[The Way of HBS]
How to practice, How to live
as a HBS Practitioner
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
Prepare oneself for the Wisdom or Insight of the Buddha
“There are only a few moderate people in this world,
but many unwise and extremists"
(Nissen Shonin's Instructive Poem).
Explanation:
In this world there are the unwise people. On the other hand, there are too many tactful and too forward people that stride ahead to accomplish their desires. There are only an unexpectedly few people that have a balanced way of living and thinking.
Correct Understanding
Shakyamuni Buddha elucidated in the “Eight—fold Noble Path", that the second path, “Correct Thinking", is the correct way to progress in life.
Correct Thinking is to bear in mind the use of discretion. That is; “avoid calculation for one's personal interests. i.e. whether it would be profitable or not". But, that is not an easy task. It is an impossible step. People by nature have a tendency to place their feelings and thinking ahead of others. They have a tendency to believe their thinking is correct. Even if they realize that they are wrong, they will not acknowledge their mistakes truthfully.
What is Wisdom or Insight of the Buddha?
Why do people, not truthfully, justify their mistakes? Shakyamuni Buddha stated: “Clinging to the thought of the existence of self" or “Prejudice in favor of one's own standpoint (Gashu— egoistic attachment) make them so. “Gashu" is a strong nest built in men's mental functions which disturbs the mind. Then, in what concrete form does it function? It is being particular about trifle things, such as “I am a parent", “I am a teacher", “I graduated from a first-class university" “My human experience is plentiful" “I led a troublesome life more than anyone else". Because of such strong “Gashu", Shakyamuni Buddha said: people lack “Correct Understanding".
If that is the case, we should make an effort to eradicate it. The Lotus Sutra's Chapter 2, “Expedient Devices" elucidated: “The Buddhas, the World—Honored Ones, wished to open the door of Buddha's wisdom to all living beings and allowed them to attain purity, They wished to teach the Buddha wisdom to living beings. They wished to induce living beings to enter the path of Buddha wisdom, and therefore, appeared in the world.
Shakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world to “Open the door to Buddha wisdom, to reveal it, to let all beings know it, and to let them enter into it and to teach the wisdom or insight of the Buddha expounded in the Lotus Sutra" (Kai‐ji‐go‐nyu).
Entering into the “Kai‐ji‐go‐nyu" is to eradicate “Clinging to the thought of the existence of the self or prejudice in favor of one's own standpoint". It is to truthfully and straightforwardly open one's eyes wide to everything, and possess a wisdom to think. The Lotus Sutra expounded how a person of high faculties could acquire wisdom, but it is not suited for ordinary persons. However, Shakyamuni Buddha left us with a teaching to attain wisdom for the people of the Mappo Period. It is the true teachings elucidated in the Eight Chapters —15 to 22 — of the Primordial Teachings of the Lotus Sutra.
The mission of Great Master Nichiren, the messenger of the Buddha, was to teach the methods of wisdom/insight of the Buddha to the people of the Mappo Period. That is, to constantly possess the feeling of reverence and gratefulness for the religion of the Lotus Sutra and to repeatedly chant by mouth the Odaimoku, Namumyohorengekyo. Why is it that one can acquire the wisdom/insight of the Buddha by mere chanting of the Odaimoku repeatedly? That is because the Odaimoku contains the proven merits of enlightenment attained by the Buddha. Therefore, by bearing in mind to chant the Odaimoku by mouth, and listening to its sound by ear, one can naturally sow the merits contained therein into his soul. It is impossible to explain it. Even Shakyamuni Buddha, himself, stated: “It is difficult to explain it even by use of thousands of words". It is to only faithfully accept it.
Why did The Saints Recite the Odaimoku as Faithful Beginners?
The “One Session of the Fine Congregation" elucidated that “May all the saints to be invoked from the ten worlds, who leave their position as saints and recite as faithful beginners the sacred syllables Namumyohorengekyo, intensify the light of their wisdom, be adorned with the pleasure of the Dharma, become one with the Buddha mind and embrace us with compassion (Anza Myoji no Shoju)". Only the people that acquired the merits of enlightenment equivalent to that of the Buddha can be accepted into the Land of Buddha's Tranquil Light — Tranquil refers to the nature of the truth and the Light of wisdom. Therefore, the parishioners that feel grateful of the Odaimoku and chant it repeatedly are those who can enter among the saints who have acquired enlightenment. How can those people that acquired the environmental sense of pleasure into their body and mind can place themselves in the cause of clinging to the thought of the existence of the self? To describe it differently, these are people that acquired an “Environment of Absolute Truth". However, those people will lower themselves into various environments of “Relative Environment" and will engage themselves in various practical uses to benefit the surroundings. It may in the form of a parent or teacher. These people use restraints and perform a true form of role and mission. They will not be conscious of being a graduate of a top—notch university, have an abundant experience in human relationships, have encountered many hardships, or place prejudice between themselves and others. They will become useful in aiding others.
Through the chanting of the Odaimoku, if one can look back at their “shortcoming in wisdom", or “going to extremes", or getting closer to a “degree of a good person" and acquire the insight to the Buddha, that is the “True Feeling" of becoming a HBS practitioner. Good fortunes and divine favors from the Gohonzon can be realized by possessing a “True eeling"
Nichiren Shonin's documents are identical. Initially he preaches diligently to his disciples to educate them, but after entering into Minobu (Mountain) in his later years, he begin to realize that he must leave his teachings for the masses for after his death. Therefore, Nichiren Shonin's teachings were different in his early years than those of his late years. Initially, Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings were meant to be spread among the masses, but he later modified his teachings to bequeath Buddhism eternally to mankind. From that standpoint, the text of the Lotus Sutra mirrors the will of Shakyamuni Buddha. Make no mistake that it was his wish during his final years.
Some may say that it was based on the judgment of Tendai Daishi only, but, historically, was there any one who excelled beyond Tendai Daishi in dividing and arranging Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings? There was none. Thus it can be said that what Tendai Daishi accomplished was grand, not as literature but on a religious level.
From the doctrinal aspect, Nichiren Shonin and Tendai Daishi mutually had in mind to leave Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings for the salvation of mankind in the Mappo Period.
