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Monday, July 27, 2020

Regarding Hugh Moon's Clear Mirror "Phenomenology" and the Primal Instant Thesis on Academia.Edu

https://www.academia.edu/35946995/Nichirens_Clear_Mirror_Phenomenology_in_the_Primal_Instant

Nichiren stated:


"This is because there are two kinds of countries, the country that is passively evil, and the kind that actively seeks to destroy the Law. We must consider carefully to which category Japan at the present time belongs."

"'...The country of Japan is also like this in which every single human being must be subjected to their offenses against Buddhism.

America is country which is passively evil, Japan a country which is actively evil...." It therefore appears that more people have fallen into the evil paths because of errors with respect to Buddhism than because of secular misdeeds."

The priests of this country have all become possessed by the spirits of Devadatta and Kokālika; the ruler of the nation has become a reincarnation of King Ajātashatru or King Virūdhaka. And in the case of the ministers and the common people, it is as though someone gathered together evil people like the ministers Varshakāra and Chandrakīrti, or like Sunakshatra and Girika, and had them constitute the people of Japan.

"...the people of this country are guilty of so many offenses that their evil karma has destined them unfailingly to be attacked by a foreign country in this lifetime and to fall into the hell of incessant suffering in the next."

"Furthermore, Japan is an unusual country, a country that respects the gods and honors the Buddhas. Nevertheless, because everyone from the sovereign on down to the common people hates Nichiren for propagating the Lotus Sutra, though they may revere all the gods and make offerings to all the Buddhas, these meritorious acts only turn into great evil..."

Those who fall into the evil paths because of their mistaken practice of Buddhism outnumber the dust particles of the land, while those who attain the Buddha way by practicing the correct teaching are fewer than the specks of dirt that can be placed on a fingernail. At such a time, the heavenly gods and benevolent deities abandon the country, and only perverse heavenly beings and perverse demons remain, possessing the minds and bodies of the ruler, his subjects, and monks and nuns, and causing them to curse, revile, and heap shame on the votary of the Lotus Sutra.

"....How sad I feel that all the people of this country will fall into the Avīchi hell! I will not go into detail here, or this letter will become too involved. You should seriously ponder this."

"...Contrary to popular belief, this country has become inhabited by evil demons. How pitiful!

"...But now you, born a woman in the evil world of the latter age, while being reviled, struck, and persecuted by the barbaric inhabitants of this island country who are unaware of these things, have endured and are propagating the Lotus Sutra..."

"The Decline of the Law Sutra says that there will be only one or two good persons, and the Nirvana Sutra says that the believers can fit into the space of a fingernail. If we accept what the sutras say, then in Japan Nichiren is the only good person, the one who fits into the space of a fingernail. Therefore, I hope that people who are seriously concerned about the matter will consider carefully whether they want to accept what the sutras say, or what the world says."

There are several more similar passages that the most eveil people in Jambudvipa are the Japanese people.

Next, I would like to discuss Alaya consciousness versus Amala consciousness (Namu Myoho renge kyo)'

The Alaya consciousness still retains the impurities of karma. The Amala consciousness is free of all impurities. Nichiren says that we should base ourselves on the ninth consciousness: "...The words of a wise man of old also teach that “you should base your mind on the ninth consciousness, and carry out your practice in the six consciousnesses.” How reasonable it is too! In this letter I have written my long-cherished teachings. Keep them deep within your heart" and ."The body is the palace of the ninth consciousness,8 the unchanging reality that reigns over all of life’s functions.... (8 the fundamental purifying force, that is free from all karmic impediments.). It is Namu Myoho renge kyo consciousness.

Nichiren further teaches:

“Answer: The school has already postulated the nine kinds of consciousness, and therefore it propounds the five types of wisdom. Among the nine consciousnesses, the first five correspond to the wisdom of perfect practice. The sixth consciousness corresponds to the wisdom of insight into the particular, the seventh to the non-discriminating wisdom, the eighth to the great round mirror wisdom, and the ninth to the wisdom of the essence of the phenomenal world.

“Next, regarding the five major principles as they pertain to the capacity and feelings of the individual believer, Myoho-renge-kyo as it is expounded for the sake of the capacities of all persons is what is meant by the five major principles of the capacity and feelings. Since there are five characters in the title Myoho-renge-kyo, there are accordingly five types of threefold contemplation in a single mind. They are explained as follows in the transmitted teachings:


“Myō The threefold contemplation in a single mind that is inconceivable. Because it is natural enlightenment that is bright in and of itself, it is inconceivable.

“Hō The threefold contemplation in a single mind that is unification [of the three truths]. The universal truth [in which the three truths are] unified includes within it all the nine subdivisions.22

“Ren The threefold contemplation in a single mind that is comprehension [of the unification of the three truths]. The effect of Buddhahood.

“Ge The threefold contemplation in a single mind that is once more broken down into categories.23 The practice in the state of original enlightenment.

“Kyō The threefold contemplation in a single mind that is easily understood.24 Discussion of the teachings.

“The second volume of The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra discusses these five types of threefold contemplation in a single mind. Let us explain them in the light of that passage.

“The threefold contemplation in a single mind that is inconceivable is the embodiment of the enlightenment gained by the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai Chih-che, the eternal truth that is truth uncreated. This cannot be expressed by the names or characteristics p.906of the three truths; the only name or characteristic that could express it at all would be ‘inconceivable.’

“The threefold contemplation in a single mind that is unification [of the three truths] is the principle of the three truths, which from the beginning has existed in the phenomenal world [as a manifestation] of the universal truth. So the three truths achieve unification with one another and include the nine subdivisions.

“As to the threefold contemplation in a single mind that is comprehension: the threefold contemplation in a single mind that is inconceivable and the threefold contemplation in a single mind that is unification [of the three truths] are not something that can be grasped by the mind of an ordinary person, but can only be comprehended through the wisdom the sages freely receive and use. Therefore it is called comprehension.

“As to the threefold contemplation in a single mind that is once more broken down into categories, the three truths that are uncreated apply to all phenomena and represent the basic nature that is constantly abiding. They are not the same as the universal truth [in which the three truths are] unified, and therefore they are spoken of as being once more broken down into categories.

“As to the threefold contemplation in a single mind that is easily understood, one finds it difficult to understand the doctrine of the unification of the three truths and similar doctrines. Therefore one approaches them through the three successive views represented by the three truths and analyzes the doctrines in this way. Hence it is spoken of as being easily understood. These are the five types of threefold contemplation in a single mind as they are described in the text.

“Next, in the threefold contemplation in a single mind as it applies to the Buddha’s intention, there are also five types of threefold contemplation in a single mind.

“First, there is the threefold contemplation in a single mind (which applies to the capacity to enter the gate of tranquillity).25

“Second, there is the threefold contemplation in a single mind (which applies to the capacity to enter the gate of brightness or understanding).26

“Third, there is the threefold contemplation in a single mind that abides in the effect of the achievement of Buddhahood but returns [to the practice of threefold contemplation in a single mind]. When one has superior capacities and hears a good friend expounding the doctrine that all phenomena are manifestations of the Buddhist Law, one then becomes aware of the truth. After one has once entered into the truth, one then practices the threefold contemplation in a single mind, enjoying its blessing to the fullest.27

“Fourth, there is the threefold contemplation in a single mind that serves as the cause for the achievement of the effect. One hears about the wonderful effect of the achievement of Buddhahood, and in order to achieve this effect, one practices the various views associated with the three truths.28

“Fifth, there is the threefold contemplation in a single mind that concerns doctrines. One hears the various doctrines such as those pertaining to the five periods and the eight teachings, and after storing these doctrines in the mind, one carries out meditative practice. Therefore it is called the threefold contemplation ‘that concerns doctrines.’

Now I would like to touch on Ted morino versus Nichiren on how to chant:

http://markrogow.blogspot.com/2019/08/how-to-chant-according-to-nichiren-and.html

Namu Myoho renge kyo is so powerful, that even with distracted mind, one can not fail to attain Buddhahood.

Kuon Jitsujo is found in the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra Tientai's teachings, and the Kaimoku sho.. There is no term for Kuon Ganjo in the Lotus Sutra, Gosho, or writings of Tientai, only in the Teachings of the Nichiren Shoshu. Kuon Jitsujo means the Eternal Lifespan of Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra.

Lastly, I would like to explain to you the meaning of the line you quoted from the Opening of the Eyes: "From both the relative and absolute viewpoints, we should abandon all that is bad. To be attached to the perfect teaching is bad, and to be attached to the other [three] teachings is of course even worse.”

The meaning of this is that, throughout the eternity of the Buddha's (and our) preaching life, sometimes we use the Eight Teachings in order to awaken the masses of beings and even in this lifetime, we may rarely use various provisional teachings in order to convert an individual of great capacity. Similarly, when explaining the "absolute myo", Nichiren sometimes adopted the provisional teachings in order to explain certain principles of the Lotus Sutra., For example, in his major works he adopted various teachings that resembled the Lotus Sutra. However, in this Latter Age, we predominantly teach Namu Myoho renge kyo regardless of the capacity of the individual.

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