[A Guide to HBS -part2-]
The Teachings and Practices of HBS
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
"The Lotus Sutra is a supreme teaching", "It is the king of the Sutras" are what I repeatedly heard in my father's sermons since childhood. I was 22 years old when I became a priest and continued my devotion to the Lotus Sutra. "What is this? What's it all about?", That was my frank impression when I read the Lotus Sutra from cover to cover. I began to read it feeling it was a book on ideology teaching profound philosophical principles. But, I felt I was confounded by the accounts which were detached from reality and the development of fantasy—like stories. "On what basis is the Sutra considered the supreme teaching." "What was Nichiren Shonin's standpoint with regard to the teachings ", was what I wanted to know. I therefore began reading as many books as possible on the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Shonin.
By reading books written by various people of my sect as well as others, I began to learn it was not so important that what was written in the Lotus Sutra was fact or not. To understand what it wanted to say or what it wanted to explain was important. But the descriptions in accounts in the Lotus Sutra are very unrealistic.
Following are some examples.
A light emitted from the forehead of Buddha lit up eighteen thousand worlds to the east; buddhas and future buddhas instantly came flying from the another universe; or from the ground an unbelievable large pagoda decorated with jewels appeared and began floating in a non—gravitational state; or innumerable buddhas appeared from the cracks of the earth.
Why did the lotus Sutra avoid description in a logical and scientific way and described in a poetic and fantasy fashion as if watching a huge magnificent opera? I thought that if these questionable aspects as to what the Sutra was appealing to and what it was trying to teach were not clarified, it could not be understood. Embracing such doubts, I learned the following after reading many books and listening to my senior priests.
First of all, what the Lotus Sutra wanted to appeal to was The "World of Enlightenment" or “Buddha's Enlightenment", and how the teachings could assist us in reaching the world of enlightenment.
Let's say that you enjoyed a meal that you had never eaten before in a splendid atmosphere, and you had to describe the atmosphere and what the food tasted like.
Can you do it? Most likely not. No Matter how skilful you may be in writing. it cannot be described with words.
If it was difficult to relate in words what you had sensed regarding the food you ate with your five senses, it would be likewise difficult to describe in words what Shakamuni Buddha obtained through his original religious experiences concerning the world of enlightenment. As such, to describe the world of enlightenment which Buddha attained is impossible to explain in words.
The Buddha himself was reluctant to explain in words how he obtained enlightenment and how it should be explained to the people. However, if it was not put in words, how could he teach the world of enlightenment? It could not be conveyed. Overcoming these obstacles, the magnificent Lotus Sutra came into being, in the form of figure of speech and drama. It was to appeal to the people so they could use their five senses and their entire six senses to understand even a small portion of the world or enlightenment. In short, the sutra expresses what cannot be explained in words. It is substance before words, and it teaches the truth.
From the beginning, the world of religion (the left side of the brain) is not a world which can be understood by logic. It is a world which can be understood through admiration and sensitivity (the right side of the brain). Because the Lotus Sutra thoroughly appeals to the people in the form of sensitivity to teach the world of enlightenment, it is admired and praised by many people. In contrast, the deep philosophical Buddhist writings expressed scientifically and logically may have religions value, but they are not admired by the majority people.
What is the meaning of the emitted light?
What kind of message is included in allegory or daily life expressions embodied in the Lotus Sutra?
Only one example will be given because it would take too long to explain this. The first chapter of the Lotus Sutra says, "At that time, the light emitted from his brow shone over one million eight thousand territories to the east. There was nothing that could not be shone upon". Just before Shakamuni Buddha had gone into meditation, he explained the Lotus Sutra. It is said that he emitted the light just after the completion of his mediation.
However, no matter how virtuous a person may be, to portray the reality of events as they existed is irrational. It is only reasonable to think that there is a hidden meaning. What kind of message may have been hidden?
In Buddhism, the direction of the east refers to the past. It can be explained that when Shakamuni Buddha shone light over the territories to the east, he had taken into consideration the process of events of the past to present. Cause precedes results. If you want to know the cause of what is taking place today, it is necessary to grasp exactly the affairs of the past.
What you are doing today will be the cause that decides your future destiny. If you want to predict what the future holds for you, you must grasp what you are doing today. The actual cause and effect which takes place in this world is a repetitious chain of events of life and extinction. It is probable that Shakamuni Buddha accurately grasped this and emitted the light.
Another possible explanation is, in each of the lands that Shakamuni Buddha shone light, there was a Buddha who was teaching the law.What this means is the truth of the world of enlightenment is not for this world only. It's the only non—changing truth which penetrates the huge universe. Therefore, Shakumuni Buddha is not the only one who attained enlightenment. It exemplifies that other buddhas in the universe had also attained enlightenment.
Another interpretation can be made. Not only people of this world can be redeemed by the teachings of the Buddha who is a powerful savior of all existences.It can also be interpreted as a symbol of Buddha's vast merciful energy. What is portrayed and explained in the Lotus Sutra at a glance appears to be non—reality, but in it is various messages.An explanation will not be made here.
What is Enlightenment?
The aim of one who aspires to practice Buddhism is to remove perplexities and turn them into the path of enlightenment.
What is enlightenment? The Lotus Sutra explains that it cannot be explained in words. Perhaps it is only possible to imagine what enlightenment is. In the first place, Buddhism looked upon by the people as a teaching of logic and morality and stoicism, and enlightenment followed that image. What was the cause of this image? Is it because the teaching gives that impression? Not so. Examining the King of Sutras, The Lotus Sutra, it does not lean toward logic or morality. Who than depicted those images of Buddhism. It was the priests and followers after the death of Shakamuni Buddha.
After the death of Shakamuni Buddha, Buddhism became Buddhism for practioners as priests who were engaged in learning the teachings. The priests put the Buddha's teachings into a framework of common, ordinary logic and morals. As a result, Buddhism became a tasteless, dehydrated philosophical instructive religion.
The image that Buddhism was stoic is the responsibility of the Small Vehicle Buddhist priests and followers after the demise of Shakamuni Buddha. They began to possess a peculiar elite concept, and the followers who could not complete certain religious commandments could not attain enlightenment.
They also thought of methods of religious practices which most ordinary people could not accomplish. This resulted in Buddhism becoming stoic, and the world of enlightenment was also considered as such. It goes without saying, in the state of enlightenment there is stillness apart from the worldly mundane attachments or perplexities. That is not the essence of enlightenment, the essence of enlightenment is more energetic and dynamic.
In the first place, Shakamuni Buddha became a Buddha because he attained enlightenment. He became a Buddha as a result of attaining enlightenment of the Fine Dharma. That is the universe itself and creator of the universe. It is the basic foundation of every existence, creator embracing all eternal life.
Imagine what the universe, including our planet, is like. On earth people and animals are born and raised, flowers bloom, clouds gather, wind blows, and red hot lava swirls in the center of the earth. In space, there are innumerable heavenly bodies, and, one after another, large scale life activities are being repeated. This is because a great law of existence is in action. The law of the universe instilled in our soul, which Shakamuni Buddha discovered was the Fine Dharma. If the basic foundation of Buddhist enlightenment is applicable to the ever changing arrangement of the universe, enlightenment is not a stoic static thing. It is full of energy.
In the Lotus Sutra,the Buddha's enlightenment is explained as the teachings of Ichinen Sanzen.
Nichiren Shonin stated in his writing, "Kanjin Honzon Sho"
“When chanting the Odaimoku faithfully, the power of enlightenment of the Buddha will flow into our soul and be absorbed. Even an ordinary people can possess the same merits of Buddha and can gain enlightenment."
Earlier, I stated that the aim of Buddhism is to attain the goal or overturning perplexities and pave the way for enlightenment. There are two courses to accomplish this. One course is for a person who wants to use his mind to understand the law of logic of Ichinen—Sanzen. The other course is for a person who does not use his mind and solely raise his soul to believe and earnestly chants the Odaimoku. There is only one condition demanded for a person wants to take this path. That is to cut off all doubts and chant earnestly. The basic foundation of Buddhist practice is a soul faithfully believing in it. What course is better for us need not be discussed.
The difference between the teachings of Great Master Tendai (Tien—tai) of China and Nichiren Shonin is Tendai's course is difficult, whereas Nichiren Shonin's course is simple and easy for ordinary people. To describe it in other words, Tendai's Buddhism is recognition of the core of the teachings, whereas the core of Nichiren Shonin's teachings is active participation. When comparing Tendai's style to that of Nichiren Shonin's, Tendai's course at first glance seems orthodox, and Nichiren Shonin's course is for the common people. But on the basis of the primordial eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren Shonin's course is orthodox and original and Tendai's style is unorthodox. In the primordial (Honmon) eight chapters (Happon) of the Lotus Sutra, The world of the Fine Dharma is explained by the Eternal Buddha as the original stage of Shakamuni Buddha. The Fine Dharma, the philosophy of Ichinen Sanzen teaching mentioned here, is not for the comparison of impressions or logic. In the first place, the Fine Dharma was activities for Buddha and we should participate in Buddhist teachings. Although the Lotus Sutra gives us the impression that we are just watching a magnificent opera, it does not make us feel like we are just observers. It makes us feel as though we want to have a part and participate in it directly by going on stage. The story is written in such a fashion. The teachings in the Lotus Sutra present us with roles and rules which we must act out. The script prepared for us is the primordial eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra. Our participation is in the third scene, "Mappo Period" (the Last Dharma Era), and our role is "Chanting the Odaimoku" which is brought by Bodhisattva Jyogyo not only for ourselves but for spreading it. If enlightenment is entering into the world of the Fine Dharma, which was given to us through Nichiren Shonin, by coming into contact with the breath of the Buddha and inhaled the powerful energy of his teaching through the Odaimoku, it can be understood that the world of enlightenment is not a serene, but an energetic and active thing.
Nissen Shonin, the founder of HBS stated that
“All living beings are made from the five constituent elements and they are all in realms. Living beings, the five constituent elements, and realms are inseparably related to one another. The teaching of the Lotus Sutra which fully expounds the law of harmonious coexistence of the above—mentioned three is the doctrinal principle called 'Three thousand realms in a moment's thought' on the basis of the theory 'Each of the Ten Realms Mutually Contains the Other Nine'. NamuMyohoRengeKyo contains all the substance of this teaching and the merit of having a good knowledge of it. Thus there is no ocean, no mountain, no country, nothing, except the Fine Dharma. The sky, the earth, and all living beings are breathing altogether in the merit of the Fine Dharma. If one understood this real state of things, one could become a Buddha but an ordinary man, far from understanding it, acts against it and brings about his own ruin. An ordinary man doesn't know that the sunlight, the moonlight, fire, water, trees and plants, land, and changes of the seasons are all produced by the grace of the Fine Dharma. It is beyond our power to realize it, but the Fine Dharma which we believe and chant contains the meritorious power to enable us to attain Buddhahood."
—Kaidoyooetsu—831
If one chants NamuMyohoRengeKyo which is revealed in the primordial eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra entrusted to the Bodhisattva Jogyo and plants in the minds of all living beings the seed, the genuine cause of Buddhahood, this one practice based on chanting the Daimoku will produce all kinds of merits. If one listens to the chanting voice for even a moment and can surely attain the Buddhist Way, how much more so will it be if one feels grateful for the Daimoku in one's mind. That one thought of faith will lead you to get to the Buddha—land. The Buddha's enlightenment is attained in chanting the Daimoku. As a result, the three poisons (greed, anger, stupidity) with which our hearts have been stained are all eradicated, and also the five sins (to kill, to steal, to satisfy lust, to tell lies, to use indecent language) which have been accumulated since the past and are now lurking in ourselves will be eliminated through a moment's thought of faith when chanting the Daimoku. Ordinary men as they are will be given the Buddha's merit. Nichiren Shonin said that practitioners of the Lotus Sutra would be able to become a Buddha without extinguishing evil passions and mortifying the five desires. How fortunate we are!
—Kaidoyoketsu—869
