Gongyo—which includes reciting portions of the “Expedient Means” and “Life Span of the Thus Come One” chapters of the Lotus Sutra morning and evening—is part of daily practice for Nichiren Buddhists. This series carries Ikeda Sensei’s explanations of gongyo, section by section. The full text can be found in The Heart of the Lotus Sutra, pp. 79–80.
Shari-hotsu. Nyorai chi-ken. Kodai jinnon. Muryo muge. Riki. Mu-sho-i. Zenjo. Gedas.Sanmai. Jin nyu musai. Joju issai. Mi-zo-u ho.
Literal translation: “Shariputra, the wisdom of the Thus Come Ones is expansive and profound. They have immeasurable [compassion], unlimited [eloquence], power, fearlessness, concentration, emancipation, and samadhis, and have deeply entered the boundless and awakened to the Law never before attained.” (The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, pp. 56–57)
Ikeda Sensei:
This passage explains the expansive powers of the Buddha. That is, it describes the wonderful state of life that those who embrace the Gohonzon can develop.
Interpreting this passage from the standpoint of Nichiren Buddhism, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda taught that it explains the state of life embodied in the Gohonzon:
The difference between the state of life of [the Buddha of] Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and that of the Buddha of the Lotus Sutra’s theoretical teaching is as vast as that between heaven and earth. [Just as the sutra says] without our having made the slightest effort, “This cluster of unsurpassed jewels has come to us unsought” (LSOC, 124). We are given in its entirety the benefit of all Buddhas throughout the existences of past, present and future.
Even though we have not carried out any practices in the past, by believing in the Gohonzon, our lives become endowed with many, varied powers. And, through the principle of the simultaneity of cause and effect, we enter the world of Buddhahood just as we are—as ordinary people.
From the standpoint of Nichiren Buddhism, these powers are embodied in the Gohonzon. These powers well forth in our lives as we maintain our faith. What a wonderful teaching this is.
The Functions of Buddhahood in Our Lives
Here, Shakyamuni identifies “immeasurable [compassion],” “unlimited [eloquence],” “power,” “fearlessness” and so on, as attributes of the Buddha’s state of life. To put it simply, the Buddha has infinite concern for the people (immeasurable [compassion]), can freely expound the teaching through words (unlimited [eloquence]), has penetrating insight into life and the power to discern the causes of people’s unhappiness (power) and has the courage to fully articulate the truth (fearlessness).
Armed with these powers of wisdom, the Buddha dives into the great ocean of the people and, while facing persecution, leads them to enlightenment through wholehearted efforts.
The Buddha’s immeasurable compassion includes the four infinite virtues of giving living beings delight, removing their suffering, rejoicing at seeing beings become free from suffering and gain happiness, and abandoning attachments to love and hatred and being impartial to everyone. The Buddha’s consideration toward the people is expansive and infinite; it knows no bounds.
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