December 2011 Discussion Meeting Gosho Study: "A Life Chanting Through and Through the Mystic Law Sees No Deadlock!"

1. Theme for Discussion Meeting:

• Theme: A Life Chanting Through and Through the Mystic Law Sees No Deadlock!
• Gosho: The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, WND-I-145.
• Reference: Flow 515, pp. 4-6.

2. Gosho Passage

Hence the character myo means to open.
If there is a storehouse full of treasures but no key, then it cannot be opened, and if it cannot be opened, then the treasures inside cannot be seen.

3. Background

• said to have been written in the first month of the third year of Bun’ei (1266).
• although nothing is known about the recipient, from the content of the letter, it was said to be a woman who was once a Nembutsu believer.

4. Summary

• explains that the rewards of believing in and chanting the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are truly immense.
• Daishonin sets the question: “Is it possible to gain merits and virtues by merely chanting the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra without understanding its meaning?”
• after confirming that the rewards are vast and extensive, because the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra is indeed the very heart of all the eighty thousand sacred teachings of the Buddha as well as the eye of all the Buddhas, the Daishonin emphasizes that the fundamental of this practice is “faith.”
• even if one does not understand deeply the Buddhist doctrines, as long as one has firm faith, he or she will attain Buddhahood.
• teaches that no matter what, the most important thing is to strengthen one’s faith and strive in chanting the daimoku.
• next, Daishonin teaches that one must have the self-awareness that it is extremely rare to encounter the Mystic Law and to chant the daimoku, and that one must strive with joy and courage to chant the daimoku.
• Daishonin next sets another question: “How great are the blessings contained within the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo?”
• teaches that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is not just a name, but the fundamental Buddhist doctrine within which all beings of the nine worlds and the world of Buddhahood, as well as the environments they are dependent upon are contained.
• further, the Daishonin expounds the three profound significance of the single character of myo.
• firstly, myo means “to open,” to open the treasure storehouse of all the sutras, revealing the Mystic Law which is the true intent of the Buddha.
• secondly, myo means to be fully endowed, having the meaning of “perfect and full,” containing all the blessings and having the power to enable all living beings to attain Buddhahood.
• thirdly, myo means “to revive” or to return to life, enabling all persons of the two vehicles, icchantikas, and women who were once thought to have scorched and killed the seeds of Buddhahood to attain Buddhahood.
• finally, Daishonin emphasizes that the Lotus Sutra is the only sutra which expounds that women can become Buddha, and concludes by stressing to never be influenced by evil friends and to only chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

5. Main Points for Study

• the character of myo in Myoho-renge-kyo has the three significance of “to open,” “to be fully endowed, perfect and full,” and “to revive, to return to life.”
• this gosho passage touches on the significance of “to open.”
• Daishonin uses the simile that no matter how full the storehouse is of treasures, if one does not have the key to open it, one will not be able to see the treasures inside.
• in all the sutras expounded prior to the Lotus Sutra, the storehouse containing the treasure of the Mystic Law, the ultimate enlightenment of the Buddha, was closed.
• even though people see the storehouse but no one saw the treasures that lay within.
• Nichiren Daishonin teaches that through the expounding of the Lotus Sutra which reveals the attainment of Buddhahood of all people, the storehouse of all the sutras was opened for the first time, and the treasure of the Mystic Law which Shakyamuni truly wanted to expound was revealed.
• viewed from our practice, “to open” is to open the eye of our faith and to have the conviction in the Mystic Law that is endowed within our very own life.
• through our chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the treasure within our life is revealed.
• the significance of “to open” is to manifest the power of the Mystic Law as vast as the universe that is endowed within our very own life, and open up the great life-state of attaining Buddhahood.
• when one manifests the fundamental power that is endowed within one’s life, that person will definitely be revived even though he or she may now be right in the very midst of an adverse situation.
• in this gosho, the Daishonin teaches: “Myo means to revive, that is, to return to life.” [WND-I-149]
• Ikeda Sensei:

“By chanting the eternal Mystic Law, we are able to attune our lives with the eternal rhythm of limitless joy.
By dedicating our lives to spreading the Mystic Law, the fundamental Law of the universe, we are able to develop an immense state of being that is one with the universe.
We of the SGI are striving wholeheartedly to realize the great desire of kosen-rufu.
Nothing can defeat us.
Nothing can hinder our progress.
Nothing can hold us back or tie us down.
Nothing can sully us.”

• even though we may confront a wall, a life lived through and through chanting the Mystic Law and living for kosen-rufu will definitely see no deadlock.
• with our daimoku of courage and conviction, let us show to all the greatness of the Mystic Law!

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