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Chanting Growers Group
- Thread starter PassTheDoobie
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ok,been doing some reading here,(and there is a lot!!) and reviewing the "basics" of Buddhism to refresh my memory,i have never participated in Buddhism in any formal manner and realize my ignorance is vast and there is much to be absorbed and digested...so in all humbleness and ignorance if i may ask/observe...it seems as though you often speak of this path as "the" path rather than "a" path to the Buddha, not a hostile question,and if any offense has been given i apologize,my eyes are still a bit gummy and not fully open,so i may not have understood what i read correctly !
One's Attitude in Front of the Gohonzon
Guidance from Dr. Yamazaki
One's attitude in front of the Gohonzon is like being on a holiday. It is
necessary to cut oneself off from work, from daily life. This is important in
order to regenerate, be free of tension and relaxed. If the practice is
prolongation of one's social life, this is not effective.
In the ceremony in the air (Gongyo), one cuts oneself off from the earth rising
above. If you are dominated by your problems in front of the Gohonzon, nothing
good appears. It is necessary to rise above, to make it a special
moment...relaxing. This is a ceremony of ''Ku''. I am Buddha in front of the
Gohonzon!
The Gohonzon is like a mirror, so it is not necessary to be either
imprisoned, nor attached, nor dominated, nor guilty, nor worthless, nor have
arrogance in order to enter the world of the Gohonzon. It is necessary for one
to be indifferent to their own thoughts. One does not fight in front of the
Gohonzon. One is relaxed as though being in the air without limit. With this
kind of ichinen for fifteen minutes...this is enough.
From the first daimoku, change the world, feel the universe, realize ''Ku'',
''Ke'', and ''Chu''! (''Ku'' is the world of the Buddha; ''Ke'' is oneself;
''Chu'' is all the strength and wisdom of the universe.)
One can the recuperate all the forces of the universe. The wisdom to listen, to
believe, to meditate, and to decide. Reject your own arrogance in order to allow
your own wisdom to appear, going beyond time and space to detoxify ourselves in
front of the Gohonzon. Nothing is too far away in the morning and in the evening
- this is when we are Buddha. We must have confidence to find a sense of The
Ceremony in the Air and declare our conviction to be the Buddha of eternal life,
the Buddha of ichinen sanzen, and the Buddha of confidence and joy!
Guidance from Dr. Yamazaki
One's attitude in front of the Gohonzon is like being on a holiday. It is
necessary to cut oneself off from work, from daily life. This is important in
order to regenerate, be free of tension and relaxed. If the practice is
prolongation of one's social life, this is not effective.
In the ceremony in the air (Gongyo), one cuts oneself off from the earth rising
above. If you are dominated by your problems in front of the Gohonzon, nothing
good appears. It is necessary to rise above, to make it a special
moment...relaxing. This is a ceremony of ''Ku''. I am Buddha in front of the
Gohonzon!
The Gohonzon is like a mirror, so it is not necessary to be either
imprisoned, nor attached, nor dominated, nor guilty, nor worthless, nor have
arrogance in order to enter the world of the Gohonzon. It is necessary for one
to be indifferent to their own thoughts. One does not fight in front of the
Gohonzon. One is relaxed as though being in the air without limit. With this
kind of ichinen for fifteen minutes...this is enough.
From the first daimoku, change the world, feel the universe, realize ''Ku'',
''Ke'', and ''Chu''! (''Ku'' is the world of the Buddha; ''Ke'' is oneself;
''Chu'' is all the strength and wisdom of the universe.)
One can the recuperate all the forces of the universe. The wisdom to listen, to
believe, to meditate, and to decide. Reject your own arrogance in order to allow
your own wisdom to appear, going beyond time and space to detoxify ourselves in
front of the Gohonzon. Nothing is too far away in the morning and in the evening
- this is when we are Buddha. We must have confidence to find a sense of The
Ceremony in the Air and declare our conviction to be the Buddha of eternal life,
the Buddha of ichinen sanzen, and the Buddha of confidence and joy!
I'm going to briefly answer Fish, but add anything you think helps anyone else that wants to:
Fish, all "other" paths except "this path/the path" are qualified as having been 'expedient means' by the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. The Lotus Sutra itself instructs one to abandon all teachings except the Lotus Sutra and to embrace the Lotus Sutra alone without adding from the expedient teachings that preceeded it.
By expedient means, we mean teachings or truths that are used to lead or serve as a prliminary understanding to greater truths. Now is a time period that the Lotus Sutra calls "Mappo". At this time, the Lotus Sutra teaches that only the Lotus Sutra can lead one to Buddhahood. Nichiren teaches that in this time of Mappo, the hidden teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (which is derived from the title of the Lotus Sutra as translated by Kumarajiva) is the essence of the Lotus Sutra.
As I said before, this is a teaching of revealing one's original enlightenment within their lifetime, while other "paths" teach a Buddahood we refer to as "acquired enlightenment" (which takes more than one lifetime to achieve). Nichiren Daishonin defined such acquired enlightenment (from the expedient teachings of the preceeding sutras), to not be true enlightenment, but actually delusion.
To clarify the bottom line, according to the teachings of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren, and the Lotus Sutra, there is only one path to Buddhahood. This is not just "a path." Again, that comes not from Nichiren, but from the preaching of Shakyamuni as recorded in the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.
I hope this helps,
T
Fish, all "other" paths except "this path/the path" are qualified as having been 'expedient means' by the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. The Lotus Sutra itself instructs one to abandon all teachings except the Lotus Sutra and to embrace the Lotus Sutra alone without adding from the expedient teachings that preceeded it.
By expedient means, we mean teachings or truths that are used to lead or serve as a prliminary understanding to greater truths. Now is a time period that the Lotus Sutra calls "Mappo". At this time, the Lotus Sutra teaches that only the Lotus Sutra can lead one to Buddhahood. Nichiren teaches that in this time of Mappo, the hidden teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (which is derived from the title of the Lotus Sutra as translated by Kumarajiva) is the essence of the Lotus Sutra.
As I said before, this is a teaching of revealing one's original enlightenment within their lifetime, while other "paths" teach a Buddahood we refer to as "acquired enlightenment" (which takes more than one lifetime to achieve). Nichiren Daishonin defined such acquired enlightenment (from the expedient teachings of the preceeding sutras), to not be true enlightenment, but actually delusion.
To clarify the bottom line, according to the teachings of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren, and the Lotus Sutra, there is only one path to Buddhahood. This is not just "a path." Again, that comes not from Nichiren, but from the preaching of Shakyamuni as recorded in the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.
I hope this helps,
T
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yes,thank you humbly for your response
Humble, you don't need to be! You're a Buddha! I think it’s very hard to see the Buddha nature in everyone else without seeing it in oneself too. You're a praiseworthy person Fish!!!
You are sincere in your questions, and your seeking spirit assures me that you have had a relationship with this Law in the past. It is why you have met it again now. Every question you ask is a question many want to ask, but do not. Because of you, these seekers get answers.
You are extremely praiseworthy indeed!
Deepest respect,
T
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
From Words of Wisdom, by President Ikeda, on Youth & Aging. www.ikedaquotes.org.
The struggle against aging is a struggle against cowardice, the propensity to shun new challenges. It is a struggle against our complacent belief that we have done enough, an egocentric unwillingness to help younger people develop, and an attachment to our past glory. Aging sneaks in through such chinks of our soul. The life of one who continues to challenge to the end remains youthful, ageless, and victorious.
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
From Words of Wisdom, by President Ikeda, on Youth & Aging. www.ikedaquotes.org.
The struggle against aging is a struggle against cowardice, the propensity to shun new challenges. It is a struggle against our complacent belief that we have done enough, an egocentric unwillingness to help younger people develop, and an attachment to our past glory. Aging sneaks in through such chinks of our soul. The life of one who continues to challenge to the end remains youthful, ageless, and victorious.
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Check the double rainbow
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=3683319&postcount=100
Nam myoho renge kyo
Check the double rainbow
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=3683319&postcount=100
Humble, you don't need to be! You're a Buddha! I think it’s very hard to see the Buddha nature in everyone else without seeing it in oneself too. You're a praiseworthy person Fish!!!
You are sincere in your questions, and your seeking spirit assures me that you have had a relationship with this Law in the past. It is why you have met it again now. Every question you ask is a question many want to ask, but do not. Because of you, these seekers get answers.
You are extremely praiseworthy indeed!
Deepest respect,
T
aw shucks Thomas
heehee,thank you,i am fortunate to have met some wise and compassionate beings here,who were kind enough to help light the path,its up to me to do the walking,but it is very nice to have someone to hold the lantern high
live with the heart of a child seeing with the eyes and mind of an adult...
"Whatever trouble occurs, regard it as no more than a dream, and think only of the Lotus Sutra."
(Letter to the Brothers - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 502) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, July 10th, 2010
(Letter to the Brothers - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 502) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, July 10th, 2010
Keep chanting for Lapides!
(continuing thanks pb!)
(continuing thanks pb!)
"The way to spread respect for the sanctity of life and elevate the life-state of all humanity is for us to engage in dialogue with as many people as possible and build an alliance dedicated to good."
SGI Newsletter No. 8032, YOUTH AND THE WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN, The Banner of "Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"--Part 1 [of 2], from the April 29th, 2010, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated July 7th, 2010
SGI Newsletter No. 8032, YOUTH AND THE WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN, The Banner of "Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"--Part 1 [of 2], from the April 29th, 2010, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated July 7th, 2010
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!!!!!!
hey PTB,Babba,PB4,SoCal,and everyone who continues to contribute to this thread and help me to understand,I thank you again,it seems i stumbled in here(thanks DG!) at just the right time of my life,its helped to remind me of the difference between doing and simply being...
anyway,such a nice gift to share,thanks!
anyway,such a nice gift to share,thanks!
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