Daily Practise (Gongyo and Daimoku)

Hello all and welcome back ! :)

Now about daily practise, there is a lot to tell about his, yet i feel like it should be plain and simple since there is no need to make things more complicated than they are.

One thing before starting that i feel is most important and that is Faith, genuine Faith!

This applies mostly to chanting the Odaimoku or Daimoku, which is the chanting of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.

When summon up deep faith, one will be able to connect with the Buddha mind.
Not in the sense that we are buddha inside ( which is a different approach) but through chanting the Daimoku, we can connect with the Buddha mind and through this, there is no doubt we will gain the Supreme Enlightement as is mentioned many times in the Lotus Sutra.

First we open the ceremony ( if you will) with lighting a candle and burn some incense.
When done we chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo 3 times ( as a token of appreciation)
We then usually start with reciting the 2 important portions of the Lotus Sutra, these parts are from chapter 2 and chapter 16 on the Lotus Sutra, now , i mention parts, since we do not recite the complete chapters, but instead we recite the most significant parts of those two chapters.

In Japanese the Hoben and Juryo chapters. ( these can be found in the blog i posted earlier.)

First we recite the two chapter parts, my advise is to take it slow, since focus is easier to maintain at a slow pace. Also it gives better attention to the right pronounciation of the text.

I'd like to point out that the last part of the Hobenpon is repeated 3 times, before moving to the Juryo chapter.

When are done reciting, we then move on to the chanting of the Daimoku, which is Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.

In chanting one places both palms of the hands together at chest height,fingertips pointing upwards, this is called the Gassho position.
We can chant for as long as we wish, set an amount of Daimoku counts, or set a time limit for chanting, any way will do, just remember, Faith is the most important thing when chanting!

If  one wishes to create some sort of altar, then this okay, we can place a Buddha Shakyamuni statue in the center, put an candle next to it and an incense burner on the other side.

Normally, if  one has a Gohonzon, we chant to that, we do however make sure that the nothing is placed before the Gohonzon so that we have a clear view on it.
Obviously, if we have a wallmounted Gohonzon it's okay to place a Buddha Statue underneath it, again, as long as the Gohonzon is not obstructed.

The daily practise can be as colorfull as one wishes, yet this is all up to your own preferences.

I hope i have helped you get a start in the daily practise, should you have any questions, then please feel free to send me a message and i will try to do my best to answer!

Enjoy!

Gassho,

Richard

Nichiren Shonin on the 14 Blasphemies (Slanders)

I was reading through Rev. Kubota's book, "The Tradition of Nichiren Doctrine" and came across something that a few people have asked me over the years and I didn't really have a good answer. People always talk about blaspheming (slandering) the Lotus Sutra...here's Nichiren Shonin's explanation of what blasphemy (slander) is..

"Nichiren Shonin taught Lord Matsuno about 14 types of blasphemers with the "Chapter of the Parable 3" as the proof text:

1. Haughtiness: being arrogant and self-important, looking down on others.
2. Laxity: being negligent in one's faith.
3. Egotism: not listening obediently to Nichiren Shonin's teachings but having a self-made faith.
4. Shallow Consciousness: superficial thinking.
5. Attachment to Desires: obsessive attachment to the Five Desires (for wealth, sex, food and drink, fame, and sleep)
6. Non-understanding: not trying to comprehend the Lord Buddha's Teachings.
7. Non-belief: not trying to believe the Buddha's Preaching in an humility.
8. Frowning: to despise the Hokke faith with knit brows and scornful look.
9. Doubts: holding doubts about the Hokke, the True Dharma.
10. Blasphemy: blaspheming (slandering) against the Hokke faith and practice.
11. Slighting the Good: slighting the Hokke faith and practice.
12. Hating the Good: hating the Hokke faith and practice.
13. Envy of the Good: envying the Hokke faith and practice.
14. Resentment of the Good: Resenting the Hokke faith and practice.

Since these Fourteen Types of Blasphemy are common to both laity and clergy, he says believers and seekers of the Dharma should beware."

With Sincere Gassho,

Fred

Kaimoku Sho - about evil monks and icchantikas

Lotus Sutra chapter 13 - Encouragement for Upholding This SutraWe beseech You not worry
We will expound this sutra
In the frightful world
After Your death,
Ignorannt people may speak
Ill of us and slanders us,
Or abuse us with swords or sticks.
We will endure all of them.
Monks in the evil worldand arrogant,
Cunning, crooked, flattering,
Boast themselves enlightened
While they are not.
Some monks will stay in a monastery,
Wearing robes, sitting quietly,
Claiming to be practicing the true way
Despising others staying among the people
Attached to profit making
They will preach the dharma for lay people
And will be revered by the people
As though they were arhats with Six Superhuman Powers
They will have evil thoughts
Always thinking of worldly matters,
Taking advantage of being in a monastery
They will be happy to find our faults.


Grandmaster Miao Lè explains this citation in the eight fascicle of his Commentary on the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra.
        "This citation from the thirteenth chapter of the Lotus Sutra could be divided into three parts.
The first line (four phrases) refers to the evil people as a whole, that is, the so-called self-conceited lay people.
The next line refers to self-conceited monks while the following seven lines refers to those arrogant monks who consider themselves sages. Of the three, persecution by the first group of arrogant people is endurable. That of the second group is harder to endure, while that of the third group, self-styled sages, is most difficult to endure. The second and third groups are more cunning and less likely to reveal their faults."

Monk Chih-tu of Tung-ch'un states in his Commentary on the Lotus Sutra:
         "First, in the five lines starting with "ignorant people", in the chapter on the "Encouragement for Upholding This Sutra",the first line refers to those who commit three kinds of evil acts"- physical, verbal, and psychological acts- which are visible. The next line beginning with  "monks in the evil world"referss to self-conceited arrogant monks. Third, the three lines following "some monks will stay in a monastery"refer to the acts of evil monks representing those of all the wicked people."


From: Writings of Nichiren Shonin -  Volume 2
Kaimoku Sho chapter 14 - page 92




And so it happens, SGI , Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu, all seem to prefer money and followers over the True Teachings ...
Once power and influence gain the priority, the merits of the lotus sutra will be lost .
It is up to Thos Who Receive and Keep the Lotus Sutra, to truly and dilligently uphold This Sutra .
When all these schools keep this up, it will be no wonder that they will come tumbling down eventually, exposed as traitors of the Law.

Gassho,

Richard

How Should One Practise the True Teachings ?

And more important, what do we need and what do we have to do ?

The most important thing is to chant the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, According to Nichiren Shonin, the Daimoku is the very essence of te Lotus Sutra, thus , once we chant the Daimoku, all the Teachings of the Lotus Sutra and the wisdom of Shakyamuni will be therefor befall upon us.

We need no to fully understand the Lotus Sutra, since the daimoku encompasses the full range of the Lotus Sutra, and all that has been taught within this Sutra.

All we need is a firm belief that we can become Buddhas ourselves and we actually can tap into the Buddha wisdom, just by chanting the Daimoku.

The Buddha himself said in the Lotus Sutra:
"if a person rejoices upon even hearing one single phrase of this sutra and keeps it, this person can be assured of becoming a buddha in the future."
How much more when a person hears the core of the Lotus Sutra, Namu Myoho Renge Kyo ?

So, 2 things we really need to gain Buddha wisdom:
- Unconditional faith
- The chanting of the Daimoku.


Nothing more, nothing less.

My sincerest regards,

Gassho,

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo !

The Object of Worship

The following is from my Kempon Hokke archives and is a translation of a Kempon Hokke work by H. Graham Lamont and may not be reprinted without permission:

Kanjin Honzon Sho. “Entrustment means: it is this Sutra that is only entrusted to the Bodhisattvas Who Sprang Forth From Beneath the Earth . . .” (STN, v.1, 717)

The meaning is clear. The Daimoku is the Dharma entrusted to the Bodhisattvas Who Sprang from the Earth. Such an interpretation agrees entirely with the Sutra, as cited above, and is reasonable. The Eternal Buddha, who is ever present but hides His Presence, entrusts His Dharma, “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” to His Own Disciples from the most distant past.

Daimoku is Dharma, not the Buddha “On Upbraiding Blasphemy Against the Dharma and Extinguishing sins” (Kashaku hobo metsuzai sho) says, “During more than two thousand two hundred years it is the painted images and wooden images of the Master of Teachings Lord Shakya that worthy kings and saintly rulers have taken as the Object of Worship. However, although it was only the Buddhas of the Lesser Vehicle, and of the Kegon, the Nehan (Nirvana), the Kangyo, the Manifestation Doctrine (Shakumon) of the Hokekyo, the Fugengyo, of the Great Vehicle, the Buddha of the Dainichikyo in the Shingon, and Shakya and Taho of the Chapter of the Jeweled Stupa that they wrote, the Lord Shakya of the Chapter of the Measure of Life is not yet in the temples and monastic residences.” (STN, v. 1, 784).

The Object of Worship, not yet actually installed in Buddhist temples, is to be none other than the Eternal Lord Shakya. The Dharma is the Daimoku and the ones who are entrusted with that Dharma are the Bodhisattvas Who Sprang from the Earth. The Daimoku is especially formed as the Essence of the Sutra by the Buddha, Lord Shakya, and he has specifically summoned the Bodhisattvas Who Sprang from the Earth and given His Own Inner Realization (the unity of Wisdom and its Field or Object) in the form of “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” to them to spread at the beginning of this age of the Latter Dharma.

It is obvious then (to everyone but Nichiren Shoshu and SGI):

1) The source of the Daimoku which contains the Buddha’s Inner Realization is
Lord Shakya

2) That same Lord Shakya transfers this Daimoku to the Bodhisattva Jogyo and
his fellow Bodhisattvas Who Sprang from the Earth;

3) This transfer has already taken place as described in the undeniable Sutra
text referring to, forming the Essence, and its Entrustment. In other words, the
doctrine was Sutra based;

4) Nichiren Shonin modestly denies that he is actually that Bodhisattva but
indicates he is at least their forerunner.

Despite Nichiren Shonin’s modesty, it is obvious from the other documents cited
above that he and his immediate followers identified him as being precisely
that Bodhisattva, who had received the Daimoku from Lord Shakyamuni.

Back on track

Hello again and welcome back,

Obviously, i have been thinking and reading some study materials in the meantime.
It seems to be the case that at some point during the practice and doing the Gongyo, one can't help but develop spiritually. The more we practice, the clearer things become.
Such as is the case with myself.

After reading some essays, I found and could finally confirm that the words in those essays were very true.

As Nichiren stated:"Faith is the foundation of the practice".

What is this faith that Nichiren Daishonin talks about ?
Well, basically it has to do with Faith in the Daimoku and Lotus Sutra.
This is the only way to develop stronger Faith by practice and perform Gongyo and chanting the Daimoku.

Several times have i read, that even if one can't read or knows how to write, as soon as a person has sincere faith, then chanting the Daimoku eventually will help develop more and stronger faith.

I have now experienced this myself. To me it is the reason to continue the practice of Gongyo and Daimoku.
And with each time, i can actually feel my faith develop and grow stronger indeed.

It is through faith that one can get to know the Eternal Buddha as revealed in the Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra.
More and more i can't help but notice to have a clear focus in the practice of Nichiren's Buddhism.

Also, this faith makes me aware that indeed i am protected, and yes, my family is protected and that eventually because of chanting the Daimoku, i will eventually receive the merits of this practice.

Obviously, this merit is not the main goal to start believing, we all would like to drive a better car, have a bigger house.
Yet, if one decides to take on chanting for this sole reason, then i have to dissappoint you, this is not about material wealth, not in the first nor in the last place.

The reason for chanting should be that one wishes to attain the Supreme Enlightenment, be an equal to Lord Shakamuni, The Eternal Buddha.

Be receiving and respong with joy for even as little as just one second or receiving one verse of the Lotus Sutra, those who rejoice in this, will surely attain Enlightenment, if not this life, then next life.
Just know that responding with joy, plants a little seed that will eventually grow and blossom and will be remembered throughout any rebirth.

The Daimoku will not even for a split second, will lose it's value nor result.

Namy Myoho Renge Kyo,

Was Nikko Really Nichiren Shonin's Heir? Judge For Yourself

The thing we know with absolute certainty is that Nichiren appointed Six Senior Priests and that Nikko was certainly not his sole heir. Most all the issues we debate have some bit of elbow room for interpretation because they are religious constructs. Nikko as sole heir is a horse of a different color because it involves an historical event. Historical events can be looked into. When Nikko as sole heir is seriously looked into, there is no debate. No professional historian argues for it anywhere. The facts speak so loudly that the claim is beyond the pale with no corroborative evidence at all to support Nichiren Shoshu’s claim.

There are three transfer documents (he sure must have been busy his last few days changing his mind). The authentic transfer document gives leadership of the sect to six Priests, Nikko included. We know this is the authentic transfer, because everyone acts exactly in accordance with that document. At no time does Nikko do the smallest thing in the role of sole leader. He does not lead the funeral but rather marches in the rear rank (we have two accounts of the funeral, one by Nikko himself). He is left only non-religious personal effects by Nichiren and complains bitterly about that later. And he does act along with everyone else as a group of six, filling the role of secretary to the group, not leader of the group. When the government interacts with the sect, they deal directly with Nissho, the eldest of the Senior Priests, not Nikko and never once does Nikko try to insert himself into these sorts of interactions, explaining that they have it wrong and he should be dealt with as the leader. A lot of things can be said about Nikko good and bad, but shyness was not a trait he was known for. When he leaves Minobu he writes how sad he is to go, but one of the two fake transfer documents says Fuji is where the Kaidan should go, so he would certainly have been happy to go there.

The  fake transfer documents themselves are rampant with bloopers. They do not appear on the scene until years after Nikko’s death and are supposed copies of copies of copies to explain away why the handwriting does not match anyone present at the time they would have been written.  One of the two was forged by Taisekiji but they were not coordinating their forgery project with their sister Temple, the Nikko-founded Honmonji Nishiyama, who was also busy forging one of their very own. In the Honmonji Temple’s fake, they have the chutzpah (nerve) to make a reference to a “Honmonji” Temple as the Kaidan Temple.  And finally, if Nikko was really sole heir, it was a secret, because no one anywhere at that time makes even a passing reference to it. No one cares enough about Nichiren’s last order to discuss it when it was supposedly done. No one cares enough to mention Nikko as leader while he was on Minobu and no one cared enough to discuss what would have been a coup d'etat when he walks off the mountain and goes (sadly) to Fuji. NIKKO does not ever mention it. Not once, not even in passing that he at anytime was Nichiren’s sole heir . Toki Jonin does not ever mention it. The Abutsubo family takes no notice, Lady Koo does not notice. Shingo Kingo does not notice. Not even a vague reference exists by any person, from his closest followers to the government, to the neighbors. But what every one acts in accord with, is the real and only transfer document, the one appointing all six Priests.

This is very bad news for Nichiren Shoshu because their primary excuse for leaving Nichiren Buddhism and creating a weird and Tendai-like theology not actually found in the Gosho of Nichiren Shonin is that the “inner” and “real” doctrine of Nichiren Shonin is not found in his writings but rather in a secret "Mind to Mind" transmission (see: Tendai-Shu Blood lineage transmission theories) that starts with Nikko as Nichiren’s special receptor and sole heir , an event which has left no trace in the historical record and no serious person could believe really happened.