The Wisdom of the Lot - PDF document

The Wisdom of the Lot us Sutra Volume IV Section 7 Key Concepts and Discussion Questions 1 The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra Volume IV PART II͗ “The Life Span of the Thus Come One” Chapter͗ The Ten Worlds Section 7 : T he Mutual P o ssession of the T e n Worlds Key terms & concepts in this section:  The t ruth of non - substantiality (WLS - 4, 1 71 - 72 )  The life state of b odhisattva (WLS - 4, 1 74 - 8 4 )  The M ystic Law (WLS - 4, 1 83 )  The l ife state of Buddhahood (WLS - 4, 1 84 - 9 3 )  “ Hommon ” (WLS - 4, 1 86 - 87 )  S ingle - mindedly desiring to see the Buddha (WLS - 4, 1 92 - 93 )  “ Pressing palms together ” (WLS - 4, 1 94 ) Discussion Questions: 1. On page 172 President Ikeda says, “The real issue, therefore, is the way in which we change – whether for better or for worse͘ It can only be one or the other͘” What is necessary in order for us to change for the better? (WLS - 4, 171 - 74) 2. What are the characteristics of the life state of Bodhisattva? (WLS - 4, 174 - 76; 181 - 84) 3. This section relays a moving story of a mother who, after surviving the atomic - bombing of Hiroshima, became a peace activis t and founder of a mother’s peace movement͘ At one point, her son asked three questions: 1) Why do wars happen even though everyone knows that war is bad? 2) What does it mean that war is born in people’s minds? 3) How can war be eliminated? W hat is the Buddhist perspective on these three questions? (WLS - 4, 179) 4. Since people and society are in constant flux, what can we depend on as our “unchanging center”? (WLS - 4, 183) 5. What are some characteristics of the world of Buddhahood? (WLS - 4, 185 - 92) 6. Why i s the Life Span chapter considered to be the “hommon, or essential teaching”? (WLS - 4, 186 - 87) 7. Why are “manifesting the world of Buddhahood and defeating the devilish functions” one and the same? (WLS - 4, 188) 8. What does it mean to “single - mindedly” des ire to see the Buddha? How can we apply this to daily life? (WLS - 4, 192 - 93) The Wisdom of the Lot us Sutra Volume IV Section 7 Key Concepts and Discussion Questions 2 Highlighted in this section from The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 73 If you try to treat someone’s illness without knowing its cause, you will only make the person sicker than before . (“ T he Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra ,” WND - 1, 7 74 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 73 This mind that is beyond comprehension constitutes the core teachi ng of the sutras and treatises. And one who is awake to and un derstands this mind is called a Thus Come One . (“ T he Unanimous Declaration by the Buddhas ,” WND - 2 , 844 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 75 The world of bodhisattvas, those who remai n among the ordinary mortals of the six paths of existence, thinkin g little of their own lives but much of the lives of others, aiming alwa ys to take evil upon themselves and to dole out good to other beings . (“ E xplaining the Causation of the Ten Worlds ,” WND - 2 , 2 01 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 76 Even a heartless villain love s his wife and children. He too has a portion of the bodhisattva world within him . ( “ T he Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind ,” WND - 1, 35 8 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 84 S ummon up the courage of a lion . (“ O n Persecutions Befalling the Sage ,” WND - 1, 9 97 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 87 The pine tree lives for ten thousand years, an d therefore its boughs become bent and twiste d . . . The votary of the Lotus Sutra is the Thus Come One whos e life span is immeasurable; no wonder his practice is hindered, just as the pine tree’s branches are bent or broken . (“ T he Difficulty of Sustaining Faith ,” WND - 1, 4 71 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 87 B uddhahoo d lies in continuing faith ( “ The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith ,” WND - 1, 4 71 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 190 The Wisdom of the Lot us Sutra Volume IV Section 7 Key Concepts and Discussion Questions 3 B ecome the master of your mind rather than let your mind master you . (“ R eply to the Lay Priest Soya ,” WND - 1, 4 86 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 90 Th at ordinary people born in th e latter age can believe in the Lotus Sutra is due to the fact that the world of Buddhahood is present in the human world . (“ T he Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind ,” WND - 1, p. 3 58 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 92 S ingle - mindedly desiring to see the Buddha, not hesitating even if it costs them their lives . (“ L etter to Gijo - bo ,” WND - 1, p. 3 89 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 9 3 Single - mindedly desiring to see the Buddha’ may be read as fol lows: single - mindedly observing the Buddha, concentrating one’s mind on seeing the Buddha, and when looking at one’s own mind, perceiving that it is the Buddha . (“ L etter to Gijo - bo ,” WND - 1, p. 3 89 - 90 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 9 3 I f in a single moment of life we exhaust the pain and trials of millions of kalpas, then instant after instant there will arise in us the three Buddha bodies with which we are eternally endowed. ( T he Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings , p. 214 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 94 O n the path to attain Buddhahood it may invariably by when one has done something like lay down one ’ s life that one becomes a Buddha. ( W ND - 1 , p. 2 02 ) The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol. IV, p. 1 94 - 95 “ Pressing palms toget her ” is another name for the L o tus Sutra. ͙ “ Pressing ” means myo, or wonderful, while “ palms ” refers to ho, or the Law [or phenomena as its manifestation]. ͙ “ Pressing ” is the world of Buddhahood, and “ palms ” are the nine worlds. ( T he Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings , p. 4 5 )