The present time period is known as the Latter Day of the Law. In this period, Shakyamuni Buddha’s Buddhism has become obscured and lost its effectiveness to save the people. It is also a period of unrest and turmoil as ideology, morality, justice etc. in society become more corrupt. In today’s society, as we try to solve a problem, other problems start to appear one after another, making the situation even more chaotic. When we look at the state of society today, from the individual to the family unit and the society at large, we see all kinds of problems arising one after another. That is why the true teaching was expounded at this time to lead all people to true happiness. Shakyamuni Buddha described the state of our society today, in the Parable chapter of the Lotus Sutra 3,000 years ago as follows: “There is no safety in the threefold world; it is like a burning house, replete with a multitude of sufferings, truly to be feared.” (Hokekyo, p. 168; The Lotus Sutra, Watson, p. 69) As Shakyamuni Buddha described above, in this age filled with the five impurities, it is as if we are living in a burning house. Therefore, it is during this time which is “replete with a multitude of sufferings”, that True Buddhism needs to be propagated. What are the “five impurities” mentioned in the second question? The first is the impurity of the age. This indicates the turbulence and chaos in the world—such as wars, epidemics, famines, and other catastrophes—caused by the other four impurities. The second is the impurity of desire. This refers to the impurity of the body and mind, ruled by the earthly desires of greed, anger, stupidity, arrogance, and doubt. The third is the impurity of the living beings. This represents a collective group of people overcome by earthly desires. In other words, this is the impurity of the entire society. The fourth is the impurity of view. This is confusion and delusion in one’s thinking, caused by the five false views, which are: 1. The notion that the self is absolute and that everything around one is one’s possession. 2. The two extreme views that one’s life completely ends at death or that it will continue in some eternally unchanging form. 3. The belief in which one does not recognize the law of cause and effect 4. The conviction that inferior things are superior and vice versa. 5. The belief that erroneous practices and precepts are the way to enlightenment. The fifth is the impurity of life. This is the physical and mental defilement and weakening of the people, which leads to a shortened life span. These five impurities are prevalent in this age, leading to endless conflicts between individuals and between nations. Indeed, this is an age of conflict in all aspects. “Furthermore, peoples minds are consumed with anger and their thoughts are filled with jealousy.” Just like this, people are destroying each other, consumed by their sufferings and earthly desires, which further intensify the cause of their sufferings. In reality, conflicting nations are trying very hard to maintain peace with each other by drawing up various treaties. However, often times it is very difficult to get the parties to sign the treaty because they do not trust each other and even if they sign the treaty, in many cases, the treaty does not function well in practice. The question is, at such a time, what kind of sutra should be propagated in the country? Answer: This is a country in which the Lotus Sutra should be propagated. Therefore the Lotus Sutra itself says: I will cause this sutra to spread widely throughout the continent of Jambudvipa and never allow it to perish. As stated above, we should propagate the Lotus Sutra. Shakyamuni Buddha first expounded Buddhism in India, which then gradually spread to the east. Japan is situated in the far east. In the Latter Day of the Law, the True Law would appear in the far east and this time, the True Law will spread in the opposite direction, that is, from Japan to the west and to the entire world.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 11:47:42 +0000
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