith in the correct teaching of the one vehicle."
Chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo is not enough idf we fail to abandon the teachings of Amida Buddha, Daisaku Ikeda, or Jesus."
"No matter how much they chant, everybody who has hatred for Nichiren first must fall to the Unremitting Hell; after immeasurable kalpas, having become the disciples of Nichiren, they shall attain Buddhahood." (Kyoo gozen gosho, Stn, v. 1, 687)
"Many such examples of slander are also found among Nichiren’s disciples and lay believers."
"In the same way, the renegade disciples say, “Though the priest Nichiren is our teacher, he is too forceful. We will spread the Lotus Sutra in a more peaceful way.” In so asserting, they are being as ridiculous as fireflies laughing at the sun and moon, an anthill belittling Mount Hua, wells and brooks despising the river and the ocean, or a magpie mocking a phoenix."
"The “Encouraging Devotion” chapter says, “There will be many ignorant people who will curse and speak ill of us.” I observe my own situation in this passage. Why should it not apply to all of you as well? “They will attack us with swords and staves,” the passage continues. I have experienced this passage from the sutra with my own body. Why do you, my disciples, not do likewise?"
"My disciples, form your ranks and follow me, and surpass even Mahākāshyapa or Ānanda, T’ien-t’ai or Dengyō! If you quail before the threats of the ruler of this little island country [and abandon your faith], how will you face the even more terrible anger of Yama, the lord of hell? If, while calling yourselves the Buddha’s messengers, you give way to fear, you will be the most despicable of persons!"
"Neither non-Buddhists nor the enemies of Buddhism can destroy the correct teaching of the Thus Come One, but the Buddha’s disciples definitely can. As a sutra says, only worms born of the lion’s body feed on the lion."
"Since Nichiren’s disciples and lay supporters believe solely in the Lotus Sutra, honestly discarding expedient means11 and not accepting even a single verse of the other sutras,12 exactly as the Lotus teaches, they can enter the treasure tower of the Gohonzon."
Hold the damn phone. Are you rebutting your own article?
ReplyDeleteYes. On further reflection. This was written by Stephanie Maltz. Sorry I failed to attribute it correctly to her.
ReplyDelete