“I had gone to many centers of the religion during those twenty years, in the quest of Buddhist truths. The final conclusion I arrived at was that the truth of Buddhism must be one in essence. Many people lose themselves in the labyrinth of learning and studies, through thinking that every one of the diverse branches might help to the attainment of Buddhist ideals.” — Works pp 1770-71 in Myoho Bikuni Go-henji
"It is said that good medicine tastes bitter. This sutra, which is like good medicine, dispels attachments to the five vehicles and establishes the one ultimate principle. It reproaches those in the ranks of ordinary beings and censures those in the ranks of sagehood, denies [provisional] Mahayana and refutes Hinayana. It speaks of the heavenly devils as poisonous insects and calls non-Buddhists demons. It censures those who cling to Hinayana teachings, calling them mean and impoverished, and it dismisses bodhisattvas as beginners in learning. For this reason, heavenly devils hate to listen to it, non-Buddhists find their ears offended, persons of the two vehicles are dumbfounded, and bodhisattvas flee in terror. That is why all these types of people try to make hindrances [for a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra]. The Buddha was not speaking nonsense when he declared that hatred and jealousy would abound.” - The Opening of the Eyes, the second most important writing of Nichiren.
What books would you recommend for understanding the Lotus Sutra in depth?
ReplyDeleteNichiren teaches the core curriculum of his canon is the Lotus Sutra and if one is capable, the study of many Sutras (for several reasons):
ReplyDeletehttps://markrogow.blogspot.com/2020/06/absolute-wonderfulness-myo-and.html
In short, we utilize the various Sutras both to refute the provisional sutras and sects (Comparative Myo) and we study them in praise and explication (incorporation) of both Nichiren's writings and the Lotus Sutra (Absolute Myo).
Nichiren studied everything, all the various Sutras, current events, biographies, other religions and sects, and especially history, Buddhist and others. I would say, following Nichiren's example, were one capable, everything with aim to spread the teachings and strengthen faith..
Those of lesser capacity, for example, those who can't read or who are incapable of performing the forceful practices, need only, according to Nichiren: Chant Namu Myoho renge kyo and do Gongyo; ask others to read to them, (for Study); and support those of superior capacity (usually priests) who perform the forceful practices.
and those too gentle to apply the forceful practices. Nichiren asserted that the priests and monks MUST do shakubuku (primarily).
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