Gosho Zenshu - Part 04
"This entire world is the place where Myoho-renge-kyo should be spread ... the sutra states, '... propagate this Law throughout the world, causing its benefits to spread far and wide,and never allow its flow to cease...'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-717)
"The two phenomena of birth and death are both the mystic workings of the single mind."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-717)
"The Buddha is in fact the living beings of the nine worlds."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-717)
"Without doubt the great beneficial medicine of the Mystic Law ill cure the great disease of ignorance that afflicts all people."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-720)
"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo that I, Nichiren, now chant will enable all people throughout the Latter Day of the Law to attain Buddhahood."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-720)
"Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are all Shariputras"
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-722)
"... like the compassion of a mother toward her child."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-721)
"We repeat the cycle of birth and death secure upon the earth of our intrinsically enlightened nature."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-724)
"The five limbs, the five elements that make up the bodies of living beings such as we, are reflections of Myoho-renge-kyo, and therefore we should learn to use this 'Treasure Tower' chapter as our mirror."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-724)
"... there are profound teachings transmitted secretly with regard to mirrors"
"Faith is the cause of wisdom."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"Faith is a sharp sword which cuts the fundamental darkness of life."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"Belief corresponds to the eternal and unchanging truth..... Understanding corresponds to its functions in accordance with changing circumstances."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"Belief represents the value or price we attach to a jewel or treasure, and understanding represents the jewel itself. It is through belief that we can 'purchase' the wisdom of the Buddhas of past, present and future."
Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725).
"Understanding (ge) is another name for wisdom... There is no understanding separate from faith and no faith separate from understanding."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"'Wisdom' [in the passage from the Hoben chapter of the Lotus Sutra, 'door to this wisdom'] means Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."
Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden,(GZ-725)
"In the Sho-hokke-kyo, this chapter ["Belief and Understanding"] is titled "Belief and Delight." While both have a similar meaning, the word 'delight' is less appropriate than 'understanding.' The chapter describes how they [the four great men of learning] gain an understanding of the teachings, but what justification is there for the use of the word 'delight'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"Do not spare your voice."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-726)
"The word 'presentation' refers to Kashyapa, to whom the teachings were presented. The word 'master' (or completion} pertains to Shakyamuni Buddha, who acknowledges Kashyapa's mastery of them. Thus 'presentation and mastery' signifies that Kashyapa and Shakyamuni Buddha have attained an identical level of understanding
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-729).
"The word 'prophecy' refers to Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-730)
"It is the bestowal of prophecy of the Mystic Law, and therefore it is a bestowal of prophecy upon the Dharma-realm."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-731)
"The chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo by Nichiren and his disciples corresponds to the phrase 'casting off one's present body' expounded in the Juki (sixth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra"
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-731)
"And when we interpret this scriptural passage as 'offering one's present body,' it takes on the meaning of offering the five elements (earth, water, fire, wind and ku) of one's body to the universe; it does not mean to cast off [one's present body]. Giving up one's present body to become a Buddha is actually an interpretation of the sutra from the perspective of the provisional teachings. The Lotus Sutra refers to the discarding of attachments to such provisional teachings as 'casting off one's present body'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-731)
"The ten worlds are all of them phantom cities, and each of the ten worlds is a treasure land.
Or again, the phantom city is the nine worlds other than Buddhahood, and the treasure land is the state of Buddhahood. From the phantom city to the treasure land is a distance of five hundred yojanas. This distance of five hundred yojanas is symbolic of the illusions of thought and desire, of the dusts and sands that impede Buddhist practice, and of darkness or ignorance. The five hundred yojanas of earthly desires, in essence, indicate the five characters of the Mystic Law; this means that the phantom city is identical to the treasure land, the phrase identical to indicates Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Each life-moment in the phantom city is a life-moment in the treasure land."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-732)
"The wheel-turning king is one who passes through the cycle of birth and death, unchanging throughout the three existences of past, present and future"
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-733).
"The wheel-jewel refers to our words and voices."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, Ongi Kuden, GZ-733)
"Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are all equally endowed with the Ten Worlds; and there is no distinction between them, and all reside together at Eagle Peak. Those who are 'together with Nichiren' will attain Eagle Peak, but those who are not will fall into the hell of incessant suffering."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-734)
"The word 'together' means that one is together with Nichiren will reach the place where the treasure is."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, Ongi Kuden," GZ-734)
"Now, when Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are asserting that the phantom city is identical to the treasure land. These mountains, valleys and broad plains where we live are all, every one of them, the treasure land of Eternally Tranquil Light."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-734)
"Now, when Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are bestowing on both learners and adepts a prophecy that, as Shakyamuni Buddha said, 'all persons [will be] equal to me, without any distinction between us,' are they not? ... On all of them, wise and ignorant alike, we bestow the prophecy of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, 'forcing them to listen, though it angers them'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-735)
"Now, when Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are in effect sobering up from the wine of ignorance."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-735)
"The 'great vow' refers to the propagation of the Lotus Sutra. 'Living beings' refers to all beings in the country of Japan. The persons who 'are born in this human world' are Nichiren and his followers. 'Broadly' means to expound the sutra throughout the southern continent of Jambudvipa [i.e., the entire world]. 'This sutra' refers to the daimoku. Now it is Nichiren and his followers who chant the daimoku. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-735)
"The 'Law' [of 'The Teacher of the Law' chapter in the Lotus Sutra] means all phenomena, and 'Teacher' means that all phenomena are directly revealed in the teacher. All phenomena of the three thousand realms in the universe are directly revealed in the teacher and thus in the disciple. Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are great teachers among teachers."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-736)
"Nichiren and his disciples who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are 'those who dwell together with the Thus Come One (Skt Tathagata, J Nyorai).' The Great Teacher Fu interprets this as meaning: Morning after morning we rise with the Buddha, evening after evening with the Buddha we rest. Moment by moment we attain the Way, moment by moment we reveal the true."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-737)
"The 'seat' means carrying out religious practice 'without begrudging one's life.' By carrying out such practice, one awakens to the 'emptiness of all phenomena' ... The robe, seat and room represent to the Buddha's three bodies of the Dharma body, the bliss body and the manifested body; the three truths of nonsubstantiality, temporary existence and the Middle Way; and the three categories of action of deed, word and thought.... Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are fulfilling the three rules [of preaching represented by robe, seat and room] each moment of their lives."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-737)
"'Treasure' stands for the five components of life. 'Tower' stands for their harmonious functioning. The five components functioning in harmony is designated the Treasure Tower. The harmonious functioning of the five components emerges, or is seen, in the five characters myoho-renge-kyo. This is the meaning of to 'emerge' or 'be seen'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-739)
"The four faces [of the Treasure Tower] represent the four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death. These four aspects of life dignify the tower of our individual lives. By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo through birth, old age, sickness and death, the fragrance of the four virtues [of eternity, happiness, true self and purity] are made to issue forth [from our lives].
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, Ongi Kuden, GZ-740)
"This entire world is the place where Myoho-renge-kyo should be spread ... the sutra states, '... propagate this Law throughout the world, causing its benefits to spread far and wide,and never allow its flow to cease...'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-717)
"The two phenomena of birth and death are both the mystic workings of the single mind."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-717)
"The Buddha is in fact the living beings of the nine worlds."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-717)
"Without doubt the great beneficial medicine of the Mystic Law ill cure the great disease of ignorance that afflicts all people."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-720)
"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo that I, Nichiren, now chant will enable all people throughout the Latter Day of the Law to attain Buddhahood."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-720)
"Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are all Shariputras"
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-722)
"... like the compassion of a mother toward her child."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-721)
"We repeat the cycle of birth and death secure upon the earth of our intrinsically enlightened nature."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-724)
"The five limbs, the five elements that make up the bodies of living beings such as we, are reflections of Myoho-renge-kyo, and therefore we should learn to use this 'Treasure Tower' chapter as our mirror."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-724)
"... there are profound teachings transmitted secretly with regard to mirrors"
"Faith is the cause of wisdom."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"Faith is a sharp sword which cuts the fundamental darkness of life."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"Belief corresponds to the eternal and unchanging truth..... Understanding corresponds to its functions in accordance with changing circumstances."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"Belief represents the value or price we attach to a jewel or treasure, and understanding represents the jewel itself. It is through belief that we can 'purchase' the wisdom of the Buddhas of past, present and future."
Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725).
"Understanding (ge) is another name for wisdom... There is no understanding separate from faith and no faith separate from understanding."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"'Wisdom' [in the passage from the Hoben chapter of the Lotus Sutra, 'door to this wisdom'] means Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."
Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden,(GZ-725)
"In the Sho-hokke-kyo, this chapter ["Belief and Understanding"] is titled "Belief and Delight." While both have a similar meaning, the word 'delight' is less appropriate than 'understanding.' The chapter describes how they [the four great men of learning] gain an understanding of the teachings, but what justification is there for the use of the word 'delight'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-725)
"Do not spare your voice."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-726)
"The word 'presentation' refers to Kashyapa, to whom the teachings were presented. The word 'master' (or completion} pertains to Shakyamuni Buddha, who acknowledges Kashyapa's mastery of them. Thus 'presentation and mastery' signifies that Kashyapa and Shakyamuni Buddha have attained an identical level of understanding
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-729).
"The word 'prophecy' refers to Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-730)
"It is the bestowal of prophecy of the Mystic Law, and therefore it is a bestowal of prophecy upon the Dharma-realm."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-731)
"The chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo by Nichiren and his disciples corresponds to the phrase 'casting off one's present body' expounded in the Juki (sixth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra"
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-731)
"And when we interpret this scriptural passage as 'offering one's present body,' it takes on the meaning of offering the five elements (earth, water, fire, wind and ku) of one's body to the universe; it does not mean to cast off [one's present body]. Giving up one's present body to become a Buddha is actually an interpretation of the sutra from the perspective of the provisional teachings. The Lotus Sutra refers to the discarding of attachments to such provisional teachings as 'casting off one's present body'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-731)
"The ten worlds are all of them phantom cities, and each of the ten worlds is a treasure land.
Or again, the phantom city is the nine worlds other than Buddhahood, and the treasure land is the state of Buddhahood. From the phantom city to the treasure land is a distance of five hundred yojanas. This distance of five hundred yojanas is symbolic of the illusions of thought and desire, of the dusts and sands that impede Buddhist practice, and of darkness or ignorance. The five hundred yojanas of earthly desires, in essence, indicate the five characters of the Mystic Law; this means that the phantom city is identical to the treasure land, the phrase identical to indicates Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Each life-moment in the phantom city is a life-moment in the treasure land."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-732)
"The wheel-turning king is one who passes through the cycle of birth and death, unchanging throughout the three existences of past, present and future"
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-733).
"The wheel-jewel refers to our words and voices."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, Ongi Kuden, GZ-733)
"Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are all equally endowed with the Ten Worlds; and there is no distinction between them, and all reside together at Eagle Peak. Those who are 'together with Nichiren' will attain Eagle Peak, but those who are not will fall into the hell of incessant suffering."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-734)
"The word 'together' means that one is together with Nichiren will reach the place where the treasure is."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, Ongi Kuden," GZ-734)
"Now, when Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are asserting that the phantom city is identical to the treasure land. These mountains, valleys and broad plains where we live are all, every one of them, the treasure land of Eternally Tranquil Light."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-734)
"Now, when Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are bestowing on both learners and adepts a prophecy that, as Shakyamuni Buddha said, 'all persons [will be] equal to me, without any distinction between us,' are they not? ... On all of them, wise and ignorant alike, we bestow the prophecy of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, 'forcing them to listen, though it angers them'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-735)
"Now, when Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are in effect sobering up from the wine of ignorance."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-735)
"The 'great vow' refers to the propagation of the Lotus Sutra. 'Living beings' refers to all beings in the country of Japan. The persons who 'are born in this human world' are Nichiren and his followers. 'Broadly' means to expound the sutra throughout the southern continent of Jambudvipa [i.e., the entire world]. 'This sutra' refers to the daimoku. Now it is Nichiren and his followers who chant the daimoku. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-735)
"The 'Law' [of 'The Teacher of the Law' chapter in the Lotus Sutra] means all phenomena, and 'Teacher' means that all phenomena are directly revealed in the teacher. All phenomena of the three thousand realms in the universe are directly revealed in the teacher and thus in the disciple. Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are great teachers among teachers."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-736)
"Nichiren and his disciples who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are 'those who dwell together with the Thus Come One (Skt Tathagata, J Nyorai).' The Great Teacher Fu interprets this as meaning: Morning after morning we rise with the Buddha, evening after evening with the Buddha we rest. Moment by moment we attain the Way, moment by moment we reveal the true."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-737)
"The 'seat' means carrying out religious practice 'without begrudging one's life.' By carrying out such practice, one awakens to the 'emptiness of all phenomena' ... The robe, seat and room represent to the Buddha's three bodies of the Dharma body, the bliss body and the manifested body; the three truths of nonsubstantiality, temporary existence and the Middle Way; and the three categories of action of deed, word and thought.... Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are fulfilling the three rules [of preaching represented by robe, seat and room] each moment of their lives."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-737)
"'Treasure' stands for the five components of life. 'Tower' stands for their harmonious functioning. The five components functioning in harmony is designated the Treasure Tower. The harmonious functioning of the five components emerges, or is seen, in the five characters myoho-renge-kyo. This is the meaning of to 'emerge' or 'be seen'."
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, GZ-739)
"The four faces [of the Treasure Tower] represent the four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death. These four aspects of life dignify the tower of our individual lives. By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo through birth, old age, sickness and death, the fragrance of the four virtues [of eternity, happiness, true self and purity] are made to issue forth [from our lives].
(Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Ongi Kuden, Ongi Kuden, GZ-740)
