[The Way of HBS]
How to practice, How to live
as a HBS Practitioner
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
There is no precept in the Period of the Last Dharma. Various Religious Sects have their own independent precepts. For example, there are some religions that restrict eating beef, pork or drinking alcohol. There are other religions that fast during certain periods. There are others that restrict marriage between an atheist and a person of thier a religion.
Doesn't HBS have precepts? HBS has precepts but I would like to define them later. I would like now to elaborate generally on Buddhist precepts.
When Shakymuni Buddha was alive, priests lived in groups known as “Sanga". Devoting practices for enlightenment to a priest was equal to living. Therefore, there were many various types of rules to prevent them from leading a loose life.
After Shakyamuni Buddha's death, Buddhist priests imposed strict precepts that were very complicated. Thus, it became known as a religion of an organization of priests who protected severe precepts.
Such Buddhist organizations ignored the true teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha which were to save the people from hardships. The priests who were captured in the personal searching for enlightenment and personal salvation created these moral commandments. If severe precepts were protected, the common people would have had an existence irrelevant to religion and would have been eternally exposed to sufferings. Thus, a new, Great Vehicle Religion came into being to generate benefit for the people and liberation for the people.
Accordingly, the Great Vehicle Religion, instead of protecting precepts, placed its emphasis on teachings and guiding the masses to the Bodhisattva path. Since HBS is based on the basic principle of the Lotus Sutra, it does not place much emphasis on precepts.
Naturally, unlike the Small Vehicle Religion that places strict emphasis on the teachings of precepts, the Great Vehicle Religions is more lenient. In the practices within the “Six Kind of Practices" teachings, there is a provision to protect precepts, known as “Jikai Gyo". Although the Great Vehicle Religion had its own moral commandments, its teachings were adjusted in accordance with the ability of the common people to understand them in different periods. Precepts changed with time and the ability of the people to comprehend them.
After the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, Buddhism was divided into three Periods; Shobo (the true Dharma), Zobo (the semblance Dharma) and Mappo (the last Dharma). In the period of the true Dharma, lasting 1,000 years, the Buddha'e teachings were properly practiced and enlightenment was attained. In the period of the semblance Dharma, lasting 1,000 years, the teachings were practiced but enlightenment was no longer possible. In the period of the last, decadent Dharma, lasting l0,000 years, only the teachings existed.
Even if one practiced the religion of the Great Vehicle, one's abilities/capabilities declined with the passing of time. Therefore, precepts changed accordingly. During the Mappo Period, precepts could not be performed by the people. Even if severe precepts were placed on the people of low ability — common people — it was in words only with no action. The bachelor Great Master Nichiren, who appeared in this world of Mappo as a messenger of the Buddha, did not eat fish or meat and never married, but he did not impose such restrictions upon us.
Chanting the Odaimoku Equals Upholding Precepts
HBS, as a true Great Vehicle Religion that bases its religion on the Lotus Sutra does not particularly impose precepts but, instead, emphasizes the chanting of the Odaimoku for the sake of eradicating one's sins, for the well being of others, and to mutually advise/caution one another on the importance of repentance. These are the most important precepts of HBS.
Nissen Shonin stated:
“Even we, the common people who were born with abundant sins in this Period of the Last Dharma, need not conform to moral commandments — precepts. By chanting the Odaimoku by mouth, one can achieve Buddha's enlightenment from the past and future worlds. It is elucidated in the Lotus Sutra that to chant is devotion".
(Butsuryu Seiten, Page 857)
“We are people lacking in ability. We are human beings full of sins. Therefore, by chanting the Odaimoku and upholding it, as elucidated in the primordial section of the Lotus Sutra, we are protecting the highest and most important precept, (Butsuryu Seiten, Page 857)
“Chanting the Odaimoku is a precept because it is so elucidated in the Lotus Sutra.
Chanting the Odaimoku is a HBS's parishioners' precept. At the same time, as stated in the following Instructive Poem, “There is no precept in HBS religion, but when one lacks determination to engage in religion or turn a blind eye to their sins, that is breaking the precept". HBS's precept is to realize that when one's religion is neglected, one should admonish oneself and offer a prayer of repentance. Likewise, they should engage in the practices of converting others to the religion of HBS.
Further, even though HBS has no precept concerning livelihood, it is forbidden to do whatever one pleases on a whim, Nissen Shonin stated:
“One must be careful in their use of words and behavior when you're privileged to be engaged in the religion of the Lotus Sutra".
“Since we are in position to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra to others, we should not become a target for criticism, We should refrain from saying and doings things that lack common sense. As a parishioner of HBS we should bear in mind not to lead a shameful life."
