Dharma Lesson from the Lotus Sutra:
this is Rev. Tsuchiya's lesson that I will be posting now regularly. You can also find it on our facebook Kempon Hokke group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/132617453417313/
The teacher of the Dharma, chapter 10
(scripture 52)
Even while I am alive, this sutra is hated with jealousy by many people. Needless to say, it will be more after my extinction.
If there is person who copies, keeps, reads, and recites this sutra,
makes offerings to it, and expounds it to others after my extinction, he
will be covered by my robe. He also will be protected by the present
Buddhas in other worlds. This person will have the strong power of
faith, the power of willingness and the power of making good deeds. You
should know that he is living with me, the Buddha. His head will be
surely caressed by my palm.
(significance)
You should
understand, it is a matter of course that the opposite against the right
teachings happens where many people are under the control of illusion.
Because Lotus Sutra is the right teachings, the opposite happens. Even
when the Buddha Shakamuni existed in the world, there were nine big
persecutions to him. Needless to say, after the Buddha's death, people
who oppose to the Lotus Sutra also increase more and more because the
world worsens and people's minds are twisted. As the proverb says "Good
medicine tastes bitter, Good advice is seldom welcome", Nichiren shonin
explains in Kaimoku-sho(Open your Eyes) that enemies emerge there
because you expound the righteousness sternly, many people oppose to the
Hokke practitioner because he points out their errors.
However, the Buddha protects the Hokke practitioner. The Buddha
Shakamuni supports those who spread the Lotus Sutra, and protects them.
"He will be covered by my robe" means that, the Hokke practitioner
surely is protected kindly by the Buddha's affection as like the mother
who holds a baby in her arms, covering by her clothes. Because the Hokke
practitioner is guided by this teaching, he can have the strong power
of faith, the power of willingness and the power of making various good
deeds. Although the power of faith is caused for the eternal truth of
universe, the original Buddha and the Buddha-nature of you, anyways, the
strong faith is established there that the teachings of the Buddha are
the supreme doctrine, which is never broken by anyone. In this way, you
will have the strong spirit to make efforts for people and the world,
with the power of willingness which saves all human beings and
establishes the peace country by the true Dharma, and you will also have
the executive ability to do all sorts of good deeds. It is not a
selfish desire such as the prosperity of family, or the narrow spirit
getting the freedom from suffering in the world for your own self which
was criticized by Mahayana.
In this way, the Hokke practitioner
has to make efforts, having the strong power of faith, the power of
willingness and the power of making good deeds. If you have only the
faith without the willingness or the practice of good deeds, it disobeys
to the meaning of the Sutra. The Hokke practitioner who makes efforts
is living with the Buddha. Even if he is exiled or is sat for beheading,
he is always with Buddha. The Buddha caresses the head of practitioner
with a palm. It has been clearly expressed in the faith and activity of
Nichiren shonin. Therefore, we have to learn steadily this meaning of
the Sutra as disciples of Nichiren's sects, and follow his example. You
should not abide by the principle of “peace-at-any-price”as like many
ordinary priests in Nichiren's sect. If you always behave as a good man
uttering flowery words, and also lose the dignity of religion by
admiring the praying for magic or the fortune telling, Buddhism will
become worthless for people more and more. If you consider that Buddhism
is supreme religion, and that Nichiren shonin has demonstrated the
righteousness and orthodox doctrine of Buddhism, you have to accomplish
your duty as a disciple, having more great aspiration.
if this can help our sanghat: like to have your thoughts(all of you).
ReplyDelete(I call The Six Harmonies for the kempon Hokke)
The Six Harmonies are guidelines that will enable us
to get along in a sangha, which is the Buddhist
community of four or more people, monastic or lay,
who practice the teachings together. The Six
Harmonies are:
1. Harmony in having the same viewpoints (Namu Myoho renge Kyo).
2. Harmony in observing the same precepts; if i can call precepts(Daimoku).
3. Harmony in living together
4. Harmony in speaking without conflict
5. Harmony in experiencing Dharma bliss (Lotus Sutra).
6. Harmony in sharing benefits
First is harmony in having the same viewpoints,
which means establishing consensuses in a group.
The group members must uphold the same principles
and methods that they are studying and practicing for
harmonious group cultivation. If we want a stable
society, everyone needs to get along with one another.
Only harmony can gradually draw together and
eventually minimize the differences in our opinions,
ideas, and ways of life. Then equality can be achieved,
and finally, happiness.
Second is harmony in observing the same precepts.(Daimoku).
When we live and practice together, we need to have
rules, or else there will be disorder.
Third is harmony in living together as a group. The
purpose of establishing a cultivation center is to help
every participant in the group succeed in their
practice. Living together in a group, practitioners can
support each other.
Fourth is harmony in speaking without conflict. By
reducing, and ideally eliminating, disputes, people will
be better able to focus on their cultivation. People
who talk too much often create problems for
themselves. Misunderstandings can arise as the
listener takes to heart a careless remark of the
speaker. Thus, a careless speaker unknowingly incurs
many enmities, which give rise to future retaliation.
This is why it is best to, "Talk less; chan more Daimoku.
The less we speak, the fewer problems
we will have. It is best that we speak only when
necessary.
Fifth is harmony in experiencing Dharma bliss.(lotus Suttra).
When we learn and practice a Dharma Door,(Daimoku); the
basic achievement that we should attain is happiness.
If we feel unhappy in our practice, then we have
encountered a serious problem. This problem lies not
in the Buddha’s teachings, but in the way we practice.
We may either have done something that goes against
the principles of the teachings or applied the
principles incorrectly. Otherwise, the results would
gradually become apparent as we lessen our suffering.
With each passing day, we would enjoy greater
happiness and freedom. This shows that we are
progressing in our practice. If we are not achieving
this, we need to reflect, find our mistakes, and then
correct them. We can then thus truly benefit from our
practice.
Sixth is harmony in sharing benefits. In the sangha,(kempon Hokke).
everything is shared fairly and whenever possible,
equally. In this way, everyone’s basic needs will be met.
Special needs are also to be considered. Understanding
that everything in the sangha is an offering, nothing shold be
wasted.This will insure that future needs in the sanghat will also be met..
PS: please my engles is not so good.. hopping this will help us in Hokke.
with respect yours humble servant Sebastian..
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
Also we need to develop Bodhichitta by having strong power of faith
ReplyDeletein the lotus sutra.