“A Great River Enriching Humanity The HOPE-FILLED TEACHINGS of NICHIREN DAISHONIN SGI PRESIDENT IKEDA’S LECTURE SERIES “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude” “A Great River Enriching Humanity Our Victory As Disciples Is the Greatest Way to Repay Our Gratitude to Our Mentor” Beach Cities Study Promotion Committee

1. The Lives of Genuine Buddhist Practitioners Shine with Appreciation and Gratitude Nichiren recognized his debt of gratitude to his country. strictly admonished various schools of Buddhism that slandered the Law and went against the Buddha’s original intent. Surmounted life-threatening persecutions Then cast off his transient status as an ordinary person to reveal his true identity as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law (hos-shaku-kempon). Nichiren revealed the Gohonzon as the object of devotion and manifestation of his enlightened state of life. Nichiren vowed to “become the wisest person in all Japan” upon entering Seicho-ji at a young age diligently applied himself to his studies in order to repay his debt of gratitude to his mother and father. After two decades of intensive Buddhist study, he established the teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to repay his gratitude to all living beings understanding the scope of his perilous battle, he “refuted the erroneous and revealed the true” in the realm of Buddhism. Because recognized his debt of gratitude to his country, he strictly admonished various schools of Buddhism that slandered the Law and went against the Buddha’s original intent. After surmounting life-threatening persecutions and casting off his transient status as an ordinary person to reveal his true identity as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law (hos-shaku kempon). Nichiren revealed the Gohonzon as the object of devotion and manifestation of his enlightened state of life. hos-shaku-kempon - casting off the transient and revealing the true

Three Great Secret Laws the invocation - Nam-myoho-renge-kyo the object of devotion - the Gohonzon, and the place of worship - the sanctuary Nichiren revealed and established the Three Great Secret Laws as the framework for spreading the teachings of the Lotus Sutra throughout the Latter Day. Determinedly carried out the struggle to reveal the correct Law hidden in the depths of the Lotus Sutra that would lead all people to enlightenment, took on the momentous battle of repaying his gratitude to the three treasures. Revealed and established the Three Great Secret Laws as the framework for spreading the teachings of the Lotus Sutra throughout the Latter Day. Determinedly carrying out the struggle to reveal the correct Law hidden in the depths of the Lotus Sutra that would lead all people to enlightenment, he took on the momentous battle of repaying his gratitude to the three treasures.

2. A Treatise Containing “Matters of the Utmost Importance” This writing contains a detailed description of his ardent pursuit of Buddhism in his youth a comprehensive account of his subsequent efforts to spread the Mystic Law. He clarifies the immeasurable benefits of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws, which constitutes the great Law that will lead all people to enlightenment and that is to be propagated throughout the eternal future of the Latter Day This writing contains a detailed description of his ardent pursuit of Buddhism in his youth, along with a comprehensive account of his subsequent efforts to spread the Mystic Law. He also clarifies the immeasurable benefits of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws, which constitutes the great Law that will lead all people to enlightenment and that is to be propagated throughout the eternal future of the Latter Day. And he pays tribute to his first teacher by stating that this benefit in its entirety will return to Dozen-bo.

3. Chanting and Spreading the Mystic Law “Without Sparing One’s Voice” A universal teaching will only spread when the time is right and when a person willing to give his or her life to propagating it appears. Nichiren worked tirelessly “without sparing his voice” to teach people about the path he had pioneered. As a result, he established the Three Great Secret Laws. A universal teaching will only spread when the time is right and when a person willing to his or her life to propagating it appears. Nichiren worked tirelessly “without sparing his voice” to teach people about the path he had pioneered. As a result, he established the Three Great Secret Laws. We must never forget that Nichiren’s people-centered Buddhism has flourished solely because of unceasing efforts to spread the Law. His unrelenting efforts to speak out and spread the correct teaching epitomize the spirit of not begrudging one’s life.

Tribute to Dozen-bo Nichiren's teacher and mentor He pays tribute to his first teacher by stating that this benefit in its entirety will return to Dozen-bo. Dozen-bo protected Nichiren and remained friends with him until his death. In April, 1253, after 14 years of intensive study, Nichiren first declared his realization that Nam Myoho Renge Kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws as the true teaching of Buddhism. At Seicho-ji Temple to a very large audience of priests, warlords, and believers of the other sects, he denounced the Nembutsu, Shingon, Ritzu, and Zen sects. Many of the priests were outraged and Dozen-bo protected ND by having senior priests sneak him out the back to avoid arrest. Dozen-bo continued his friendship with Nichiren for 23 years until he died and frequently asked questions about the Lotus Sutra, but never began practicing ND’s Buddhism. At the time of Dozen-bo’s death, and out of appreciation to him, ND wrote this Gosho. Statue of Nichiren Daishoinin at Seicho-Ji Temple

Three Treasures Three things that all Buddhists should revere and serve: Buddha – one who is awakened to the truth of life and universe. Law – Dharma or Buddhist teachings, means the teachings that the Buddha expounds in order to lead all people to enlightenment. Sangha, or Buddhist Order – the group of believers that practices the Buddha’s teachings, preserves the Law, spreads it and transmits it to future generations (LB, JUL-AUG., 2009, p. 76).

3. Chanting and Spreading the Mystic Law “Without Sparing One’s Voice” We must never forget that Nichiren’s people-centered Buddhism has flourished solely because of unceasing efforts to spread the Law. His unrelenting efforts to speak out and spread the correct teaching epitomize the spirit of not begrudging one’s life. A universal teaching will only spread when the time is right and when a person willing to his or her life to propagating it appears. Nichiren worked tirelessly “without sparing his voice” to teach people about the path he had pioneered. As a result, he established the Three Great Secret Laws. We must never forget that Nichiren’s people-centered Buddhism has flourished solely because of unceasing efforts to spread the Law. His unrelenting efforts to speak out and spread the correct teaching epitomize the spirit of not begrudging one’s life.

Nichiren’s Profound Struggle The power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will endure for eternity because the Law itself is infinitely profound and because of the selfless struggles Nichiren underwent to establish and propagate it. Because there is depth in the teaching accompanied by a profound struggle, kosen-rufu will advance and be achieved.

4. The Three Virtues of Nichiren Daishonin Function to Actualize Kosen-rufu The Buddha vows to save all people. Widespread propagation of the correct teaching that continues after the Buddha’s passing is the fundamental wish of Shakyamuni, Many Treasures and all Buddhas throughout time and space. This passage is Nichiren’s declaration that he has actualized this vow.  The Buddha vows to save all people. And widespread propagation of the correct teaching that continues after the Buddha’s passing is the fundamental wish of Shakyamuni, Many Treasures and all Buddhas throughout time and space. This passage is Nichiren’s declaration that he has actualized this vow. It also points to the Daishonin’s three virtues--those of parent, teacher and sovereign. (NEXT SLIDE).

Three Virtues It also points to the Daishonin’s three virtues--those of parent, teacher and sovereign. Definition: The benevolent functions of sovereign, teacher, and parent a Buddha is said to possess. sovereign is the power to protect all living beings, teacher is the wisdom to instruct and lead them to enlightenment, and parent is the compassion to nurture and support them.

5. A Teaching of Transformation: “The Benefit Gained From One Day’s Practice in the Impure World” Nichiren says: “A hundred years of practice in the Land of Perfect Bliss cannot compare to the benefit gained from one day’s practice in the impure world.” Striving to free people from suffering at the most fundamental level in this defiled latter age is an action that brings immeasurable benefit.  The Buddha vows to save all people. And widespread propagation of the correct teaching that continues after the Buddha’s passing is the fundamental wish of Shakyamuni, Many Treasures and all Buddhas throughout time and space. This passage is Nichiren’s declaration that he has actualized this vow. It also points to the Daishonin’s three virtues--those of parent, teacher and sovereign.

6. The Time to Open the Way for Kosen-rufu is the Latter Day A defiled age requires the appearance of a genuine Buddha who can expound a great teaching capable of freeing the people of suffering and positively transforming the times. Nichiren Daishonin

7. “I Pray to the Buddha for Final Victory” Winning and losing are both part of life, but I pray to the Buddha with determination for final victory. We need daunting struggles to develop intrepid faith. The truth is we are Buddhas and even if we sometimes fail, we cannot fail as human beings as long as we deepen our faith.