May 2019 Creative Life
The following will be published on the May 2019 issue of Creative Life:
The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life
Be resolved to summon forth the great power of faith, and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of death1. Never seek any other way to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death, and manifest it in your life. Only then will you realize that earthly desires are enlightenment2, and that the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana3. Even embracing the Lotus Sutra would be useless without the heritage of faith. (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p 216) |
Background and Outline
This letter, dated February 11, 1272, was written by Nichiren Daishonin when he was 51 at Tsukahara on Sado Island, where he was living in exile and it was addressed to Sairen-bo. Details about Sairen-bō are scarce, but he was a learned priest formerly of the Tendai school, who was also living in exile on Sado for reasons that are unclear and had become a follower of the Daishonin while on Sado. The letter was composed in response to a question of ultimate importance relating to Buddhism from Sairen-bo regarding "the heritage of the ultimate Law of life and death".
The "ultimate Law of life" in the title, "The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life", refers to the matter of ultimate importance concerning all living entities trapped in the cycle of life and death, and it is none other than the teaching for the universal enlightenment of all living beings. In addition, the term "heritage", the literal translation of which is "blood vessel" or "lifeblood" which illustrates the flow of lineage from parent to child, refers to the transmission of the Law or the teaching from the Buddha to all living beings. As such, the "heritage of the ultimate Law of life" refers to the fundamental teaching of ultimate importance for the attainment of Buddhahood to be transmitted from the Buddha to all living beings.
Right at the outset of this Gosho, the Daishonin clarifies the most essential point, explaining that the ultimate Law of life and death which is the heritage passed on by the Buddha is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (cf WND-1, p 216).
Next, having clarified that the ultimate Law exists within the lives of human beings, Nichiren Daishonin sets forth three essential elements of faith necessary for people of the Latter Day to inherit from the Daishonin the Law for attaining Buddhahood.
Firstly, it is to chant daimoku with the belief that there is absolutely no distinction between the Buddha, the Law for attaining enlightenment, and the life of ordinary beings. In other words, it is to chant daimoku with absolute faith that as entities of Myoho-renge-kyo (the Mystic Law), we ordinary human beings are inherently endowed with the supreme life state of the Buddha.
Secondly, it is to uphold non-regressing faith, by maintaining faith with the resolve never to leave the Gohonzon throughout the three existences of life.
Thirdly, the Daishonin teaches that when we cherish the great desire for kosen-rufu and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the unity of "many in body, one in mind", the heritage of the ultimate Law of life and death will flow in our lives.
The Daishonin then emphasises the profound karmic bonds of mentor and disciple that connects him and Sairen-bo. The Daishonin praises Sairen-bo for asking the question on the transmission of the ultimate Law of life and death, expressing his joy that no one had asked this question before. The Daishonin also indicates here that he has taken up the role as Bodhisattva Superior Practices.
Finally, in concluding this writing, the Daishonin emphasizes that the "heritage of the ultimate Law of life and death" is the "heritage of faith", and encourages Sairen-bo to "be resolved to summon forth the great power of faith".
Faith Dedicated to the Struggle for Kosen-rufu is the Key to Achieving Eternal Happiness that Spans Over the Three Existences of Life
Key Learning Points of the Gosho Passage: ◇ Spending each day without regrets by "summoning forth the great power of faith" ◇ The Mystic Law can transform everything towards the direction of good ◇ The true heritage of faith is found only in the Soka Gakkai
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Explanation
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (the Mystic Law) is thefundamental teaching that enables people to overcome the sufferings of birth and death and lead their lives on the brilliant path of happiness. In this Gosho passage we are studying this month, Nichiren Daishonin clarifies the essential criteria that constitute correct faith.
Firstly, the Daishonin states, "Be resolved to summon forththe great power of faith…" Through these words, the Daishonin emphasizes that the "great power of faith" is the basis for each person to share the heritage of the Law. Next, the Daishonin explains what we need to do in concrete terms of our Buddhist practice, saying: "Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of death."
In order to be able to have a correct and steadfast mind at the moment of death, it is crucial that we strive day after day, month after month, with the spirit of faith that "now is our last moment"—always living our lives in such a way that we have no regrets.
The Daishonin also reminds us that besides chanting daimoku earnestly, it is also crucial that we never seek the heritage of the ultimate Law of life and death outside ourlives. It is only within such powerful faith will the heritage of the ultimate Law of life pulsate. In other words, the heritage of the Law does not exist apart from faith in the Buddhism.
Next, the Daishonin reveals that the life-state we can attain through such strong prayers by summoning forth the great power of faith is the realization that "earthly desires are enlightenment" and "the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana."
Taken in a literal sense, "earthly desires" and "enlightenment" are diametric opposites and cannot be identified with one another. The same can be said of "the sufferings of birth and death" and "nirvana". However, through the great beneficial power of the Mystic Law, earthly desires can be transformed into enlightenment and sufferings of birth and death into nirvana. In this way, the power of the Mystic Law is able to positively transform everything in towards the direction of good.
At the end of this Gosho passage, the Daishonin concludes, "Even embracing the Lotus Sutra would be useless without the heritage of faith." Ultimately, in the realm of Buddhism, it is the mentor who exemplifies what such profound faithentails through his own life. For this reason, striving in faith in the spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple (that is, with the same commitment as the mentor) is the key and the ultimate path to sharing the heritage of faith.
SGI President Ikeda says in his guidance, "When disciples unite in spirit with the mentor, they can overcome the sufferings of birth and death and, in this lifetime, attain a state in which they savor the boundless joy of the Law that continues eternally throughout the three existences. That is the purpose of Buddhism. Accordingly, the key to inheriting the ultimate Law of life and death lies in faith that embodies the spirit of not begrudging one's life in striving for kosen-rufu and the happiness of others, united in spirit with the mentor."
In the context of the modern day, the Soka Gakkai is the only organization that has inherited correct faith that is directly connected to the Daishonin and putting it into practice. Let's continue to advance kosen-rufu everyday with faith based on the spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple.
(Translated from the February 2019 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai's monthly study journal.)
Footnotes:
1. To have a correct and steadfast mind at the last moment means to maintain right thought—that is, unwavering faith and conviction in the Mystic Law—without losing serenity or composure even in the face of death. Specifically, it indicates a mind that, on approaching death, feels deep satisfaction at having lived a life of no regrets and is filled with unsurpassed joy at having been able to embrace the Mystic Law.
2. "Earthly desires are enlightenment" means that the wisdom for attaining Buddhahood (that is, enlightenment) appears in lives dominated by earthly desires, or deluded impulses. Together with the principle of "sufferings of birth and death as nirvana", "earthly desires as enlightenment" is used to express the life state or benefit of the "attainment of Buddhahood in one's present form" from another perspective.
3. "Sufferings of birth and death are nirvana" means that the state of true peace and tranquillity of the Buddha (that is, "nirvana") manifests in lives that are wracked by the sufferings of birth and death.
SGI President Ikeda's Guidance
Living Each Moment to the Fullest
While supporting my mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, and striving for kosen-rufu in my youth, I engraved these words of Nichiren Daishonin in my heart. As Mr Toda's disciple, I was determined to live my life to its fullest, free of regrets— with the spirit to spend each moment as if it were my last, maintaining correct and steadfast faith to the very end. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and applying ourselves to the challenges right before us, we can tap into the great wisdom and power of the Buddha. What tasks do we need to tackle today? Through vibrant gongyo and chanting with concrete goals, let's rouse powerful life force and win in our struggles each day!
(From "Advancing with the Gosho: Words of Encouragement from SGI President Ikeda" 85)
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Supplementary Resources for MD District Leaders
The Meaning of Having "a Correct and Steadfast Mind At the Moment of Death"
To have a correct and steadfast mind at the last moment means to maintain right thought—that is, unwavering faith and conviction in the Mystic Law—without losing serenity or composure even in the face of death. Specifically, it indicates a mind that, on approaching death, feels deep satisfaction at having lived a life of no regrets and is filled with unsurpassed joy at having been able to embrace the Mystic Law…. The spirit that now is one's last moment means to live each moment and each day fully and without regret, deeply aware of the significance of our last moment as a final accounting of this life. In this sense, the wisdom and insight into life possessed by those who strive in faith with this spirit gives them confidence and determination, and further fuels their vibrant hope and tireless actions. A correct and steadfast mind at the moment of death, meanwhile, is derived as a natural course of striving earnestly in faith day after day, month after month, year after year, with the spirit that now is one's last moment. By doing so, we can forge and polish our life and elevate our state of mind. (From SGI President Ikeda's Lectures on "The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life" 6)
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The Spirit that "Now is our Last Moment" is to Earnestly Give Our All to the Present
The moment of death represents a final accounting of this existence—the outcome of which is strictly decided by how we have lived our life. Will we be able to meet our last moment with immense satisfaction, full of deep appreciation and free of all regret? Or will we meet the final curtain of this lifetime overwhelmed by regret and self-reproach? A person's whole life is condensed into that last moment, without any possibility of deception or concealment. That's why it is crucial to live each moment to the fullest, especially if we want to be able to say: "If I were to die right now, I would have no regret or dissatisfaction. My heart would be serene and tranquil." To strive in faith with the spirit that now is our last moment is to earnestly give our all to the present, determined to have no regrets even if this moment should be our very last. (From SGI President Ikeda's Lectures on "The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life" 6)
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