July 2018 Creative Life
The following will be published on the July 2018 issue of Creative Life:
How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra
When we revere Myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own lifeas the object of devotion, the Buddha nature within us is summoned forth and manifested by our chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is what is meant by "Buddha." To illustrate, when a caged bird sings, birds who are flying inthe sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out. When with our mouths we chant theMystic Law, our Buddha nature, being summoned, will invariably emerge.
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p 887)
Background and Outline
While the letter's date and recipient are unclear, it is generally thought to have been written in 1277 when Nichiren Daishonin was 56. As the letter's content focuses on refuting the Nembutsu school's view of the existence of an otherworldly Pure Land and also by the fact that a brief reference is made to the attainment of enlightenment by women taught in the Lotus Sutra, it suggests that the letter may have been addressed to a female follower of the Daishonin—who had either formerly recited the Nembutsu(the name of Amida Buddha) or was still drawn to the Pure Land practice—with the aim of teaching her the basics of faith in the Lotus Sutra, the essence of which is chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Written in question-and-answer form, "How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra" first establishes that, among the various schools of Buddhism, only that based upon the Lotus Sutra represents the school founded by Shakyamuni Buddha himself, for this sutra alone expresses the Buddha's true intention. On top of this, the Daishonin reveals that "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo", which represents the heart and core of the 28-chapter Lotus Sutra and the fundamental Law for the attainment of Buddhahood for all people, is the only teaching to be propagated during the Latter Day of the Law.
Next, the Daishonin teaches that one needs three elements—a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching—before prayers can be answered and the nation restored to peace.
The Daishonin also states that because the teachings of the Lotus Sutra enables people who are ignorant about Buddhism to attain Buddhahood, one should strive to one's utmost best to propagate its teachings by saying, "Therefore, one should by all means persist in preaching the Lotus Sutra and causing them to hear it." (WND-1, p 882)
The Daishonin further states that for those who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra after hearing it will attain Buddhahood while those who slander the Lotus Sutra will eventually attain Buddhahood by virtue of the "poison-drum relationship," or the reverse connection that they thereby form with it.
Having said this, the Daishonin reveals that those who embrace and propagate the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day will invariably encounter the three powerful enemies and be persecuted. The Daishonin also teaches that the three powerful enemies appear as expounded in the Lotus Sutra and that one should not fear persecutions but instead, one should exert oneself even harder to practice faith. The Daishonin concludes that those who persist in propagating the teachings of the Lotus Sutra despite encountering the three powerful enemies are the true votaries of the Lotus Sutra.
In the concluding portion, the Daishonin explains that bycarrying out the practice of chanting the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can summon forth and manifest the Buddha nature inherent in our own lives. The Daishoninconcludes the letter by encouraging us to discard our attachment to biased views and exert ourselves in the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with strong faith.
The Gosho passage that we are studying this month is taken from the concluding portion where the Daishonin reveals that there is no other way for the people in the Latter Day of the Law to attain Buddhahood than the teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the Lotus Sutra.
Those Who Keep Chanting Daimoku are Victors in Life
Second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, often said: "You yourself are Nam-myoho-renge-kyo." Once we awaken to our enormous potential, we can face any adversity. The purpose of our Buddhist practice is for each of us to bring forth the "Myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own life" (WND-1, p 887) and establish an inner state of everlasting and indestructible happiness.
At the outset of this Gosho passage, Nnichiren Daishoninteaches that when we chant the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, which is the fundamental Law that enabled all Buddhas of the three existences to gain enlightenment, the Buddha nature within us is summoned forth and we can attain Buddhahood. In other words, by chanting daimokuwith faith in the Gohonzon revealed by the Daishonin, the Buddha nature within our lives is summoned forth. And this process is called attaining Buddhahood. On top of this, the Daishonin teaches us that this Gohonzon resides within our lives.
The Daishonin then proceeds to explain the process by which this great life-state of Buddhahood manifests, employing the very accessible metaphor of a bird in a cage: "When a caged bird sings, birds who are flying in the sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out." (WND-1, p 887)
In this way, we call forth to our Buddha nature with our own voice chanting daimoku to the Gohonzon. As a result, our Buddha nature invariably emerges in response to our chanting of daimoku.
The Daishonin further declares that when we chant daimoku, the great life state of Buddhahood will "invariably emerge" thereby enabling us to manifest within us the limitless beneficial power of the Mystic Law without fail. And by persevering in our Buddhist practice with strong faith based on daimoku, we will never be deadlocked.
SGI President Ikeda says in his guidance: "Those who keep chanting daimoku are victors in life. The heavenly beings, the protective functions of the universe, will gather one after another, around a person who earnestly chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with all of his or her heart, leading the person in the best direction towards happiness. Nothing can surpass the power of daimoku."
The Year of Brilliant Achievement has begun. Let's chant resounding daimoku as we take on each and every of the challenges that stand before us and forge ahead every day.
(Translated from the August 2017 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai's monthly study journal.)
