Chapter II:

Nichiren

II. Nichiren and the Lotus Sutra

4. Nichiren and the Lotus Sutra

In his book entitled "The Typical Japanese," Kanzo Uchimura quoted this verse from the chapter on the Buddha's supernatural power: "As the light of the sun and moon eliminates all darkness, this man, traversing the world, eliminates the darkness of sentient beings." Speaking of Nichiren as just such a man whose life was devoted to the enlightenment of others, Uchimura praised the person of Nichiren and the school of Buddhism that is his legacy.

In order for Nichiren to bring to fruition Jogyo's vow to proselytize in the latter age, he had first to walk the path of the "devotee of the Lotus." Of course this meant that he had also to endure the persecutions inflicted on those who attempt to spread the Lotus Sutra. But, although this was painful on the one hand, it was also the source of great joy on the other because it meant that he could bask in the Buddha's salvation as promised in the sutra.

The characters for Nichiren's name were likewise taken from the Lotus Sutra and reflect Nichiren's desire to understand the Buddha Vehicle. The word "nichi" meaning sun was taken from the passage in the twenty-first chapter in which the Buddha praises Jogyo who had vowed to propagate the Lotus. While "ren," or lotus, was chosen from the passage in the chapter "Welling Up Out of the Earth" where Maitreya praises Jogyo.

From just this one item it is possible to see that unshakable commitment to rely exclusively on Sakyamuni's teachings for conquering the fears inherent in an age of crisis and to endure the suffering that would accompany such a commitment.

5. Life in Accordance with Sakyamuni's Teachings

The foundation of Nichiren's Buddhism consists of an overall study of Buddhism that always returns to the teachings of Sakyamuni in which one can find a life of "faith" capable of overcoming the conditions of Mappo.

Originally, as with the Zen monk Dogen, one strove to emulate the activities of the Buddha and adhere strictly to his instructions. Dogen's training consisted of constant sitting and relied on one's own power to attain enlightenment. It was based on the belief that we, in this life, can attain Buddhahood by eliminating attachment to self. According to Prof. Tetsuro Watsuji, Dogen had "faith in the power in us that is not our own. And it is because of this that we desire to void ourselves of self and come under the power of the Buddha." (Shamon Dogen)

Dogen's view of the Lotus Sutra can probably be said to have been that it is a repository of the Buddha's words and that through strict self-discipline one can receive and carry on the enlightenment of the Buddha.

In contrast to this approach, however, Nichiren maintained that "now at the beginning of Mappo, Mahayana is being struck clown by Hinayana, the true teachings are being destroyed by the provisional teachings and from east to west the truth has been lost and the world turned upside down." People, he held, had forgotten wherein lay the essence of Buddhism and found themselves thrown into the midst of great suffering. As a contemporary of the people in that age, Nichiren was confronted with the same difficulties, but he found and transmitted to other the great compassion of the Buddha indicated in the Lotus Sutra. From this point of view, Nichiren concluded that the meaning of "Briefly stated, all the dharmas of the Tathagata, all the freely wielded supernatural powers of the Tathagata, the vault of all the Tathagata's secrets and al' the profound things of the Tathagata are proclaimed, displayed, revealed and expounded in this sutra" ("Supernatural Powers of the Tathagata") is that ultimately one ought to accept the intent and essence of the Lotus Sutra as Sakyamuni's directly given teaching of great compassion and that by personally practicing the sacred title of the sutra, one can directly perceive the being of the Buddha even in a crisis ridden world.

6. A Contemporary Acceptance of the Lotus Sutra

Acceptance and practice of the Lotus Sutra is superficially very simple, but upon deeper penetration it becomes anything but simple. Conversely, when one Hines up all the Buddhist scriptures with their many themes and doctrines, sight is soon lost of the primary question that must be asked; namely, how does a person live as an individual and as a member of society according to Buddhist teachings? Here the Lotus Sutra simplifies the confusion for those who personally embrace the sutra and found in it the path by which one can bathe in the Sakyamuni's salvation.

Granted this, however, it seems that people tend to conclude very quickly that things with a simple appearance are easy and that things with stern aspects are difficult. Thus it is, is it not, that people generally decide that Buddhism is difficult to grasp.

Nichiren believed that especially here in the difficult conditions of Mappo is the pure intent of the Lotus Sutra to be fully realized. He accepted the Lotus as the Buddha's remonstration to us today of his will, and on that premise Nichiren dedicated his life to being the devotee of the Lotus on our behalf.

There is some question as to whether the Nichiren related organizations of today fully appreciate this point. Some groups hold that Sakyamuni, whom Nichiren revered as the only being possessing in himself the three virtues of master, teacher and parent, was no more than the historical Buddha of the Shakumon who gained enlightenment in this life, while others simply use the tale of the Lotus Sutra as a magical incantation. Such inadequate understandings of Sakyamuni's real significance and sacred nature cannot but lead to further divergences from the spiritual message which was left to us in the Lotus Sutra and brought to our attention by Nichiren.

In this sense, then, there is nothing more important for us today than seeking the truth contained in the Lotus, the well spring of Nichiren's religious legacy.

By Dr. Hoyo Watanabe Chairman of the Department of Buddhism in Rissho University. i

(To be continued)

Gassh __/\__ Y k, Namu Myh Renge Ky.

http://nichirensangha.com

From: Watakushi-tachi no Nichiren-shu.