Chanting Growers Group (2013-∞)

[PassTheDoobie]

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (pg 239)

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (pg 239)

All the Twenty-eight Chapters of the Lotus Sutra Are Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

25. The Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’s Sounds

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: This chapter is one of profound secrecy. It is a chapter that deals with the averting of disaster and prolonging one’s life span. It is called the king among pivotal sutras. For this reason, it is customary to assert with regard to this chapter that through it one may carry on the teachings of the highest stage of enlightenment.

The Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai, in addition to his three major works, also produced The Profound Meaning of the “Perceiver of the World’s Sounds” Chapter, and the Great Teacher Chang-an likewise wrote a commentary in two volumes on the same chapter. It is indeed a chapter of great secrecy.

Just as the words gen and moku are two different names for the same thing, the eye, so the words the “Perceiver of the World’s Sounds” chapter (also known as the Perceiver of the World’s Sounds Sutra) and the Lotus Sutra are two names for the same thing. That is to say, the eye of the “Perceiver of the World’s Sounds” chapter represents the essence of the Lotus Sutra. The essence is Nan-myoho-renge-kyo.


[three more to share...]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (pgs 239-240)

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (pgs 239-240)

All the Twenty-eight Chapters of the Lotus Sutra Are Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

26. Dharani

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: In this chapter the two sages, the bodhisattvas Medicine King and Brave Donor; the two heavenly Kings Vaishravana and Upholder of the Nation; and the ten demon daughters pronounce dharanis and say that they will shield and guard those who uphold the Lotus Sutra. In effect, we may say that, since these “true words,” or mantras, are dharanis of the Wonderful Law, then the words and utterances of the beings of the Ten Worlds are all dharanis. Thus the Great Teacher Dengyo stated, “These true words of the Wonderful Law are not revealed in any of the other sutras, and the constant protection afforded by Bodhisattva Universal Worthy is not described in any of the other sutras” [The Outstanding Principals of the Lotus Sutra].

The dharani represent a function or activity of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. And in the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, the utterance of the dharani originates in the first character, myo, or wonderful.


[two more to share...]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

faith
[信] (Skt shraddha; Pali saddha; Jpn shin )

A basic attitude emphasized in both early Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Faith constitutes the first of the five roots, or the five elements of practice conducive to enlightenment, expounded in early Buddhism. The five roots are faith, exertion, memory, meditation, and wisdom. Mahayana Buddhism likewise emphasizes the importance of faith. The Flower Garland Sutra says, "Faith is the basis of the way and the mother of blessings." The Mahaparinirvana Sutra says, "Although there are innumerable practices that lead to enlightenment, if one teaches faith, then that includes all those practices." In the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni addresses Shariputra, who was known as foremost in wisdom, as follows: "Even you, Shariputra, in the case of this sutra were able to gain entrance through faith alone. How much more so, then, the other voice-hearers." The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom attributed to Nagarjuna (c. 150-250) reads, "The great ocean of Buddhism can be entered through faith." In Great Concentration and Insight, T'ient'ai (538-597) states, "Buddhism is like an ocean that one can only enter with faith." Another Sanskrit word for faith is adhimukti, which means confidence and is rendered in Chinese Buddhism as "belief and understanding." It means faith based on understanding; it also means to first take faith in the Buddha's teaching and then to understand it. Adhimukti is the Sanskrit title of the "Belief and Understanding" (fourth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra translated by Kumarajiva. The "Distinctions in Benefits" (seven-teenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra says, "Ajita, if there are living beings who, on hearing that the life span of the Buddha is of such long duration, are able to believe and understand it even for a moment, the benefits they gain thereby will be without limit or measure." In The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Nichiren (1222-1282) states: "Belief represents the value or price we attach to a jewel or treasure, and understanding represents the jewel itself. It is through the one word belief that we are able to purchase the wisdom of the Buddhas of the three existences. That wisdom is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."

(On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 4) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 5th, 2013

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Nichiren Daishonin states: 'There is definitely something extraordinary in... the way in which summer, autumn, winter, and spring give way to each other. Something uncommon also occurs when an ordinary person attains Buddhahood' (WND-1, 637).

"In Japan, when winter gives way to spring, there is often a strong warm wind coming from the south that marks the change of season. Although the strong winds can be unpleasant, they are actually happy tidings that spring will soon arrive.

"The same is true in our lives. Anxiety, suffering, and problems are all signs of personal growth. As the expression goes, 'No pain, no gain.'

"Don’t let the winds of anxiety hold you back. Press ahead steadily, one step at a time. There’s no need to rush or compare yourself to others. Just confidently follow your own unique path, in your own unique way."

SGI Newsletter No. 8831, Dialogue for the Future: Traveling the Path of Victory Together with You, [12] Challenge Yourselves and Grow, from the 1st April, 2013, issue of the Mirai [Future] Journal, translated 30th Aug. 2013

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Hi Wierd!

Hi Wierd!

Post something up sometime Brother!




T

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Therefore, those who become Nichiren's disciples and lay believers should realise the profound karmic relationship they share with him and spread the Lotus Sutra as he does. Being known as a votary of the Lotus Sutra is a bitter, yet unavoidable, destiny."

(Letter to Jakunichi-bo - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 994) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 6th, 2013

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Simply having the desire to try something new is itself a wonderful thing.

"Taking on a new challenge and striving to improve yourself doesn’t mean you have to do anything extraordinary. If you get all wrapped up in pursuing some fantastic dream but lose sight of who you are, then it would be such a waste.

"To achieve tremendous growth, it’s crucial to have a firm foundation. Steady, consistent efforts are essential. It is also important to have the courage and perseverance to keep challenging yourself, making a start with something that is doable and progressing a little bit at a time."

SGI Newsletter No. 8831, Dialogue for the Future: Traveling the Path of Victory Together with You, [12] Challenge Yourselves and Grow, from the 1st April, 2013, issue of the Mirai [Future] Journal, translated 30th Aug. 2013

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Let's cherish each and every person.
Let's try to have an 'antenna' in our hearts
that can keenly sense people's cries for help,
looking around us to see if someone might be facing a problem
or who might be in the midst of some form of struggle.
Let's reach out to those who might be stuck in such difficult situations
and always try to offer them warm words of encouragement.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"A blue fly, if it clings to the tail of a thoroughbred horse, can travel ten thousand miles, and the green ivy that twines around the tall pine can grow to a thousand feet."

(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 17) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 7th, 2013

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Start by setting goals. The important thing in setting goals is to make them as concrete as you can. You can write them down on a piece of paper and paste it up somewhere where you’ll see it.

"You may set a broad goal, such as to read more good books, but find that, as time passes, your resolve starts to fade.... But if you make your goal specific... you will be able to find a practical way to do it....

"When you reach the goal you set for the day, you will have written another page in the story of your human revolution. You will feel that you are growing and changing little by little. You will gain the self-confidence that you can succeed if you try, which will make you want to take up the next challenge.

"The Daishonin writes: 'The situation is like the joints in a piece of bamboo: if one joint is ruptured, then all the joints will split' (WND-1, 512). When you break through one obstacle, you create a powerful forwards momentum.

"It’s important that you set your own goals, and strive to achieve them in your own way. There is no need to compare yourself to others and diminish your own efforts. Set goals that you want to achieve and that will give you a sense of accomplishment.

"Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the founding president of the Soka Gakkai and a great educator, declared: 'An arrow aimed at a vague target will not hit its mark.'[1] In our prayers and in our personal challenges, being specific is all-important."

SGI Newsletter No. 8831, Dialogue for the Future: Traveling the Path of Victory Together with You, [12] Challenge Yourselves and Grow, from the 1st April, 2013, issue of the Mirai [Future] Journal, translated 30th Aug. 2013

[1] Translated from Japanese. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Makiguchi Tsunesaburo Shingenshu (Selected Quotes of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi), edited by Takehisa Tsuji (Tokyo: Daisanbunmei-sha, 1979), p. 29.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"What greater joy could there be?"

(The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 767) Selection source: SGI President Ikeda's message, Seikyo Shimbun, September 8th, 2013

 

[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: Soka Gakkai member's experience, Seikyo Shimbun, September 8th, 2013

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"In 'The Benefits of Responding with Joy' (18th) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni teaches that those who invite others to hear the Law preached, and who share their seat with them, acquire enormous benefit (cf. LSOC18, 288 [LS18, 247–48]).[1] We “should respect one another [as Buddhas]” (WND-1, 757), as the Daishonin says. When we respect and value our fellow members in the course of our day-to-day SGI activities, we are practising the correct teaching in accord with the Buddha’s intent.

"There may well be times when one finds it somewhat challenging to work together with other members, who may have different personalities or backgrounds. Young people, in particular, often find organisations restrictive and stifling, and many may think it is easier and more pleasant to be on one’s own. There is also a strong general tendency these days for people to try to avoid direct interaction with others. But that trend deprives us of the opportunity to make the most of our differing personalities, to praise and support one another, and to cultivate our capacities for tolerance and understanding. As a result, we may end up being unable to appreciate the pain and suffering of others, control our own anger, or patch up even small differences and misunderstandings—producing negativity that at its very worst can drive one, or cause one to drive others, to violence, alienation, despair, and even suicide. I’m sure everyone agrees this is a problem we must do something about."

SGI Newsletter No. 8835, Learning from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory, [50] “Three Tripitaka Masters Pray for Rain.” Be “Good Friends” Who Illuminate People’s Lives with the Light of Compassion and Wisdom, from the March 2013 issue of the Daibyakurenge, translated 6th Sep. 2013

[1] The Lotus Sutra states: “Suppose there is a person who is sitting in the place where the Law is expounded, and when another person appears, the first person urges him to sit down and listen, or offers to share his seat and so persuades him to sit down. The benefits gained by this person will be such that when he is reborn he will be in a place where the lord Shakra is seated, where the heavenly king Brahma is seated, or where a wheel-turning sage king is seated” (LSOC18, 288 [LS18, 247–48]).

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"A youth who shared a friendship with the great German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) in the latter’s later years confessed that though he enjoyed spending time with kindred spirits, he had nothing to do with others beyond this circle. Goethe responded with the following advice:

"'It is in conflict with natures opposed to his own that a man must collect his strength to fight his way through; and thus all our different sides are brought out and developed, so that we soon feel ourselves a match for every foe. You should do the same; you have more capacity for it than you imagine; indeed, you must at all events plunge into the great world, whether you like it or not.'[1]

"The important thing, when all is said and done, is to apply ourselves to our human revolution and continue practising with steady faith that is like flowing water. The Soka Gakkai is our training ground in this effort.

"The bright inspiration generated by our human revolutions is building a realm of precious 'good friends' in faith and serving as a light of hope for the future, illuminating the darkness shrouding our times."

SGI Newsletter No. 8835, Learning from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory, [50] “Three Tripitaka Masters Pray for Rain.” Be “Good Friends” Who Illuminate People’s Lives with the Light of Compassion and Wisdom, from the March 2013 issue of the Daibyakurenge, translated 6th Sep. 2013

[1] Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Conversations of Goethe with Johann Peter Eckermann, translated by John Oxenford (New York: Da Capo Press, 1998), p. 59.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"(When the bodhisattva Never Disparaging makes his bow of obeisance to the four kinds of believers, the Buddha nature inherent in the four kinds of believers of overbearing arrogance is bowing in obeisance to the bodhisattva Never Disparaging. ) It is like the situation when one faces a mirror and makes a bow of obeisance: the image in the mirror likewise makes a bow of obeisance to oneself."

(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 769, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 165) Selection source: President Ikeda's Essay: Our Grand Path to Victory, Seikyo Shimbun, September 10th, 2013

 

[Babbabud]

wooohooo !!!
Nam myoho renge kyo

 

[CrazyDog]

The greatest strength and treasure of our movement is capable people.
It is people who are capable of doing things that have the greatest impact.
Let's each reach out to one person and then yet another
in order to help raise yet more able people.
Herein lies the hope for the future!
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

 

[PassTheDoobie]

G-man update: I am encouraging our Brother and everyone reading this to challenge this poison and turn it into medicine. The power of Faith is infinite. And who one is as a person is much more important than the degree to which one adheres to secular rules. There are children involved and many people’s lives will be affected, so this is serious shit, and we need to tighten up together.

PLEASE ACTUALLY FOCUS ON ALLOWING US ALL TO SEE ACTUAL PROOF! PLEASE CHANT FOR G!

Please do it! No lip service. No wanted to and forgot. Stop reading this and do it right now.

And let’s see what happens….

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the roar of the Lion. Let the Lions roar!

Bowing in humble obeisance,

T

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"... it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered."

(On Prayer - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. I, page 345) Selection source: Soka Gakkai member's experience, Seikyo Shimbun, March 17th, 2013