Study Materials

Awakening the Buddha Nature within Our Lives with Daimoku!

Therefore, if you recite these words of the daimoku once, then the Buddha nature of all living beings will be summoned and gather around you. At that time the three bodies of the Dharma nature within you -- the Dharma body, the reward body, and the manifested body -- will be drawn forth and become manifest. This is called attaining Buddhahood. To illustrate, when a caged bird sings, the many birds flying in the sky all gather around it at once; seeing this, the bird in the cage strives to get out.

-- “Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man” (Part 2) WND1, pg 131

Background

This treatise is generally thought to have been written in the second year of Bun’ei (1265) but the details are unknown. If it were written in that year, then it would be the following year after the Komatsubara Persecution, where the Daishonin based in Kamakura resolutely carried out shakubuku and propagation.

This treatise, as the title shows, is written in a question-and-answer form between a sage and an unenlightened man.

The unenlightened man laments that having received life one cannot escape death. Though everyone recognises this as a fact, not a single person truly takes this matter seriously. And, he sets out on a journey to seek the true way of living.

The unenlightened man is visited in succession by a priest of the Precepts school, a lay believer of the Pure Land school, a practitioner of the True Word school, and a priest of the Zen school. Through their conversations, the Daishonin outlines the basic tenets of these four major Buddhist schools of his day. Troubled by the contradictions in what he has heard, and determined to discover which teaching is correct, the unenlightened man sets out in search of a teacher who can clarify matters for him.

He finally encounters a sage who embraces the Lotus Sutra. The sage declares that since the doctrines of all four major schools go against the True Law, they are the cause for the people to be reborn in the evil paths. Basing on concrete proof from the sutras, he teaches that only the Lotus Sutra, the supremely true teaching, enables all people without exception to attain Buddhahood.

The unenlightened man questions that since the four major Buddhist schools have the most number of adherents, they must be correct in their teachings. Against this, the sage declares that regardless of the number of adherents, truth is truth and righteousness is righteousness. He further teaches that the Buddhist practice in accord with this period of the Latter Day of the Law is to set aside everything and refute the evil of slandering the True Law.

Further, the sage reveals that the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo that form the title of the Lotus Sutra is the name of the Buddha nature inherent in all living beings. By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo this Buddha nature will be summoned forth and one is able to attain Buddhahood. This is the path towards attaining eternal happiness throughout the three existences.

Finally, the unenlightened man resolves to carry through his faith, and the sage concludes by saying that there will be obstacles and devils forthcoming and encourages him to strengthen his faith during such a crucial time.

Prayer is Indeed the Motivation Force for All Victories!

The prayer of the Mystic Law can summon forth the great life force to transform whatever life-state of suffering into that of joy and happiness!

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the name of the Buddha nature inherent in the life of all living beings in this universe. It is the most respectworthy name of the life-state of Buddhahood. When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the sound will resonate in the universe, summoning forth the Buddha nature inherent in the depths of the life of all living beings. Responding to this Buddha nature, the Buddha nature inherent in our life will also be brilliantly manifested. That is to say, we are actualising the attainment of Buddhahood, the life-state of supreme joy and happiness as a human being.

As a simile for this principle, the Daishonin illustrates the case of a caged bird. When the caged bird sings, the many birds flying in the sky all gather round it, and seeing this, the bird in the cage strives to get out!

The caged bird refers to our life-state imprisoned by sufferings and earthly desires. This caged bird singing signifies we chanting daimoku. The many birds flying in the sky gathering together signifies the Buddha nature of all living beings being awakened. The bird in the cage striving to get out refers to the manifesting of our life-state of Buddhahood.

The effect would be that our relationship with other people will only bring about sufferings, but the mutually sympathy of each others’ lives, this will be transformed into a dynamic relationship that stimulates the growth of both ourselves and others.

SGI President Ikeda once said to the following effect:

“When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and focus on the Gohonzon, our lives and the universe merge like cogs in a machine meshing together with perfect precision, and we begin to turn in the direction of happiness and fulfillment. Then we can be in rhythm with the universe 365 days of the year ¨C in spring, summer, autumn and winter ¨C manifesting the vigour, wisdom and good fortune with which to surmount any problem or suffering. When we rev up the powerful, revitalising engine of Buddhahood, we can break through any impasse and boldly steer a course in the direction of hope and justice.”