Lecture in Praise of Nichiren Daishonin

January, 2007 Oko Lecture

Myo Means to Revive

Nichiren Daishonin states in “The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra” (“Hokke Daimoku-sho”):

Myo means to revive, that is, to return to life.

(Gosho, p. 360; MW-3, p. 23)

Summary of the Gosho, “The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra” (“Hokke Daimoku-sho”)

The Daishonin wrote this Gosho on January 6^th in the third year of Bunei (1266) when he was forty-five years old. It starts with the question, “Is it possible to attain enlightenment through chanting Daimoku when one does not understand the meaning of it?” The Daishonin answers, “Yes.” In this Gosho, the Daishonin discusses the great benefit of chanting Daimoku, the importance of faith and practice, and the superiority and inferiority of various sutras. He reveals that the benefit of the Lotus Sutra is contained in the Daimoku, based on the three significant qualities of the character “Myo.”

The significance contained in the character Myo

The character Myo has a profound and vast meaning. In the Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra (Hokke gengi), T’ien-t’ai explains Myoho-Renge-Kyo, the title of the Lotus Sutra. Five and a half chapters of this ten-chapter writing focus on an explanation of the character Myo. In “The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra,” the Daishonin describes the character Myo from three points of view: to open, to be fully endowed, and to revive. The above quote is the beginning of the Daishonin’s explanation of “to revive.”

1. To open

The Daishonin quotes the following passage from the Teachers of the Law (Hosshi; tenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra to explain the principle, “to open”:

This sutra opens the gate of expedient means and shows the form of true reality.”

(Hokekyo, p. 328; The Lotus Sutra, Watson, p. 166)

He explains further, citing a passage written by the Great Teacher Chang-an in the Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra:

Myo means to open a hidden, secret purpose.

(Kundoku Hokke gengi shakusen ehon jo, p. 25)

Thus, “to open” means using the viewpoint of the Lotus Sutra to reveal the significant meanings or purposes that are hidden in the depths of the pre-Lotus sutra teachings. Shakyamuni attained enlightenment at the age of thirty. For forty-two years after his attainment of enlightenment, he preached the Law according to the people’s capacity. Then, eight years before his death, he preached the ultimate teaching, the Lotus Sutra. He revealed the true purpose and significance of the pre- Lotus Sutra teachings, and led the people to the Lotus Sutra—the teaching of enlightenment. Thus, the Lotus Sutra finally revealed the true significance of the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings. Some of the provisional sutras that Shakyamuni preached were important teachings; however, if we ignored the Lotus Sutra, the true significance of these sutras would be lost.

2. Fully endowed

In “The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra,” the Daishonin states:

Myo means fully endowed, which in turn has the meaning of perfection.

(Gosho, p. 357; MW-3, p. 15)

This means that the character Myo is fully endowed and lacking in nothing. Just as a drop from the ocean contains all the components of ocean water, the term “fully endowed” signifies that all phenomena contain the three thousand realms.

The Lotus Sutra reveals the principle of the enlightenment of both sentient and insentient beings. Furthermore, the Lotus Sutra reveals that those of the Two Vehicles of Learning and Realization, people of incorrigible disbelief, women, and evil people all have the potential to attain Buddhahood. The pre-Lotus Sutra teachings stated that these individuals would never be able to reach enlightenment.

This principle is based on the doctrine of ichinen sanzen (three thousand realms in a momentary state of life). The Daishonin states that because the Lotus Sutra taught the doctrine of ichinen sanzen, each individual character of the Lotus Sutra contains the benefit of the entire Sutra.

3. To revive

Lastly, “to revive” means the revival of the seed of Buddhahood. In the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings, Shakyamuni taught that those of the Two Vehicles of Learning and Realization, people of incorrigible disbelief, and women were not able to attain enlightenment, because the seed of Buddhahood within their lives did not have the capacity to germinate. However, in “The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra,” the Daishonin declares that through faith in the Lotus Sutra, the seed of Buddhahood within the lives of all people are germinated and their yearning to attain enlightenment will awaken. As the result, they are all able to attain enlightenment.

Among the groups of people who were said to be unable to attain enlightenment in the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings are the people of incorrigible disbelief. Since they do not believe in the Law of Cause and Effect, they repeatedly commit bad deeds. There are those who feel no pain when they rob, kill, or commit various crimes in order to satisfy their greed. However, even these people of incorrigible disbelief can attain enlightenment as long as they have a mind. On the other hand, the people of the Two Vehicles of Learning and Realization have lost their minds since their goal is to attain supreme enlightenment by eradicating the illusions of thought and desire and becoming an arhat. For this reason, it is said that they will never attain enlightenment. As for women, it is taught that they have deep negative karma, and therefore have no capacity to receive the Law.

However, in the Lotus Sutra, the people of Learning and Realization were given the prediction that they would attain enlightenment in the future. The representative of evil people, Devadatta, also received the prediction that he would attain enlightenment, and in a future existence, be a Buddha called Heavenly King. The Lotus Sutra also taught that women are able to attain enlightenment, using the example of the dragon king’s daughter. In “The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra,” Nichiren Daishonin teaches that because the people who were unable to attain Buddhahood in any other sutras could finally attain enlightenment in the Lotus Sutra, the character “myo” is used in the title of the Lotus Sutra. Myo was never used in the title of any other sutra.

Conclusion

The Daishonin’s teaching of the Three Great Secret Laws, hidden in the depths of the Life Span (Juryo; sixteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, is the supreme teaching that enables all people to attain enlightenment. This is also true for those who are still members of the Soka Gakkai. We shouldn’t take the position that they will never be able to attain enlightenment in this lifetime. Rather, we must never give up and continue our efforts to shakubuku them. High Priest Nichinyo Shonin gave us the following guidance during the Oeshiki Ceremony last November:

Starting with finding solutions to the problems of education, to solving the chaotic situations inside and outside of Japan, and to ultimately actualize true world peace, we must aim toward worldwide propagation (Kosen-rufu) of the [Buddhism of the] True Cause. Keeping in mind that now is the time, it is crucial for each one of us to put forth our utmost efforts as we advance toward “doubling the number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth” and “gathering at the great assembly,” which is the objective we received from High Priest Nikken Shonin.

(Dai-Nichiren, Vol. 730, p. 43)

During this “Year of Action,” let us reply to this guidance through our joyous activities based on consistent Gongyo and Daimoku.