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. This section, part of the prose section of the “Life Span” chapter, is no longer recited during our morning and evening prayers, but we have included it here for its invaluable content. The full text can be found in The Heart of the Lotus Sutra, pp. 147–57.
Niji butsu go. Sho bo-satsu gyu. Issai daishu. Sho zen-nanshi. Nyoto to shinge. Nyorai jotai shi go. Bu go daishu. Nyoto to shinge. Nyorai jotai shi go. U bu go. Sho daishu. Nyoto to shinge. Nyorai jotai shi go. Zeji bo-satsu daishu. Mi-roku i shu. Gassho byaku butsu gon. Seson. Yui gan ses shi. Gato to shinju butsu-go. Nyo ze san byaku i. Bu gon. Yui gan ses shi. Gato to shinju butsu-go. Niji seson. Chi sho bo-satsu. San sho fu shi. Ni go shi gon. Nyoto tai cho. Nyorai hi-mitsu. Jinzu shi riki.
Literal translation: “At that time the Buddha spoke to the bodhisattvas and all the great assembly: ‘Good men, you must believe and understand the truthful words of the Thus Come One.’ And again he said to the great assembly: ‘You must believe and understand the truthful words of the Thus Come One.’ And once more he said to the great assembly: ‘You must believe and understand the truthful words of the Thus Come One.’
“At that time the bodhisattvas and the great assembly, with Maitreya as their leader, pressed their palms together and addressed the Buddha, saying: ‘World-Honored One, we beg you to explain. We will believe and accept the Buddha’s words.’ They spoke in this manner three times, and then said once more: ‘We beg you to explain it. We will believe and accept the Buddha’s words.’
“At that time the World-Honored One, seeing that the bodhisattvas repeated their request three times and more, spoke to them, saying: ‘You must listen carefully and hear of the Thus Come One’s secret and his transcendental powers.’” (The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, p. 265)
Ikeda Sensei:
Traditionally, three rounds of entreaty indicate that an important teaching is about to be expounded and point to the Buddha’s profound determination that this teaching should be spread. In the case of the “Life Span” chapter, however, it does not end with only three entreaties. The disciples’ seeking spirit, like a torrent, truly knows no bounds. In response, the Buddha expounds the supreme teaching.
That the disciples entreat the Buddha to expound his teaching a fourth time indicates that the importance of the “Life Span” chapter far exceeds the Buddha’s other teachings. It also suggests that the disciples’ determination is so profound as to move the heart of the mentor.
The repetition of “at that time” to mark the developments in the exhortation and response between the Buddha and his disciples at the outset of “Life Span” also conveys a heightening spiritual unity of mentor and disciple. The time of the “Life Span” chapter is the moment when mentor and disciple become one in mind. It is the time of the oneness of mentor and disciple.
At that time, there is a perfect concordance between the compassion of the mentor and the determination of the disciples, the wisdom of the mentor and the earnestness of the disciples, the expectations of the mentor and the growth of the disciples. This time of perfect unity of mentor and disciple is the time when a broad path is opened for the salvation of all human beings into the limitless future. …
We are in effect vowing to advance kosen-rufu in accord with the spirit of the original Buddha. Every day we pledge to the Daishonin, “Without fail, I will believe in and spread the teaching of Nichiren Daishonin and help lead all people to enlightenment.” A person of seeking spirit, of ardent vows, is a true disciple. Ours is a practice of boundless seeking spirit. We dedicate our lives to a vow to fulfill our missions in this lifetime.
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