This is what it means to have read the expedient means chapter of the lotus sutra with ones entire being. Consideration to devise an expedient means to instruct them. Whether youre experienced with the lotus or have never endeavored to read it, youll have a deeper understanding. Good men, you must believe and understand the truthful words of the thus come one. He then had to explain why he hadnt taught the truth before and. Table of contents contents table of contents preface 2 4 part one. Skillful means is one of the major themes of the lotus sutra. His mind was peaceful as the sea, and as i listened, i was freed from the net of doubt. But the buddha employed various causes, similes, and parables, expounding eloquently. Lotus sutra, expedient means chapter there are beings with little dust in their eyes who are falling away because they do not hear the dhamma. Lectures on the expedient means and life span chapters of. The expedient means chapter extols the wisdom of the buddhas to thus instruct the. The practitioners of nichiren shoshu have been carrying out the practice of gongyo since the time of nichiren daishonin and nikko shonin.
By means of this expedient device, the dharma is caused long to abide. Great book for for anyone interested in buddhism to read. So, the lotus sutra begins by making a connection to a real place associated with the historical buddha. Mar 30, 2015 1 myohorengekyo is the lotus sutra of the latter day the lotus sutra of the former, middle and latter days presently, in the latter day, however, even if you should carry out the practices of the former day of reading and reciting this sutra and copying it, you will gain no benefit.
In the expedient means chapter of the lotus sutra, how is the one vehicle expounded. The concept of skillin means is expounded upon in the lotus sutra where the buddha states that he has used countless expedient means to guide living beings and cause them to renounce attachments. Chapter 8 relying on dharma they come forth 106 chapter 9 the one mark is. The sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law chapter 1 introductory chapter 2 tactfulness 15 chapter 3 a parable 18 chapter 4 faith.
Suddenly the buddha emitted a ray of light from the white curls between his eyebrows and illuminated the universe throughout the east quadrant. Lotus sutra nanzan institute for religion and culture. The concept of expedient means is highly regarded in mahayana buddhism, especially in the lotus sutra, as represented by its second chapter titled expedient. Expedient methods why it is not the ten factors emphasized by nichiren buddhism while all chapters of the lotus sutra are equally enlightening, chapter 2 is particularly illuminating. The various evil destinies, those of the hells, ghosts, and animals, and the pain of birth, old age, sickness, and death are all. Thus it is that throughout the world people from various walks of life have come to regard this sutra as a valuable and practical spiritual guide for living in these troubled times. At one time the buddha was in rajagriha, staying on mount gridhrakuta. Mar 20, 2018 skillful means is one of the major themes of the lotus sutra. This is the supporting practice of all nichiren buddhists and is performed together with the chanting of nammyohorengekyo. Miao fa lian hua jing, which was translated from sanskrit into chinese by kumarajiva includes index introduction expedient means simile and parable belief and understanding the parable of the medicinal herbs bestowal of prophecy the parable of the phantom cry prophecy of enlightenment for five hundred disciples prophecies conferred on learners and. It provides a line by line explanation of these 2 amazing sutras and a great way to really deepen your understanding of buddhism. It provides a line by line explanation of these 2 amazing sutra s and a great way to really deepen your understanding of buddhism.
The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. The various evil destinies, those of the hells, ghosts, and animals, and the pain of birth, old age, sickness, and death are all gradually wiped away. The buddha said that in past ages the countless buddhas who have passed into extinction rested and abided in the midst of expedient means. Chapter eleven contains one of the most fantastic in the original sense of that word scenes in buddhist literature. Gongyo translated the life span chapter the search for.
The sutra of innumerable meanings background 6 6 chapter 1 virtues 7 chapter 2 preaching 9 chapter 3 ten merits 11 part two. May, 2014 nichiren shoshu buddhism gongyo sutra recitation myosenji temple official version duration. The concepts of opening the three vehicles and revealing the one vehicle is primarily taught in the expedient means chapter hoben of the theoretical teaching of the lotus sutra. This translation has been prepared by the buddhist text translation society of the sinoamerican buddhist association, under the auspices of gold mountain dhyana monastery, 1731 15th street, san francisco. To make the understanding of the lotus sutra, there are books. Shakyamuni buddha teaches that in all the buddha lands there is only one buddha vehicle the lotus sutra for all beings to attain enlightenment. To make the understanding of the lotus sutra, there are books available to enable you to grasp the essence of the lotus sutra. An explanation of upaya in buddhism learn religions. Only a buddha and a buddha can exhaust their reality, namely the suchness of the dharmas, the. View notes lotus sutra reading notes from relig st 1j03 at mcmaster university. The remaining chapters are all in a sense the branches and leaves of these two chapters.
Stevensonthis essay expounds on the five practices of upholding, reading, reciting, explaining and copying the lotus. It exemplifies the principle that earthly desires are identical with enlightenment, that the sufferings of birth and death are identical with nirvana. Recite the excerpt from the verse section of the life span of the thus come one chapter pages 6 17. All sutras other than the lotus sutra are described as preaching in. Because the thus come one is fully possessed by both expedient means and the paramita of wisdom. The coauthors examine and expand upon the lotus sutra from the perspective of the thcentury founder of their faith, the buddhist sage and reformer nichiren, based on the record of the orally transmitted teachings in which nichiren reveals that the mystic law, the theme of the lotus sutra, is an expression of life itself. It exemplifies the principle that earthly desires are identical with enlightenment, that the. Gongyo translated the expedient means chapter the search. Shakyamuni shows that all people have the potential for buddhahood, namely, that buddhahood is not separate from ordinary people but is inherent in their lives. This pdf file may be printed and distributed according to the terms of use estab lished on the. There will be those who will understand the dhamma. Rajagriha was a city on the site of presentday rajgir, in northeastern india, and gridhrakuta, or vultures peak, is nearby. The buddha many jewels although long extinct by means of his great vow utters the lions roar. Vastly cultivating wisdom and expedient means, going throughout countries in the ten directions, he manifests everywhere in all places.
Both chapters are recited in chinese, so unless you are fluent, the meaning may be lost. In terms of the depth of its teaching, the lotus sutra unequivocally recognizes the possibility of all people, regardless of capacity. Lectures on the expedient means and life span chapters by daisaku ikeda. Expedient means chapter dictionary of buddhism nichiren. In this book, sgi president daisaku ikeda explains why the lotus sutra is considered the central teaching of shakyamuni buddha in nichiren. This chapter constitutes the heart of the theoretical teaching of the sutra and is the chapter recited in the daily recitation of the sutra. Dec 29, 2015 hoben expedient means and juryo chapters life span of the thus come one of the lotus sutra 45. Again, the expedient means chapter represents the ten worlds, or in another sense it represents ignorance or darkness. Lotus sutra reading notes lotus sutra reading chapter 2 3. Generally speaking it means to recite buddhist sutras in front of an object of worship. Nichirens interpretation of the universality of the lotus sutra. Preface in recent years, as the crises facing humankind have become more numerous and more acute, interest in the lotus sutra has begun to increase.
Sgi president ikeda and the study department leaders advance the dialogue to the second chapter of the lotus sutra, expedient means. It is thought that the temple originally possessed a full copy of kumarajivas translation of the lotus sutra, but today hogonjis collection retains only this handscroll of the expedient means chapter j. Expedient means chapter jpn hobenbon the second chapter of the lotus sutra, in which shakyamuni buddha reveals that the purpose of a buddhas advent in the world is to lead all people to enlightenment. This is because the key teaching begins in chapter 2 and the buddha is essentially revealing the truth by opening the gateway. Explain the concept of the replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle. After my extinction who can protect and uphold, read, speak and recite this sutra.
Following yesterdays post about the expedient means chapter, here is the translation of the second chapter recited during gongyo, the life span of the thus come one juryo chapter, sometimes. The wisdom of the buddhas is infinitely profound and immeasurable. Buddhist practice and the lotus sutra in china daniel b. We recite the first part of the hoben expedient means2nd chapter and the entire juryo life span 16th chapter of the sutra and chant the daimoku nammyohorengekyo to the gohonzon. Opening the way for the enlightenment of all people t.
Nichiren shoshu myosenji buddhist temple 350,063 views. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson chapter sixteen. Dec 10, 2017 10 books on the interpretation and practice of the lotus sutra. Nichiren shoshu buddhism gongyo sutra recitation myosenji temple official version duration. Lotus sutra, chapter on expedient means chikubushima. The concept of equality in the lotus sutra 41 the expedient means chapter of the lotus sutra says, there is only the law of the one vehicle, there are not two, there are not three, except when the buddha preaches so as an expedient means. In this parable, a man comes home to find his house in flames while his children play happily inside. Gongyo liturgy the key to bring out our kindness and. Mobipocket, pdf, epub the lotus sutra has been regarded for centuries as one of the most. They demonstrate, for example, that central to the lotus sutra, its parables and metaphorsin fact, seminal to. The use of skillful means is famously illustrated in seven parables like the. Read the heart of the lotus sutra by daisaku ikeda for free with a 30 day free trial. The second chapter of the lotus sutra, in which shakyamuni buddha reveals that the purpose of a.
At that time the worldhonored one calmly arose from his samadhi and addressed shariputra, saying. Lectures on the expedient means and life span chapters ebook written by daisaku ikeda. The lotus sutra bucknell digital commons bucknell university. Mar 02, 2020 the lotus sutra saddharma pundarika sutra. A biography, an illustration of the lotus sutra from a handscroll, c. Chapter ii, expedient means, contains only quotations from the second. Introduction expedient means simile and parable belief and understanding the parable of the medicinal herbs bestowal of prophecy the parable of the phantom cry prophecy of enlightenment for five hundred disciples prophecies conferred on learners and. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson chapter two. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the heart of the lotus sutra. At that time the buddha spoke to the bodhisattvas and all the great assembly. Expedient means chapter the expedient means chapter of the lotus sutra explains to us that, for the first time in his life, after teaching for 40 years, shakyamuni was going to finally teach the highest, truest and most powerfully effective teaching of his lifetime. In the practice of nichiren daishonins buddhism it means reciting nammyohorengekyo, and part of the second chapter hoben and the entire sixteenth juryo chapter of.
Gongyo project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. When completed, sound the bell as you begin chanting nammyohorengekyo. The five hundred disciples receive their predictions 9 chapter ix. Apr 28, 2019 the lotus sutra begins, thus i have heard. Saddhama pundarika sutra, the discourse on the white lotus of. Gosho passage may 23, 2020 though no chapter of the lotus sutra. In the second chapter, the buddha explains the importance of upaya, and he illustrates this in the third chapter with the parable of the burning house. Lectures on the expedient means and life span chapters. Buddhism, and i was surprised that this query was answered with the lotus sutra, chapter 23 to be exact.
Now, in the presence of the buddhas he should make a vow. The established format consist of five in the morning and three in the evening, with the expedient means and life span of the tathagata chapters recited once for each silent prayer offered. Expedient means chapter chinese buddhist encyclopedia. Expedient means shakyamuni explains his use of skillful means to adapt his teachings according to the capacities of his audience. The lotus sutra is one of the most popular and influential mahayana sutras, and the basis on. Such high esteem for the lotus sutra the last major. Recitation of the sutra recite the expedient means chapter excerpt pages 1 5. Lotus sutra reading notes lotus sutra reading chapter 2. Expediant means at that time the worldhonored one calmly arose. Readings of the lotus sutra columbia readings of buddhist. Within the buddhist canon, the lotus sutra is one text that should be read as a whole. In nichiren daishonins buddhism, gongyo means to recite the expedient means or hoben 2nd chapter and the life span of the thus come one or juryo 16th chapter of the lotus sutra in front of the gohonzon. Later, in the lotus sutra, he indicates that he is discarding expedient means and will preach only the unsurpassed way lsoc, 79. Understanding the lotus sutra can be an uphill task for beginners who wish to discover the hidden wisdom of the lotus sutra.
Here, lopez provides what he calls the plot summary of the lotus sutra. Throughout the proceeding discussions of each chapter of the lotus sutra emerge interpretations that link back to the discursive prologue and yield insights into the aims and purpose of nichiren buddhism as it is embraced by the sgi. Prophecy of enlightenment for five hundred disciples 9. Lotus sutra, chapter on expedient means chikubushima sutra. This has helped me to understand the lotus sutra better, as, daisaku ikeda has written about the expedient means and life span chapters, translated them and explained what they each mean and how they affect those off us who adhere to the buddhas last sutra, which was the lotus sutra. During gongyo, apart from chanting nam myoho renge kyo, we also recite two chapters from the lotus sutra, chapter 2 expedient means hoben and chapter 16 the life span of the thus come one juryo.
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