Ikeda: When we take action for kosen-rufu with a selfless spirit, the microcosm of our lives fuses with the macrocosm of the universe and our prayers are answered. The Daishonin says. “It could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered” (WND-I, 345). So the issue becomes whether one is a practitioner of the Lotus sutra. Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching is about making a vow. In our present situation we need to pledge to the Gohonzon: “I will advance kosen-rufu to the best of my ability! I will realize victory without fail!” Our prayer starts from this vow. In explaining the origins of the Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’s Sounds, the sutra says, “His vast oath is deep as the ocean” (LSOC, 344), meaning that his pledge to spread Buddhism is profound. It further states that, as a result of this oath, “The sea of his accumulated blessings is immeasurable” (LSOC, 347) Nichiren Daishonin says regarding this passage, “the blessings and wisdom of both the objective and subjective worlds are immeasurable. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has these two elements of blessings and wisdom” (OTT, 218). In other words, both we and our immediate environment gain tremendous good fortune and wisdom. Some people tend to be wise while others possess good fortune. Everyone is of course unique, but if we have wisdom yet lack fortune then our efforts will come to nothing; we cannot create happiness for ourselves. If, on the other hand, we have good fortune but no wisdom, then we will find it difficult to earn others’ trust and cannot help those around us become happy. A supreme life encompasses both good fortune and wisdom. THE WISDOM OF THE LOTUS SUTRA – A DISCUSSION – VOLUME VI EXAMINING CHAPTERS 23-28
Posted on: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 00:55:42 +0000
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