Niike Gosho Part 11
5/12/96 -- The original Buddha Nichiren Daishonin states in "Niike Gosho,"
Therefore, the Great Master Dengyo stated, "Place those who believe in this sutra, even if they are ignorant men and women who break the precepts, in seats above those who uphold the 250 precepts of the Hinayana. Do not seat them lower. Priests of this Mahayana sutra are even all the higher." He is saying to seat the men and women who believe in this sutra higher then even Gokurakuji's Ryokan-bo, who at present appears to be a living Buddha. Whenever this Ryokan-bo of the 250 precepts meets Nichiren, he becomes angry and his eyes glare at me. This is not normal. This is because a demon has taken over the body of a wise man. For example, when even a person with a fine character becomes intoxicated with alcohol, an evil heart springs forth, and he becomes an annoyance for others. Prior to the Lotus Sutra the Buddha expounded that those who make offerings to Mahakashyapa, Shariputra and Maudgalyayana would fall into the Three Evil Paths, and that the hearts of those men were inferior to even the hearts of wild animals. For the Four Great Men of Learning to embrace the 250 precepts was like a diamond, and to endow themselves with the 3,000 properties was like the (full) moon on the night of the 15th, but when they did not embrace the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha spoke of them in the above manner. The present age is all the more inferior and the people are all the more below them. The priests of Kenchoji and Enkakuji destroying the precepts is like a mountain being leveled, and their reckless behavior resembles that of monkeys. It is hopeless, so hopeless, to think that making offerings to them will help one in a future existence." (Gosho, page 1458)
Good morning, everyone. It is truly worthy of respect that all of you have today made a pilgrimage of profound faith to attend the monthly Oko lecture. I have humbly presented everyone's offerings to the Gohonzon, and have prayed that all of you will expiate your sins, double your faith and practice, be healthy in body and mind and that you will advance in shakubuku. Today I will speak about the same passage from "Niike Gosho" that I spoke on last month.
Precepts are regulations to insure that Buddhist practice is carried out correctly, and are standards for believing in and concretely practicing this tremendous Buddhism. Therefore, it would be no exaggeration to say that precepts themselves are Buddhism. However, the Daishonin stated that those very precept are powerless in the Latter Day of the Law, and that even though they are hindrances, they serve no useful purpose. I spoke of this in last month's Oko, but the one and only thing I would like everyone to understand very clearly is that the precepts of Shakyamuni Buddha's Buddhism simultaneously complement the ethics of general society.
For example, Do not kill. This prohibits murder and the careless killing of living beings.
Do not steal. This prohibits stealing.
Do not drink alcohol. This prohibits drinking alcohol in excess, which is injurious to one's character and health.
Do not commit adultery. This prohibits immoral behavior and sex with an unspecified person in violation of morals.
Do not lie. This prohibits hurting and deceiving people through careless lies.
The Daishonin demonstrated that the Buddha's Law equals secular laws, and that secular laws equal the Buddha's Law, and in this way does not deny common sense. We must abide by the regulations and manners which society has set. I hope you do not add your own interpretations and that you will have no misunderstanding about this. I will speak today with that as the basis. The Daishonin states in "Four Stages of Faith and five Stages of Practice,"
The Great Master Dengyo states, 'I immediately discarded the 250 precepts.' The Great Master Dengyo was not alone. Nyoho and Dochu, disciples of Ganjin, as well as the seven great temples to the south, all discarded them. In addition, the Great Master Dengyo admonished future generations, saying, 'If there is someone in the age of the end of the Law (Mappo) who embraces the precepts, this would be strange. It would be like a tiger in the city. Who would believe?'" (Gosho, page 1114)
As everyone already well knows, Shakyamuni Buddha states in the Daishukyo, "Wars and quarrels will erupt, and the pure Law will disappear." ("Selection of the Time," Gosho, page 836)
Shakyamuni Buddha himself stated that his own Buddhism is limited, and that it had no power to save people in the age of the end of the Law. Accordingly, Shakyamuni Buddha's Buddhism is like last year's calendar, and serves absolutely no purpose in the present age of the end of the Law. To be attached to Shakyamuni Buddha's Buddhism today actually runs counter to the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. In the same manner, the precepts of Shakyamuni Buddha's Buddhism have no efficacy, and only their form remains. If you were to ask, "If someone were to abide by the 250 or 350 uncomfortable precepts set forth in Hinayana Buddhism, could that person attain Buddhahood," I would have to say no. It is clearly pointed out in the sutras that one cannot attain Buddhahood through those precepts. Nanjo Hyoe Shichiro Dono Gosho" states,
"The thousand years following the day after the Buddha's passing is called the age of the correct Law. Many people embrace the precepts, and there are many people of virtue. The thousand years following the thousand years of the correct Law is the age of the image Law. Many people embrace the precepts, but few are virtuous. The ten thousand years following the thousand years of the image Law is the age of the end of the Law. The precepts are neither embraced nor broken. Only people with no precepts fill the country." (Gosho, page 323)
Therefore, the Daishonin referred to Shakyamuni Buddha's Buddhism as the "precept-less end of the Law." A fundamental precept for the end of the Law majestically exists in the age of the end of the Law. It is Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. Nichiren Shoshu is Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, the fundamental Buddhism for the age of the end of the Law. The precepts of Nichiren Shoshu do not interfere with our daily lives by instructing us on point by point, such as, "You mustn't drink alcohol," "You mustn't marry," or "you mustn't eat meat."
"Teaching, Practice and Proof' states,
"Myo-ho-renge-kyo, the essence of the true teaching of this Lotus Sutra, is comprised of five characters in which are gathered the benefits of the myriad practices and myriad virtues of all the Buddhas of the three existences. After embracing this perfect, mystic precept just once, though the practitioner should attempt to break it, it will be impossible to do so. We could call this the precept of the diamond-studded vessel." (Gosho, page 1109)
We receive Gojukai in front of the Gohonzon, and the precept to believe in and practice this Buddhism throughout our lives is called the precept of the dia-mond-studded vessel. In general, the content of this precept of Nichiren Daishonin is:
1. Completely discard other erroneous religions and do not commit slander.
2. Believe in the Three Treasures of the Buddha, the Law and the Priest, and never backslide. The Three Treasures of the age of the end of the Law are Nichiren Daishonin, the Dai-Gohonzon and the successive High Priests of the reception by only a single person. 3. Conduct gongyo and daimoku to the Gohonzon.
4. Carry out shakubuku, awaken others to the true faith, and have them believe in and practice Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.
5. Do not lie to the Gohonzon.
Primarily, this precept of the diamond-studded vessel indicates the life of the Buddha, the Buddha nature, which all people possess equally. It is eternally impossible to destroy or eradicate it. The life of the world of Buddhahood which we polish by purely believing in and practicing to the Gohonzon is an absolute, unchanging existence. However, if we do not polish it, it will soon cloud up and will not be visible.
Nichiren Daishonin states in, "Four Debts of Gratitude,
"Therefore, it is expounded in the Daishukyo, 'Think of a person who, in the fifth five hundred year period, torments priests [who uphold the True Law charging that that they practice] with no wisdom and no precepts, saying they are guilty of sins, as someone who is extinguishing the great lamp of Buddhism." (Gosho, page 268)
"On Prayer" states,
"Even though the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra is truly not serious, possesses foolish wisdom and has an unclean body, if he chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, he will definitely be protected (by the shoten zenjin). You must not discard gold, saying the bag containing it is filthy." (Gosho, page 630)
To everyone's eyes, whether they believe in the Gohonzon or not, you are not no different from others. Rather, you may think that there are many people with affluence and high status who do not have faith and think yourselves below them. I think there are people who do not do shakubuku for this reason. I state unequivocally that the condition of absolute happiness known as the attainment of Buddhahood is not acquired through money or status. Instead, there are many people who are truly unhappy because they are blinded by status and money. The Daishonin encourages us to have more conviction and pride in our practice. People cannot understand by looking from the outside. From the outside, all of you are no different from others. However, you know you possess a Buddha nature within your lives. This will become tremendous fortune in the future.
Priests of other religions do not know this. Even if they know it from a common sense standpoint, they are completely ignorant of its significance. Therefore, in this regard, all of you are far superior to priests of other religions. That is why Nichiren Daishonin stated, "He is saying to seat the men and women who believe in this sutra higher than even Gokurakuji's Ryokan-bo, who at present appears to be a living Buddha." So please awaken within yourselves a deeper sense of responsibility. I did not go into each example case by case, but the Daishonin stated, "The priests of Kenchoji and Enkakuji destroying the precepts is like a mountain being leveled, and their reckless behavior resembles that of monkeys."
I am truly amazed at how completely corrupt some other sects of Buddhism can be. In Japan they attach themselves to political parties, embezzle public funds, engage in illegal accounting practices by using their temples as special corporations and engage in commercial pursuits using hidden money derived from their priestly status and qualifications. After all, this is actual proof that their teachings have no power.
Ryokan, as well, truly appeared to be a living Buddha on the outside, but actually, he attached himself to the Kamakura shogunate and received tremendous assistance from it. He appeared to be a good person who conducted public works and used his alms for the sake of the public, but actually, he extracted tolls from his public works and oppressed peoples daily lives. Whether or not a religion is really true cannot be discerned only from viewing it from the outside or from their suave words. Because of this, we have to do shakubuku with more self-awareness and courage, and save many people. Thank you for your kind attention.