March 01, 2007
Under the Hood of
Ki to Revitalization
"On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice"
According to Chikusan, there are "Three Things Impossible to Look Directly At"; and:
"For Nichiren Buddhists, the third seems to include taking an in-depth look at what Nichiren has to say in ‘On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice’ regarding the Lotus Sutra and how the sutra itself says it should be practiced in the Latter Day of the Law."
He adds:
"The three types of learning are Wisdom, Meditation, and Precepts. They represent the practices taught in accord with the minds and desires of the persons of the Three Vehicles —Voice-hearers, Men of Realization, and Bodhisattvas, respectively. "
I quibble with the translation of Sila/Kai as Precepts. Also, equating these with the Three Vehicles is a tad suspect. Chikusan, are you saying that the Training of Wisdom, for examples, is initended for Shravakas?
He also added:
"In accord with the Lotus Sutra, in this writing Nichiren sets these three types of learning aside as formal practices, and explains why this is important based on a discussion of the Lotus Sutra itself. In Nichiren’s teaching the three types of learning are replaced by the Three Great Secret Laws--Daimoku, Gohonzon and Law of the Kaidan, respectively."
I do agree that Nichiren derived the 'Three Great Hidden Dharmas' from the 'Three-fold Training/Three Types of Learning.' I think he did so via the 'Three Mysteries' of the Shingon School. I also see connections with the Three Jewels/Refuges. See: "The Beginning: Taking Refuge"
I am not so sure we should set the 'Three-fold Training', et cetera, aside. Granted, these are "under the hood" issues. We maybe do not need to know them to practice the 'Three Great Hidden Dharmas'. However, some seem to think to think that knowing them; much less applying them, is a distraction at best; or 'slander' at worst.
The problem I see is that 'setting aside' the 'Three-fold Training' has the potential to result in anti-intellectualism, lack of mental cultivation, and amoralism. Nichiren seems to be saying that these problems are self-correcting. Perhaps this is true; but, if so, what does that mean?
Nichiren talks about ethics and meditative cultivation being too much for those at the first stage. He also says 5 of the 6 paramitas are forbidden. In both cases, that leaves wisdom {panna/prajna}. Moreover, he states that people of this age lack inherent wisdom; so we substitute faith.
Do we, at some point, begin to naturally manifest wisdom? Do we then naturally acquire cultivated minds; and become ethical? Put another way, does our conduct start reflecting the 5 paramitas? Or does ethical conduct and mental cultivation require conscious effort? Do we advance to the higher stages and pick up heretical practices later on? Or do we simply adopt the mental disciplines and moral codes required to effectively function in our respective roles in our present culture?
Another view I have heard is that practicing the 'Three Great Hidden Dharmas' takes us directly to insight; the other shore, or the end of wisdom, making all cultivations moot; like rafts that can be abandoned.
Posted by rbeck at March 1, 2007 02:40 PM
Traditionally, Sravakas are associated with the 250 precepts {ethics}, Pratyekabuddhas with dependent origination {reflections}, and Bodhisattvas with Prajna-paramita {wisdom}. Still it is not wrong to mention, as you did, the following:
1. Realization: Wisdom
2. Shravaks: Meditative Cultivation
3. Bodhisattvas: Ethics
However, all Three Vehicles, despite their specializations, are each possessed of Wisdom, Meditative cultivations, and Ethics too.
In the end, it isn't the goat cart, deer cart, or an ox cart that matters. It is the Great White Ox cart {representing the One Buddha Vehicle} that will deliver us.
Of the Three Vehicles, the Sravakas used to focus on the 250 precepts. Now they HEAR the voice of the Buddha speaking the Lotus Sutra. Thus they've become True Voice Hearers.
Pratyekabuddhas used to focus on dependent originations. Now they REALIZE the Lotus Sutra as the highest teaching of the Eternal Shakymuni Buddha. Hence they become true Men of Realization.
Bodhisattvas used to devote themselves to the emptiness doctrine. Now they PRACTISE only the Lotus Sutra. Thus they become Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
Posted by: Hello at March 5, 2007 11:19 AMI can see that too Hello. However, the Pratyeka awakens through direct insight; which equates with wisdom. The Voice-hearer awakens through the practice of guided meditation. The Bodhisattva acts
out of loving kindness and compassion; which are the basis of real Ethics.
My take is that Proscriptions or Precepts {Vinaya, Ritsu} are a form of Ethics {Sila/Kai} for beginners. The Ethos {Sils} of the Bodhisattva are Prescriptions; generosity {Dana}, and forbearence (kshanti).
I still don't think those dots connect.
1. Voice-hearers {Vinaya/discipline; adhering to the 250 precepts}
2. Cause Awakened {reflections; realizing the transitory nature of phenomena}
3. Bodhisattvas {Wisdom sutras; emptiness of phenomena; all phenomena without substance in themselves}
Posted by: Hello at March 3, 2007 08:28 AMThe order is incorrect.
The Three Vehicles and their forte are:
1. Voice-hearers {precepts}
2. Men of Realization {meditation}
3. Bodhisattvas {wisdom}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello Hello,
If I connected these dots; I'd go with:
Realization: Wisdom
Shravaks: Meditative Cultivation
Bodhisattvas: Ethics
robin
Posted by: robek at March 1, 2007 01:14 PMRobin: [I am not so sure we shouid set the 'Three-fold Training', et cetera, aside. Granted, these are "under the hood" issues. We maybe do not need to know them to practice the 'Three Great Hidden Dharmas'. However, some ssem to think to think that knowing them; much less applying them, is a dstraction at best; or 'slander' at worst.]
Kanjin-honzon-sho: "Shakyamuni’s practices and the virtues he consequently attained are all contained within the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo. If we believe in these five characters, we will naturally be granted the same benefits as he was."
Shakya means Life {Myoho Renge Kyo}. By saying Shakya already practised and attained these virtues, is to mean that these virtues are already part of Life. If we believe in the One Buddha Vehicle {five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo}, all of Shakya's {Life's} virtues will manifest naturally in our lives.
The Threefold training are not without their own virtues, but how can they compare with the virtues of the One Buddha Vehicle. In this sense, why do we need to short-change ourselves with the limitations of Threefold training when a higher option is made available to us?
Posted by: Hello at March 1, 2007 08:21 AMhttp://www.fraughtwithperil.com/mt/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=1378
Chikusan: [The three types of learning are Wisdom, Meditation, and Precepts. They represent the practices taught in accord with the minds and desires of the persons of the Three Vehicles —Voice-hearers, Men of Realization, and Bodhisattvas, respectively.]
The order is incorrect.
The Three Vehicles and their forte are:
1. Voice-hearers {precepts}
2. Men of Realization {meditation}
3. Bodhisattvas {wisdom}