http://chantforhappiness.blogspot.com/2019/12/11-keys-for-chanting-joyfully-for.html
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Saturday, December 28, 2019
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Gosho for Feb 2020
《创价人生》2020年2月号
以下将刊登在《创价人生》2020年2月号：
法华经题目抄
妙者，开之谓也。世间积财之藏，非钥匙不开，不开则不见藏内之财。（御书975页）
（白话文）
所谓妙，就是开的意思。在世间而言，积存财富的宝藏没有钥匙难以开启。不能开启，就看不见宝藏内的财富。
背景与大意
本篇御书写于1266年1月。有关收信人的详情不详，不过从内容推测，对方是一名曾经相信念佛的妇女。
如题号所示，日莲大圣人在本篇御书中教示南无妙法莲华经的题目之伟大功力。
大圣人在御书一开头，就回应了"不知道《法华经》的意思，只唱题目（南无妙法莲华经）也会有功德吗？"大圣人在确认法华经的题目正是佛的庞大教义之肝心，是所有佛的眼目之后，再强调这个实践的根本就是"信"。
亦即大圣人说明有解无信（指对佛法的法门虽有理解）的人将堕入阿鼻大城，无解有信（指对佛法的法门虽有理解）的人能成佛，信心才是末法的成佛关键。
之后，大圣人教导，持着值遇妙法、唱诵题目是多么稀罕的事的自觉来唱题。
接着，大圣人针对"妙法莲华经五字能容得何许功德耶"，意思就是妙法莲华经五字收纳了多少功德"的问题，说明南无妙法莲华经不只是题目，而是包容九界和佛界的众生，以及众生所依存的环境、国土的根本法理。
跟着，大圣人明确地说出"妙"这个字所包含的三个意义，那就是一、"开之义"（打开诸经的仓库，显示出佛的真意之妙法）、"具足、圆满之义"（收纳一切功德，具有使一切众生成佛之力），以及"苏生之义"（让被认为不能成佛的恶人、女人及二乘之人也能成佛）。这就称为"妙之三义"。
之后，大圣人强调，法华经是说出女人成佛的唯一经典，并敦促收信者勿受恶知识影响，要一心唱诵南无妙法莲华经。
唱诵题目的人，什么都不怕
学习御文的重点：
1妙法莲华经的"妙"之一字是"开之义"
2构筑成佛的大境涯的唱题行
3广布的人生不会走投无路
解说
妙法莲华经的"妙"字包含了"开之义"、"具足、圆满之义"、"苏生之义"。
大圣人的"妙者，开之谓也"（御书975页）这句御文，阐明《法华经》才是唯一能开启佛教之大目的、即"一切众生成佛之道"的经典。
即使宝藏内收纳着财宝，若没有钥匙就无法打开，也无法确认里面收藏之物。
正如这个譬喻所示，在《法华经》以前的诸经，收纳着阐明万人成佛之妙法此财宝的仓库一直被关闭着。即使看见有此仓库，但没有人看过里面的财宝。
直到阐明众生成佛的《法华经》出现，诸经的仓库才打开，显现出佛真正想宣说的妙法这"财宝"。
妙法拥有能开启秘藏在一切众生生命中的佛界这胸中宝藏，让生命跃动的力量。而打开我们体内这个财的钥匙，就是"信心"。大圣人在另一篇御书中教示："开者，信心之异名也。"（御书748页）
我们通过唱诵南无妙法莲华经，能显现胸中之"财"。通过对妙法的强盛信心，任何人都能打开满溢功德与福运的人生。
生命中密藏着有如宇宙般大的可能性。从其中引出这伟大生命力，让所有的人苏生的希望宗教，就是日莲佛法。
池田先生说道："'妙之三义'的结论就是，如破除阴霾的旭日般，努力不懈地唱奉妙法的人生绝不会走投无路。日莲佛法的根本就在于唱题。当朗朗唱题的时候，太阳将在我们胸中赫赫升起，让自己充满力量，满溢慈爱，涌现欢喜，发挥智慧。诸天、诸佛也一起开始作动，人生快乐无穷。没有比题目更有力量的了。"
让我们创价学会创立90周年为目标，与友人分享以妙法为根本的人生，自他一起开启无限生命的可能性。
（转译自创价学会教学月刊《大白莲华》2019年11月号）
池田SGI会长的指导
御本尊又称为"功德聚（功德的聚合）"。发挥御本尊无尽功力的关键在于自己的强盛信心。诚如本篇御书所说的："夫入佛道之根本，以信为本。"（御书972页）
透过认真踏实的唱题实践，将会涌现无限的功德。只要唱题，就会涌现生命力和勇气。
"苦乐与共，同唱南无妙法莲华经可也。"（御书1189页）艰苦的时候唱题，束手无策的时候也是唱题。
户田先生常说："向御本尊强盛祈求的事，一定会如愿。但是有三个条件，第一是题目，第二是题目，第三也是题目"
"题目的力量伟大无比。能把受苦业折磨的生命，变成宛如在美丽花园游玩、如梦幻般舒畅安稳的状态。"
"只要拚命唱题，题目必能化为功德显现。只要认真祈求，杂念就会消除，能聚精会神地战胜广布的奋战。"
"怎能就此败北！要如此下定决心，奋力不懈地唱题，积极奋战。根本在于题目，在于祈求。"
户田先生如此教导我们每一个人如何毕生为广宣流布奋斗，以获得幸福的直道。
（摘自池田SGI会长的《研习胜利经典──「御书」》
（以上将刊登在《创价人生》2020年2月号）
地区部长的补充资料
以下不会刊登在《创价人生》
池田SGI会长的指导
妙者"开之义"
首先，"妙者，开之谓也。"这一节是指"开之义"。大圣人以此阐明《法华经》才是唯一能开启佛教之大目的、即"一切众生成佛之道"的经典。
妙法能开启秘藏在九界现实的人生命中的佛界这胸中宝藏，拥有能让众生生命跃动的力量。
在《法华经》以前的诸经，像收纳着佛至高悟达的妙法此财宝的仓库一直被关闭着。即使知道好像有此仓库，但没有人看过里面的财宝。
直到阐明众生成佛的《法华经》出现，诸经的仓库才打开，显现出释尊真正想宣说的妙法这"财宝"。
这说出了"佛教是什么"此最本质之处。各种经典虽各自阐述佛的伟大人格，以及佛的浩瀚悟达，然而这些教说若不能真正开放给众生共享，则毫无利益可言。
实际上，如果佛的教说不能改变我们自己的人生，以及让我们在现实生活中显现与佛一样尊贵无比的境界，则佛教的真正价值可说尚未发挥。当时的佛教信仰是把"伟大的佛"置于己身外，世人只能仰赖此外在之佛的功力。大圣人在世当时广泛流行的"念佛的题目"正是这种信仰的象征。相对之下，"法华经的题目"是为了显现自己生命中如宇宙般浩瀚的妙法力量，开启成佛的大境界。
（摘自池田SGI会长的《研习胜利经典──「御书」》
日莲佛法是人间革命的教导
大圣人的佛法是一贯主张改变自己、变革现实的宗教。讲求如何涌现自身的佛性，进行自身的人间革命。日日朗朗唱题，累积信仰体验，畅谈这喜悦，扩展善的网络。于这种由觉醒民众所推广的佛法运动的基础上，生命尊严、人性尊严的文化欣欣向荣，社会繁荣与世界和平也得以确立。
（摘自池田SGI会长的《研习胜利经典──「御书」》
<完>
Feb 2020 Creative Life
The following will be published on the February 2020issue of Creative Life:
The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Hence the character myō means to open. If there is a storehouse full of treasures but no key, then it cannot be opened, and if it cannot be opened, then the treasures inside cannot be seen. (WND-1, p 145)
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Background and Outline
This writing is a letter composed in January 1266. The recipient, though unknown, appears from the letter's content to have been a woman who had formerly believed in the Pure Land (Nembutsu) teachings and was relatively new to faith in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.
As the title suggests, this letter in which NichirenDaishonin teaches the great beneficial power of the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
At the outset of this letter, the Daishonin addresses the question of whether or not one can benefit from chanting the daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) without understanding its meaning.
In response to this question, the Daishonin declares that the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra is the very heart of all the vast array of the Buddha's teachings and the eye of all the Buddhas. (cf WND-1, p 141) Having said this, the Daishonin emphasizes the importance of faith as the basis of the practice of chanting daimoku.
To stress its importance, the Daishonin goes on to compare those who "have knowledge but are without faith" and those who "lack knowledge but have faith" (cf. WND-1, 142), stating that the former are now in the great citadel of the Avichi hell while the latter became Buddhas. In this way, the Daishonin teaches that faith is the key to attaining Buddhahood in the Latter Day of the Law.
Subsequently, the Daishonin teaches the importance of chanting daimoku with the appreciation and awareness that it is indeed rare to be able to encounter the teachings of the Mystic Law and chant the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo..
Next, the Daishonin further addresses the question, "How great are the blessings contained within the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo?" (WND-1, p 143) His answer is that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is not merely a title, but it is a fundamental teaching that contains all the living beings of the nine worlds and the world of Buddhahood, as well as the environments of all those beings.
The Daishonin then reveals the three meanings of the single character myo – namely, to open (it opens the storehouse that contains various Buddhist scriptures and reveals the teaching of the Mystic Law that reveals the Buddha's true intent), to be fully endowed (it encompasses all benefits and contains the beneficial power to lead all living beings to enlightenment), and to revive (it revives individuals who are denied the possibility of enlightenment by the other sutras, namely evil persons, women, and persons of the two vehicles and leads them to enlightenment).
Finally, the Daishonin emphasizes that the only the Lotus Sutra enables women to attain Buddhahood, and urges the recipient of this letter not to be influenced by evil friends (negative influence) and to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyosingle-mindedly.
We Can Surely Win and Open the Way Forward!
A Person Who Chants Daimoku has Nothing to Fear
Key Learning Points of the Gosho Passage: ◇ Myo of Myoho-renge-kyo means to open ◇ The practice of daimoku helps us forge the great life state of Buddhahood ◇ There's no deadlock in a life dedicated to kosen-rufu
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Explanation
The single character myo in Myoho-renge-kyo has the three meanings – namely "to open", "to be fully endowed", and "to revive".
First, the Daishonin says: "The character myo means to open" (WND-1, 145). The Daishonin teaches here that theLotus Sutra is the sole scripture that opens the way for the enlightenment of all living beings, which is the ultimatepurpose of Buddhism.
Even though the storehouse may be full of treasures, but without a key, it cannot be opened and we will not be able to confirm what's inside.
As this analogy indicates, in the various sutras taught before the Lotus Sutra, the storehouse containing the treasure of the Mystic Law—the essence of the Buddha's supreme enlightenment—remains closed. The storehouse may be visible, but no one has yet seen the treasure inside.
However, with the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, which elucidates the principle of universal enlightenment, the storehouse of all the earlier scriptures is opened for the first time, revealing the treasure of the Mystic Law, the ultimate teaching that the Buddha truly wished to convey.
The Mystic Law has the power to open the treasurestorehouse that resides within all human beings—that is, the world of Buddhahood latent within the reality of the nine worlds—and to powerfully invigorate their lives. And the key to unlocking this immense treasure innate in our life is none other than faith. As the Daishonin states in another writing, "'Opening' here is another name for the mind of faith." (OTT, p 28)
By chanting the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can draw forth the "treasure" that resides within our lives. Through having strong faith in the teachings of the Mystic Law, anyone can open the way forward to a life filled with benefits and good fortune.
Inherent within our own lives is the power as vast as the universe itself. Nichiren Buddhism is a hope-filled teaching that helps revive the lives of all people by enabling us to manifest the boundless life force of Buddhahood from within.
SGI President Ikeda says, "The 'three meanings of myo'ultimately ensure that, just as the morning sun dispels the darkness, the lives of those who consistently chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will never be deadlocked. Chanting is the foundation of Nichiren Buddhism. When we vigorouslychant daimoku, the sun rises brightly in our hearts. Energy surges, compassion wells forth, joy radiates, and wisdom shines. All the Buddhas and heavenly deities—the positive forces of the universe—spring into action. Life becomes enjoyable. Nothing is more powerful than daimoku."
With our gaze set on the 90th anniversary of the SokaGakkai's founding, let's share with our friends how wonderful it is to live our lives based on the Mystic Law and together, manifest the boundless potential that resides within our lives.
(Translated and adapted from the November 2019 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai's monthly study journal.)
SGI President Ikeda's Guidance
The Unerring Path of Becoming Happy
The Gohonzon is described as being a "cluster of blessings" (WND-1, 832). The key to drawing forth the inexhaustible benefit of the Gohonzon is our own strong faith. In this letter, the Daishonin writes: "Thus faith is the basic requirement for entering the way of the Buddha" (WND-1, 141). Through our earnest, consistent efforts to chant daimoku, we can gain infinite benefit. Chanting also brings forth a powerful surge of life force and courage. As the Daishonin says: "Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what happens" (WND-1, 681; "Happiness in This World"). When you are suffering, chant; when you are stuck, chant. Mr. Toda often gave the following guidance:
A strong prayer to the Gohonzon is certain to be realized. There are three conditions, however: daimoku, daimoku, and more daimoku! * The power of daimoku is colossal. It can transform a life imbued with painful karma into one that is like strolling in a beautiful garden, or like a pleasant dream. * If you chant daimoku with wholehearted determination, you will definitely realize benefit. When you chant in earnest, stray thoughts will fade away and you'll be able to concentrate on succeeding in your efforts for kosen-rufu. * Firmly resolve not to let yourself be defeated. Fight on, chanting and chanting daimoku. The most important thing is daimoku; it is prayer.
Mr. Toda taught us the unerring path of dedicating our lives to kosen-rufu and becoming happy.
(From SGI President Ikeda's Lecture Series "Learning from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory" ) |
< end of article to be published on CL >
Supplementary Resources for MD District Leaders
◇ Please note that the following WILL NOT be published on CL.
SGI President Ikeda's Guidance
"Myo Means to Open"
First, the Daishonin says: "The character myo means to open" (WND-1, 145). The Lotus Sutra is the sole scripture that opens the way for the enlightenment of all living beings, which is the ultimate purpose of Buddhism. The Mystic Law has the power to open the treasure storehouse that resides within all human beings—that is, the world of Buddhahood latent within the reality of the nine worlds—and to powerfully invigorate their lives. In the various sutras taught before the Lotus Sutra, the storehouse containing the treasure of the Mystic Law—the essence of the Buddha's supreme enlightenment—remains closed. The storehouse may be visible, but no one has yet seen the treasure inside. However, with the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, which elucidates the principle of universal enlightenment, the storehouse of all the earlier scriptures is opened for the first time, revealing the treasure of the Mystic Law, the ultimate teaching that Shakyamuni trulywished to convey. In this section, the Daishonin highlights what is the most essential aim of Buddhism. The various other sutras detail the Buddha's lofty character and the vastness of his enlightenment, but unless those teachings are really accessible to all people, they are of no benefit. The true value of Buddhism can only be demonstrated if we are actually able to transform our lives and manifest in the course of our everyday reality the same supremely noble life state as the Buddha. Adherents of the established schools of Buddhism in the Daishonin's day placed their faith in a "great Buddha" that existed outside themselves, passively relying on that Buddha to bestow benefits upon them. The popular Nembutsu practice of chanting the name of Amida Buddha was the epitome of that approach. However, chanting the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, is the practice that enables us to manifest the power of the Mystic Law inherent within our own lives—power as vast as the universe itself—and open the boundless life state of Buddhahood. (From SGI President Ikeda's Lecture Series "Learning from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory" )
*** Nichiren Buddhism Is a Teaching for Our Human Revolution
Nichiren Buddhism is a teaching that enables us to change ourselves and our circumstances. We bring forth our inherent Buddha nature and carry out our human revolution. We chant vigorous daimoku day after day, accumulate experiences of the power of our Buddhist practice, share the joy of faith with others, and thereby expand our network dedicated to the cause of good. Our grassroots Buddhist movement of awakened individuals will lay the foundation for the creation of a culture of respect for life and human dignity as well as vibrant social development and world peace.
(From SGI President Ikeda's Lecture Series "Learning from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory" ) |
< end of supplementary resources >
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