Nichiren Buddhism Quotes (original) (raw)

April 3rd, 2018, 10:42 am

If you contemplate this sutra day and night and read it morning and evening

If you contemplate this sutra day and night and read it morning and evening, you will become an extraordinary practitioner of the Lotus Sutra. The character sha in the phrase "ze-kyoden-sha" (one who upholds this sutra) means any person; therefore, the phrase can mean anyone who has faith in the Lotus Sutra among monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen . . ." . . it is only the Lotus Sutra that declares: "A women who upholds this sutra is superior to not only other women but also men."

“Ueno-no-Ama Gozen Go-henji” (An Extraordinary Practitioner)
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin

March 20th, 2018, 10:35 am

Candlelight brightens the darkness.

Candlelight brightens the darkness. Even dirty water reflects the moonlight beautifully. In this world nothing is brighter than the sun and moon. Nothing is nobler than the lotus flowers. As the Lotus Sutra is like the sun and moon and the lotus flowers, it is called the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma. I, Nichiren, am also like the sun and moon and the lotus flowers. If you truly believe in the Lotus Sutra, you will be rewarded and protected by the Buddhas.

“Ueno-no-Ama Gozen Go-henji“ (Protection by the Buddhas)
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin

March 17th, 2018, 10:33 am

It is said that the merit of all the Buddhist scriptures

It is said that the merit of all the Buddhist scriptures (except the Lotus Sutra) is that men can become Buddhas after they have done good deeds, which means that attainment of Buddhahood remains uncertain. In the case of the Lotus Sutra, when one touches it, one's hands immediately become Buddhas, and when one chants it, one's mouth instantaneously becomes a Buddha.

“Ueno-no-Ama Gozen Go-henji“ (Buddhahood is Certain)
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin

February 20th, 2018, 10:22 am

Tomorrow, I Nichiren will be exiled to Sado Island.

Tomorrow, I Nichiren will be exiled to Sado Island. This cold evening, I am thinking of you in the cold dungeon. My thought is that you have read and practiced the Lotus Sutra with your heart and action, which would save your parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, ancestors, and everyone around you. Other people read the sutra vocally without feeling in their hearts. Even though they might read it with their heart, they do not experience it as the sutra teaches. Compared with them, you are very precious since you are practicing the sutra in your actions, voice, and spirit.

“Tsuchi-Ro Gosho” (Practice in Action, Voice, and Spirit)
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin

February 6th, 2018, 10:16 am

To be filial (ko) means to be high (ko)

To be filial (ko) means to be high (ko); heaven is high but not at all higher than being filial. To be filial ko also means to be deep (ko); the earth is deep but not any deeper than being filial. Both sages and wise men come from filial families. How much more should students of Buddhism realize the favors they receive and show gratitude for them? Disciples of the Buddha should not fail to feel grateful for the favors received from parents, people, sovereign of nation, and Buddha. Show gratitude to them.

“Kaimoku Sho” (Showing Gratitude)
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin

January 23rd, 2018, 10:09 am

Rivers come together to form an Ocean.

Rivers come together to form an Ocean. Particles of dust accumulate to become Mt. Sumeru. When I, Nichiren, began having faith in the Lotus Sutra, it was like a drop of water or a particle of dust in Japan. However, when the sutra is chanted and transmitted to two, three, ten, million and billion of people, it will grow to be a Mt. Sumeru of perfect enlightenment or the great ocean of Nirvana. There is no way other than this to reach Buddhahood.

“Senji-Sho” (The Spread of the Dharma: Selecting the Right Time)
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin

January 16th, 2018, 09:48 am

All the good deeds and virtues of the Buddha

All the good deeds and virtues of the Buddha Sakyamuni are manifested in the title of the Lotus Sutra, that is, in the five characters: Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo. However sinful we may be, we shall be naturally endowed with all the deeds and virtues of the Buddha if we adhere to these five characters.

Kanjin Honzon Sho / “Endowed by the Merits of the Buddha”
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin

December 29th, 2017, 09:31 am

The Buddhas, the Tathāgatas, teach only Bodhisattvas.

The Buddhas, the Tathāgatas, teach only Bodhisattvas. All they do is for one purpose, that is, to show the insight of the Buddha to all living beings, to cause them to obtain the insight of the Buddha.

The Buddha speaks these words in Chapter Two of the Lotus Sutra. Here he emphasizes the importance of practice for reaching enlightenment. We may think that just hearing what the Buddha teaches is enough to reach his insight of seeing things for what they are. We also need to be actively engaged with the world, doing our best, making mistakes, and confident that we can continue to learn how to make things better. This is no different from the mistaken belief that one can learn how to cook by merely reading recipes. Only by going in the kitchen and making something can one gain the insight of whoever came up with the recipe.

January 9th, 2018, 09:35 am

It is the way of ordinary people that

It is the way of ordinary people that, even though they spur themselves on to arouse the aspiration for enlightenment and wish for happiness in the next life, they exert themselves no more than one or two out of all the hours of the day, and this only after reminding themselves to do so. As for myself, I read the Lotus Sutra without having to remember to, and practice it even when I do not read its words aloud.

“The Four Debts of Gratitude”
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin
written to Kudo Sakon-no-jo Yoshitaka
16 January 1262

December 21st, 2017, 09:28 am

When the sun shines bright in the sky

When the sun shines bright in the sky, everything is made clearly visible on the earth. In the same manner, when one knows the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, they will understand the meaning of the occurrences in the world. For the sake of those who live in the Latter Age of the Declining Law, who are too infantile to understand the Lotus of the Perfect Truth, and who are ignorant of the treasure of the truth of the Three Thousand Existences in One Thought the Eternal Buddha will hang the treasure of the five characters Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo around people's necks. The four great Bodhisattvas who are apostles will protect the keepers of the five characters, as Tai Kung-wang and the Duke of Chou supported the young ruler Chen-wang, or as the four elders attended Emperor Hui-ti in China.

Kanjin Honzon Sho / “Great Compassion of the Buddha”
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin