Chanting Growers Group

[PassTheDoobie]

"Though evils may be numerous, they cannot prevail over a single great truth."

(Many in Body, One in Mind - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 618) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, Dec. 19th, 2009

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"The renowned Argentine philosopher José Ingenieros (1877-1925) wrote: 'The restlessness to know more, to do more, and to be more, unceasingly renews us.'"

SGI Newsletter No. 7894, Human Revolution--The Quintessential Path of Life, from the January 2010 issue of Daibyakurenge, translated Dec. 17th, 2009

 

[PassTheDoobie]

We beg you not to worry.
After the Buddha has passed into extinction,
in an age of fear and evil
we will preach far and wide.
There will be many ignorant people
who will curse and speak ill of us
and will attack us with swords and staves,
but we will endure all these things.
In that evil age there will be monks
with perverse wisdom and hearts that are fawning and crooked
who will suppose that they have attained what they have not attained,
being proud and boastful in heart.
Or there will be forest dwelling monks
wearing clothing of patched rags and living in retirement,
who will claim they are practicing the true way,
despising and looking down on all humankind.
Greedy for profit and support,
they will preach the Law to white-robed laymen
and will be respected and revered by the world
as though they were arhats who possess the six transcendental powers.
These men with evil in their hearts,
constantly thinking of worldly affairs,
will borrow the name of forest dwelling monks
and take delight in proclaiming our faults,
saying things like this:
“These monks are greedy
for profit and support
and therefore they preach non-Buddhist doctrines
and fabricate their own scriptures
to delude the people of the world.
Because they hope to gain fame and renown thereby
they make distinctions when preaching this sutra.”
Because in the midst of great assemblies
they constantly try to defame us,
they will address the rulers, high ministers,
Brahmans, and householders,
as well as the other monks,
slandering and speaking ill of us,
saying, “These are men of perverted views
who preach non-Buddhist doctrines!”
But because we revere the Buddha
we will bear all these evils.
Though they treat us with contempt, saying,
“You are all no doubt buddhas!”
all such words of arrogance and contempt
we will endure and accept.
In a muddied kalpa, in an evil age,
there will be many things to fear.
Evil demons will take possession of others
and through them curse, revile, and heap shame on us.
But we, reverently trusting the Buddha,
will put on the armor of perseverance.
In order to preach this sutra
we will bear these difficult things.
We care nothing for our bodies or lives
but are anxious only for the unsurpassed way.
In ages to come we will protect and uphold
what the Buddha has entrusted to us.
This the world-honored one must know.
The evil monks of that muddied age,
failing to understand the Buddha’s expedient means,
how he preaches the Law in accordance with what is appropriate,
will confront us with foul language and angry frowns;
again and again we will be banished
to a place far removed from towers and temples.
All these various evils,
because we keep in mind the Buddha’s orders,
we will endure.
If in the settlements and towns
there are those who seek the Law,
we will go to wherever they are
and preach the Law entrusted to us by the Buddha.
We will be envoys of the world-honored one,
facing the assemblies without fear.
We will preach the Law with skill,
for we desire the Buddha to rest in tranquility.
In the presence of the world-honored one
and of the buddhas who have gathered from the ten directions
we proclaim this vow.
The Buddha must know what is in our hearts.

From the "Encouraging Devotion" (thirteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra

There are no misfits among those who embrace the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra. Shakubuku has nothing to do with being abusive. "Its the heart that is important." To demean and disrespect others with labels that have nothing to do with refutation is evil and runs completely counter to the Daishonin's ultimate teaching:

"The heart of the Buddha’s lifetime of teachings is the Lotus Sutra, and the heart of the practice of the Lotus Sutra is found in the “Never Disparaging” chapter. What does Bodhisattva Never Disparaging’s profound respect for people signify? The purpose of the appearance in this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behavior as a human being. Respectfully.

The wise may be called human, but the thoughtless are no more than animals.Nichiren


THE THREE KINDS OF TREASURE

 

[PassTheDoobie]

No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you lack faith, it will be like trying to set fire to wet tinder. Spur yourself to muster the power of faith. Regard your survival as wondrous. Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other. “All others who bear you enmity or malice will likewise be wiped out.” These golden words will never prove false. The heart of strategy and swordsmanship derives from the Mystic Law.

Have profound faith. A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered.

[THE STRATEGY OF THE LOTUS SUTRA]

 

[Babbabud]

Nam myoho renge kyo

 

[Chronic777]

Awesome thread!

You have another resident Buddha here now, i love Buddhism & love Buddhahood even more.
Its all useless unless you become the Buddha yourself.
The Buddha-nature lives in all beings waiting to be discovered.

Luminous vibes being sent out to everyones plants to every corner of the universe!

Buddha
"Be a light unto yourself"

 

[Babbabud]

Welcome to our thread Chronic777 and thankyou for the very nice post. Hope you can find some time to read our thread and discover that this is a thread devoted to the study of Nichiren Buddhism Lots of great people and energy here!! We all encourage one another and chant Daimoku for all.
Nam myoho renge kyo

 

[TrichyTrichy]

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[PassTheDoobie]

No matter how one may try to appropriate the language of the Daishonin regarding direct refutation of provisional Mahayana schools (shakubuku), he is very clear about his feelings toward the personal conduct of the person doing the refutation:

"When in public debate, although the teachings that you advocate are perfectly consistent with the truth, you should never on that account be impolite or abusive, or display a conceited attitude. Such conduct would be disgraceful. Order your thoughts, words, and actions carefully, and be prudent when you meet with others in debate." The Teaching, Practice, and Proof / WND pg. 483

“Take these teachings to heart, and always remember that believers in the Lotus Sutra should absolutely be the last to abuse one another.” The Fourteen Slanders / WND pg. 756

We should always have compassion for those whose suffering is so severe that they have lived in the living hell of rage until it has consumed them. A person who willfully twists the Daishonin’s teachings to justify behavior that the Daishonin considered disgraceful is a deluded slanderer! Plain and simple!

Praying for happiness and the end of suffering for all,

Thomas

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Hi Trichy! Happy Birthday Bud! Welcome Chronic!

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Happy Birthday Bud! Have a good one

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[Forest20]

Happy B-day Bud.... Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"'[Those who] put faith in the Lotus Sutra alone and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will transform the three paths of earthly desires, karma, and suffering into the three virtues of the Dharma body, wisdom, and emancipation.' (cf. WND-1, 420)

"Through his own life and actions, the Daishonin set a supreme example of not being defeated by any problem, negative karma, or hardship--an example of boldly confronting and challenging adversity, and thereby manifesting the life, the wisdom and the state of being of the Buddha."

SGI Newsletter No. 7894, Human Revolution--The Quintessential Path of Life, from the January 2010 issue of Daibyakurenge, translated Dec. 17th, 2009

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"..where there is unseen virtue, there will be visible reward."

(Unseen Virtue and Visible Reward - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 907) Selection source: "Study: The Bond of Mentor and Disciple", December 22nd, 2009

 

[Babbabud]

Thank you all so much for the Birthday wishes
Nam myoho renge kyo !!

 

[Dutchgrown]

Happy birthday Babba!
Wishing you ALL good things, today and everyday!

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!!!!!!!!!!!!

DG

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Our fundamental basis for victory is daimoku. Let's be careful not to get carried away just by using schemes or tactics that seemingly appear to be perfect ways of resolving problems we might be facing now. First and foremost, no matter what we're facing, it is vital that we always begin with chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Through practicing the 'strategy of the Lotus Sutra'*, let's approach the upcoming year vibrantly!

Daisaku Ikeda

* "Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other." - "The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra", WND-I, page 1001

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Therefore, one should by all means persist in preaching the Lotus Sutra and causing them to hear it. Those who put their faith in it will surely attain Buddhahood, while those who slander it will establish a 'poison-drum relationship' with it and will likewise attain Buddhahood."

(How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra- The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 882) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, December 21st, 2009

 

[PassTheDoobie]

No matter how one may try to appropriate the language of the Daishonin regarding direct refutation of provisional Mahayana schools (shakubuku), he is very clear about his feelings toward the personal conduct of the person doing the refutation:

"When in public debate, although the teachings that you advocate are perfectly consistent with the truth, you should never on that account be impolite or abusive, or display a conceited attitude. Such conduct would be disgraceful. Order your thoughts, words, and actions carefully, and be prudent when you meet with others in debate." The Teaching, Practice, and Proof / WND pg. 483

“Take these teachings to heart, and always remember that believers in the Lotus Sutra should absolutely be the last to abuse one another.” The Fourteen Slanders / WND pg. 756

We should always have compassion for those whose suffering is so severe that they have lived in the living hell of rage until it has consumed them. A person who willfully twists the Daishonin’s teachings to justify behavior that the Daishonin considered disgraceful is a deluded slanderer! Plain and simple!

Praying for happiness and the end of suffering for all,

Thomas

In case there was some confusion, please note that the term "shoju" was never mentioned in the above statement, or in the quotation from Nichiren Daishonin pertaining to the behavior of his followers when engaged in the refutation process known as “shakubuku”. If one were to say that to heed the admonishment from Nichiren to curb outward hostility as it relates to being conceited (as in: “characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance”), being impolite (as in: “discourteous; rude; uncivil”), or being abusive (as in: “using or containing insulting or coarse language”) is delusion, then I think they would just be admitting to their own.

Trying to follow the Daishonin’s teachings without distorting them for my own purposes has always worked well for me! Making gross generalizations about any group of people is a big mistake in my opinion. In my experience the attempt to characterize an entire group as having a homogenous perception of ANYTHING, (which includes anyone) expresses a serious lack of intellect in the absence of willful distortion for the sake of persecution. I believe it to be the latter.

The Daishonin clearly says that to have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, to be discourteous, rude or uncivil, or use insulting language is definitely not to be done. He clearly says such behavior would be disgraceful. It is possible to disgrace the Lotus Sutra by our behavior. The Daishonin says so in many gosho.

But see when I say “Lotus Sutra”, I am not referring to the 28 chapter Lotus Sutra that must have existed as an oral teaching for around five-hundred years before it was ever mentioned or referred to. Since we are already in the Latter Day of the Law, I believe “Lotus Sutra” to be a euphemism for “Buddha Vehicle Teaching for the Attainment of Enlightenment in One’s Present Form”. In the Latter Day of the Law, the Daishonin clearly states that this teaching is his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

When I say Lotus Sutra I am generally referring to “The Lotus Sutra of the Latter Day of the Law”—Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (which I consider to be the very life of Nichiren and inseparable from the Law). So my concern is always to not disgrace Nichiren Daishonin. Thank you Asita! I apologize for being guilty of this in the past and will do my best to always reflect the Daishonin’s will in the future.

If one chants Daimoku for any reason, the seed of Buddhood has been planted and that individual is no longer a Buddha in theory. Whether they are fully awakened or not, doesn’t change the fact that according to the Daishonin’s teachings they will ultimately attain supreme perfect enlightenment. To chant the Daimoku is to uphold the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law.

And as such: “Take these teachings to heart, and always remember that believers in the Lotus Sutra should absolutely be the last to abuse one another.” The Fourteen Slanders / WND pg. 756

Let’s all do our best to remember this!


Bowing in humble obeisance,

T

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Although I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties, if we do not harbour doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood."

(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 283) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, Dec. 23rd, 2009