Material for Discussion Meetings (August)

Writings for Discussion Meetings

Passage

The prayers offered by a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra will be answered just as an echo answers a sound, as a shadow follows a form, as the reflection of the moon appears in clear water, as a mirror collects dewdrops,^[1] as a magnet attracts iron, as amber attracts particles of dust, or as a clear mirror reflects the color of an object. 

—“On Prayer,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 340

Background

The passage we are studying this month is from Nichiren Daishonin’s 1272 letter “On Prayer,” thought to have been addressed to his disciple Sairen-bo.

In the passage, Nichiren assures his disciple that his prayers will be answered. Here, “practitioner of the Lotus Sutra” refers to Nichiren and his disciples who devote themselves to spreading the Lotus Sutra and persevering in faith no matter what happens. 

He lists six examples in nature to demonstrate that, based on the laws of nature and reason, our prayers are sure to be answered. The words “sound,” “form” and “clear water” signify our attitude when we pray, while the words “echo,” “shadow” and “reflection of the moon” express that in due course our prayers will manifest.

We may, at times, wonder whether chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is effective. But by chanting earnest daimoku and contributing to others’ happiness, we can have conviction that our prayers “will be answered.” 

—Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department

Ikeda Sensei’s Encouragement

Everything Starts From Prayer

What’s important is that our prayers brim with conviction and the determination to realize them, come what may. When we earnestly chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, our prayers reach every corner of the universe.

Through deep prayer, we transform our fundamental state of mind, and that inner transformation changes our own lives as well as our environment.

This is the doctrine of the “actual three thousand realms in a single moment of life” that Nichiren gave concrete expression to [as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo]. It is the absolute law of life. That is why everything starts from prayer.

By praying before the Gohonzon, we activate the benevolent deities—the protective functions of the universe. From the perspective of Buddhism, the law of cause and effect ensures that the moment we pray, we create a cause for our victory for our prayers to be answered.

But we cannot perceive this as ordinary people, and we may doubt and worry about whether our prayers will in fact be answered. Prayer is an ongoing battle against fundamental ignorance, the ultimate form of delusion. Faith means having complete conviction in the indisputable Law of life, even though we may not be able to perceive it directly. By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, employing the “strategy of the Lotus Sutra” (“The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra,” WND-1, 1001), we can conquer fundamental ignorance. (The Immeasurable Power of Prayer, pp. 16–17)

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Examining the Ten Worlds: Bodhisattvas and Buddhas—Revolutionizing Our State of Life

Buddhist Concepts

How do we revolutionize our lives? 

In light of the Ten Worlds, we do this by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and striving to make the world of Buddhahood our foundation.

In various moments, we may experience the six paths—states of life easily swayed by external circumstances. 

In our Nichiren Buddhist practice, we aim to transcend these six paths and more consistently operate from the four noble worlds of voice-hearers (learning), cause-awakened ones (realization), bodhisattvas and Buddhas.

In chanting and tapping these awakened life states, we can change for the better, freely create lives of value and fulfillment and positively impact our surroundings. 

In this installment of the Ten Worlds study series, we review the highest worlds of bodhisattvas and Buddhas.  

The Generosity and Compassion of Bodhisattvas

In contrast to the self-centeredness found in the six paths and the worlds of learning and realization, the world of bodhisattvas abounds with a generous and compassionate spirit to help others. Nichiren Daishonin writes:

Ninth is the world of bodhisattvas, those who remain among the ordinary mortals of the six paths of existence, thinking little of their own lives but much of the lives of others, aiming always to take evil upon themselves and to dole out good to other beings.^[2]

Bodhisattvas eagerly take action to help others and share the benefits they’ve gained through Buddhist practice. This is not a special life state, as Nichiren writes: “Even a heartless villain loves his wife and children. He too has a portion of the bodhisattva world within him.”^[3]

Concern for others, especially those dear to us, is natural. It’s an expression of the world of bodhisattvas. As we strengthen this state of life, we extend that concern to many others. By sharing Buddhism and supporting others, we break free from egoism and muster vitality and joy. 

We Are All Buddhas

The world of Buddhas is quite different from popular images of a transcendent or serene Buddha. The Lotus Sutra teaches that all people are inherently Buddhas, just as we are. Sensei says:

We are all equally Buddhas. The only difference among people has to do with whether, or the extent to which, we realize this in our hearts.^[4]

Because life is full of unending obstacles, however, this is no easy feat. 

Understanding this, the Daishonin established the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon—a practice accessible to everyone. Chanting to the Gohonzon, we fuse with the Mystic Law that pervades the universe, manifesting wisdom, courage and compassion to overcome all obstacles. By chanting, sharing Buddhism with others and engaging in altruistic, bodhisattva actions, we can immediately reveal our Buddhahood. 

Sensei explains the idea of “bodhisattva-Buddhas.” Rather than bodhisattvas who “aim” to become Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas of the Earth in the Lotus Sutra emerge joyously to take on their mission to widely spread the Buddha’s teaching in the chaotic Latter Day of the Law. Describing the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Sensei says: 

In any place or land, it is always the Bodhisattvas of the Earth who shoulder the mission of widely spreading the correct teaching received from the Buddha, imparting it to all human beings. Why is this? It is because, in terms of their inner enlightenment, they have the same life state as the Buddha, but in terms of their outward actions, they strive as bodhisattvas.^[5]

Faith Is the World of Buddhahood

The Buddhist principle of the “mutual possession of the Ten Worlds” explains that Buddhahood resides in all the other nine worlds. At the same time, the world of Buddhahood possesses the nine other worlds, meaning there is no separation between Buddhas and ordinary people. 

At any given moment, even if we’re in the lowest state of hell, we can instantly bring forth the world of Buddhahood by chanting and taking compassionate action. A direct route to accessing our Buddhahood, Sensei emphasizes, is having a seeking spirit:

While initially we start out “single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha,”^[6] … in the end, we perceive that we are the Buddha. Our determination in faith, our spirit to practice without begrudging our lives, is itself the manifestation of the eternal world of Buddhahood. In short, faith itself is the world of Buddhahood.^[7]

SGI members chant to the Gohonzon, summon their Buddhahood and actively engage with people amid the realities of life. Such ceaseless action helps us break the shell of our self-absorbed, lesser selves. Always moving forward, we revolutionize our lives, becoming suns illuminating all people and things. 

—Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department

From the August 2024 Living Buddhism