“‘The monks [whom you are speaking of] preach various teachings, but still they are not able to utter “the lion’s roar.”... Nor are they able to refute and convert evil persons who go against the correct teaching. Monks of this kind can bring no benefit either to themselves or to the populace. You should realize that they are in fact shirkers and idlers. Though they are careful in observing the precepts and maintain spotless conduct, you should realize that they cannot achieve anything. [Then a monk raises “the lion’s roar.”...] Those who break the precepts, upon listening to his preaching, are all enraged to the point where they attack him. This preacher of the Law, though he may in the end lose his life, is still worthy of being called a person who observes the precepts and brings benefits to both himself and others.’” -- Opening of the Eyes
much like trying to boil water by continuously pouring cold water into it. ain't gonna happen. capon, sweet but worthless. the shu is bullshit!
ReplyDeletedisabled comments..........like the sgi/nst, weak!
DeleteHe says that Nichiren said to the old lady that it was okay to keep on chanting to Amida as long as she chanted NMRK and the Lotus Sutra First. If this is true then we can mix practices under certain conditions
ReplyDelete"Only after chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo sixty thousand, a hundred thousand, or even ten million times a day, may women who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra, if they still have some time to spare, NOW and THEN MURMUR to themselves the name of Amida or one of the other Buddhas."
DeleteWith regard to Nichiren's own words [posted by Mark below], I counted my *million daimoku* charts, from the first, which I completed during my second year of practice (1990) to date. I chanted , or *logged in* 34 million daimoku in the past 26 years. I began #35 finally *correctly* chanting Namu myoho range kyo last month! I am finally and officially "a woman who puts her faith in the Lotus Sutra"- and because I have been creating my own million daimoku campaign charts for many years, I can also add a bit more perspective to the above quote.
5minutes chanting=500 daimoku;20 minutes=1,000 daimoku. There is a Gosho written to a woman believer in which Nichiren praises her for reporting that she maintained a consistent daily practice chanting 10,000 daimoku- in addition to chanting a chapter of the Lotus Sutra. According to my rate of chanting, I calculated that it would take me 3 hours and 20 minutes to chant 10,000 daimoku. I have completed a million daimoku in no less than 3 months, averaging 3 hours daimoku daily.I once completed 3 million daimoku over the course of a year, maintaining the 3 hour/day practice.
There is another Gosho in which Nichiren relates a story about a boy who is able to save his father from execution because the *ruler* was so overjoyed by the boy's chanting the Lotus Sutra, that he stopped the execution-- in the nick of time. The time the boy began to chant, and the time he finished =10 hours. I have chanted 4 ten hour *tosos* (7PM-5AM) reflecting that this represents the time required to chant the entire Lotus Sutra.
60,000 daimoku would take about 20 hours-- not much left over on that day for *other practices*--100,000 daimoku would be about 33 hours, so not doable in a day-- 10 million at my best time, which takes into account my other duties would take me 2 and a half years!
I have to conclude that the woman who received this instruction from Nichiren was serious enough about putting her faith in the Lotus Sutra to have chanted daimoku and recognized the significance of *spare time*-- of which there would be, none.
I appreciate Nichiren's phrasing his response in a manner that inspires contemplation rather than simply issuing a prohibition.
I suppose this guidance also applies to men who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra.
~Katie
Thanks Katie you put this issue it into its correct perspective. Hope Rev Capon will put his thinking Cap On and take note of what Nichiren is really saying when he is talking about mixing practices that applies to all the genders
DeleteThatis wonderful katie. I too have chanted Daimoku for three hours and for two hours a day for protracted periods of time but never three hours a day for an entire year. I once chanted seven hours a day for seven days and performed several ten to twelve hour chanting sessions. I truly believe, that chanting with a correct faith, even chanting only one Daimoku, we reside in the eternal Buddha realm. Thank you for sharing your experience.
DeleteThe Nichiren Shu just doesn't get it or just doesn't want to get it. They should throw out all that Nichiki and Nissatsu taught and embrace the same faith as Nichiren.
DeleteAfter chanting 34 million daimoku I encountered the correct way to chant daimoku. Now-- Reflecting on this in terms of devotion to single-mindedly seeking the Buddha, it bears noting that there are impediments to developing correct faith.
Delete~Katie
Although Nichiren clearly documented the evidence that various schools borrowed or *stole* doctrines preached only in the Lotus Sutra; and clearly documented the erroneous perceptions that led to revering other buddha's over Shakyamuni, he maintains that his practice of strict adherence the *Buddha's golden words* has produced the actual proof that the Lotus Sutra is 100% Truth--Nichiren's own life is the actual proof.
ReplyDeleteWhy would the Lotus Sutra be dissected, instead of upheld in it's entirety? Why would Shakyamuni NOT be recognized as the True Buddha?
Could it be that the oppositions are based on : 1) attachments to the *self* and aversion to the reality of everyone as equals?and 2)Aversion to the compassionate practice of Shakyamuni?
IF the path to Buddhahood, is found only in faith that the Lotus sutra is the ultimate truth, and that shakyamuni is the True Buddha, as I believe it is, then ALL who diverge in any way from strict adherence to Nichiren's example , are seeking something other than perfect enlightenment, or are unable to break their attachment to the *self*and remain deluded about the ultimate truth.
Imagine a world where there are no divisions amongst people-- no chiefs, no bosses, no CEO's, dictators, presidents with any more authority or power than the common person. These authority figures represent incorrigible disbelief in the ultimate reality ; refusing to believe, no matter what is recorded in their governing documents, that all are worthy of the same respect, and therefore disregard compassionate action, which is the means for actualizing this reality.
The truth and the way--are difficult to believe and difficult to understand-- due to strong, survival instinct (animality) attachment to individual differences.
Once again, today I will recite Namu myth renge kyo with *faith*--I think to myself, NMRK is the only useful information; the ultimate truth, the highest teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha, whose compassion shines as a beacon for all who revere him -as the True Buddha. I will obtain Buddhahood following the teachings of Nichiren ...
~Katie
"Only after chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo sixty thousand, a hundred thousand, or even ten million times a day, may women who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra, if they still have some time to spare, NOW and THEN MURMUR to themselves the name of Amida or one of the other Buddhas."
ReplyDeleteCapon is another slanderous Nichiren Shu priest who just doesn't get it.
Right on Katie!
ReplyDelete