GOSHO STUDY 82 Although the people who study Buddhism outnumber the dust particles of the land, those who actually become Buddhas are fewer than the specks of dirt that can be placed on a fingernail. This the World-Honoured One of Great Enlightenment clearly states in the Nirvana Sutra. On reading it, I wondered why it should be so difficult, but after some thought I realized that indeed it must be so. Although people study Buddhism, it is difficult for them to practise it correctly either because of the ignorance of their minds, or because, even though wise, they fail to realize that they are being misled by their teachers. Letter to Misawa - WND-1, 894 Written in 1278, this letter is also referred to as Before and After Sado because it makes a clear distinction between the teachings the Daishonin expounded before his exile to Sado Island and those during and after his Sado exile. He compares the former to the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings, which Shakyamuni preached as an expedient to lead his disciples to the Lotus Sutra. Concerning his true teaching, the Daishonin says, I secretly conveyed my teaching to my disciples from the province of Sado. Quoting the Buddhas words, he refers to that teaching simply as this great Law. More precisely, this teaching was explained in two of his most important writings, The Opening of the Eyes and The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 07:40:16 +0000
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