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Category Archives: The Opening of the Eyes (I)

THE OPENING OF THE EYES (I)

08 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by shrutisr in The Opening of the Eyes (I)

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Compassion, Nichiren Buddhism, Nichiren Daishonin, The Opening of the Eyes (I)

If we examine the “Treasure Tower” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, we find Shakyamuni Buddha, Many Treasures Buddha, and the Buddhas of the ten directions who are emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha gathering together. And why? As the sutra itself says, “Each . . . has come to this place on purpose to make certain the Law will long endure.”Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the other Buddhas intend to insure the future propagation of the Lotus Sutra so that it can be made available to all the children of the Buddha in times to come. We may surmise from this that their concern and compassion are even greater than those of a father and mother who see their only child inflicted with great suffering. Hōnen, however, shows not the least concern about their compassion, but would tightly shut the gates to the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law so that no one would have access to it. Like a person who tricks a demented child into throwing away a treasure, he tries to induce people to discard the Lotus Sutra, a shameless thing to do indeed!

If someone is about to kill your father and mother, shouldn’t you try to warn them? If a bad son who is insane with drink is threatening to kill his father and mother, shouldn’t you try to stop him? If some evil person is about to set fire to the temples and pagodas, shouldn’t you try to stop him? If your only child is gravely ill, shouldn’t you try to cure him or her with moxibustion treatment? To fail to do so is to act like those people who see but do not try to put a stop to the Zen and Nembutsu followers in Japan. [As Chang-an says,] “If one befriends another person but lacks the mercy to correct him, one is in fact his enemy.”

 

——————-

 

The Buddhas of the ten directions gather in one place out of their desire to ensure the future propagation of the Lotus Sutra, to see to it that the Lotus Sutra is made available to all, who are all children of the Buddha, in the future.

The Nirvana Sutra states that just before dying, Shakyamuni lamented: “I will die shortly. The matter of King Ajatashatru is my only misgiving.” King Ajatshatru was bitterly hostile towards Shakyamuni, and had even tried to kill him. He had killed his father to take over the throne; but even as a king, inwardly his life was impoverished and empty. Shakyamuni was deeply pained by the thought of Ajatshatru’s unhappiness.

A disciple then asked him: “If the Buddha’s passion is directed towards all living beings equally, then why is he concerned only about King Ajatshatru?”

Shakyamuni then answered: “Consider a case of a couple that has seven children. The parents love all their children equally and without discrimination. However, if one child falls ill, wouldn’t the parents be most concerned about that sick child? I will definitely not abandon- I will definitely not forget the person who is most miserable. Rather, I will try had to save that person.” This is the Buddha’s conviction.

Nichiren Daishonin strove to save all the people of Japan including those who had persecuted him and even those who had exiled him to Sado. From the time he declared the establishment of his teaching, the Daishonin never retreated a step in his great and merciful struggle for the people, whom he loved as his own children. In the “Opening of the Eyes”, the Daishonin indicates his frame of mind prior to establishing his teaching, saying that he was fully aware that if he did not and proclaim the correct Buddhist teaching for the Latter Day, he would be lacking in compassion.

No matter how compassionate someone might appear to be but if he fails to take action, it is like he has no compassion. The opposite of compassion is “false friendship”, which mirrors the society today. President Toda said: “People’s lives today lack a sense of compassion… Isn’t the lack of compassion that is the characteristic of the present age?”

It is though our efforts at dialogue, though our actions, we fundamentally change the society that lacks compassion and is awash with false friendship. We transform the destiny of our society which has a tendency to be discriminatory and lacking in compassion. We send sunlight of spring to a society that is locked in the frigid winter. President Ikeda says: “I am sure the Daishonin most highly praises all of you who are steadfastly carrying through with the bodhistavva practice of compassion as the true disciples and as “followers who share my spirit”.”

 

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THE OPENING OF THE EYES (I)

01 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by shrutisr in The Opening of the Eyes (I)

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Although I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties, if we do not harbour doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood. Do not have doubts simply because heaven does not lend you protection. Do not be discouraged because you do not enjoy an easy and secure existence in this life. This is what I have taught my disciples morning and evening, and yet they begin to harbour doubts and abandon their faith. Foolish men are likely to forget the promises they have made when the crucial moment comes.

——————–

The Opening of the Eyes is a treatise that revealed the essence of Nichiren Buddhism. It was written under harsh conditions of the bitter cold winter in Tsukahara on Sado island where the Daishonin was still in exile on the second month of 1272 and addressed to Shijo Kingo, one of his leading disciples in Kamakura, on behalf of all his followers.

During this period of time, the Daishonin’s disciples were also experiencing intense oppression from the authorities because of their faith. On 12 Sep the previous year, the Daishonin was almost beheaded at Tatsunokuchi and on the following month, he was sentenced to exile on Sado island.

His disciples were either imprisoned, banished or had their lands confiscated. The Daishonin described the situation in one of his writings in this manner: “…in Kamakura, among 999 out of 1,000 people who gave up their faith when I was arrested…”

Many in society and shaken disciples scathingly asked why, if the Daishonin was truly the votary of the Lotus Sutra as he claimed, he did not enjoy protection from the heavens.

In order to dispel people’s negativity and doubt and instill them with confidence and conviction, the Daishonin wrote this treatise to “open the eyes” of the people to the truth of a “votary of the Lotus Sutra” whose mission is to lead all people in the Latter Day to happiness.

Nichiren Daishonin described what he had written in The Opening of the Eyes as “the most important concern of my entire life” (WND, p243). The passage we are studying this month is the concluding portion of this important treatise and it is the very passage that the mentor and disciple of three successive presidents of the Soka Gakkai practiced with their words, thoughts and deeds.

Right at the outset of this passage, the Daishonin called forth to his disciples impassionately, “I and my disciples”.

By appearing in this defiled age of the Latter Day as an ordinary being amongst people who slander the Lotus Sutra and wagging a struggle against persecutions from the three powerful enemies, thus eradicating his negative karma, the Daishonin demonstrated through his own life what it means to attain Buddhahood, that is to achieve ultimate victory in life.

This struggle that demonstrated the principle of “enduring hardship on account of faith equals attaining BUddhahood” was waged by the Daishonin for the sake of the people in the Latter Day to open the path for the universal enlightenment of all people – enable all people to gain access to the path of Buddhahood.

For this reason, the Daishonin used the phrase, “I and my disciples” here in this passage, to call forth to his disciples to prevail over all difficulties by practicing faith in the same mind as their mentor and attain Buddhahood.

In our journey of faith in attaining Buddhahood, difficulties cannot be avoided. We may experience adversities that are so harsh that we wonder why the heavens did not lend their protection.

However, that is the moment we must remind ourselves not to harbour doubts nor be discouraged. Instead, we should regard that moment as the best opportunity to transform our karma and courageously stand up to confront and overcome that adversity.

The Daishonin said in this passage that that is exactly what he had been teaching to his disciples so that they know what to do during such crucial moments in their lives.

Yet, when these crucial moments come, his disciples began to harbour doubts and abandon their faith. The Daishonin emphasized the point that one should never forget the promise one had made with one’s mentor when the crucial moment comes.
Now, when should we regard as “crucial moments”? Who is to decide when is one’s “crucial moment”?

No one can decide this except oneself. We are the ones who should be deciding that now is the “crucial moment” and wage a struggle to overcome the hardship based on one’s own resolve. It all boils down to one’s own will. It is important to remember this point.

SGI President Ikeda said, “In our own journey of life, we will encounter valleys of problems and mountains of adversities, but there is no trial that we can’t overcome through our faith and practice. When we dedicate ourselves to the Mystic Law, everything will become nurturing sustenance for our lives, a great treasure, and we will definitely be able to win in the end.”

Adapted from the April 2010 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.

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