October 27, 2005
Minobu; Nichiren and the Cormorant Fisherman
Life and legends of Nichiren
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Legends of Nichiren: The Ghost of the Cormorant Fisherman
" On the eighth day of the fourth month [1274], I had an interview with Hei no Saemon. As I had expected all along, my warnings went unheeded. Altogether I had remonstrated with the authorities three times for the sole purpose of saving Japan from ruin. Mindful that one whose warnings are thrice ignored should retire to a mountain forest, I left Kamakura on the twelfth day of the fifth month. " --Nichiren
Nichiren had been invited to reside at Mt. Minobu by the Jito {Landord, Magistrate, Governor, or Steward} of southern Kai Province; Hakii/Hakiri/Hara Rokuro Nambu Sanenaga. "Lord Hakiri" had been converted to Nichiren's teachings, by Nikko. circa 1269. His Minobu domain Included three villages, Hakiri, Mimaki, and Iino. What was Kai Province, back then, is now part of modern Yamanashi Prefecture. Minobu lies to the northeast of Mount Fuji.
Nichiren was accompanied to Minobu by his close followers Nichiro, Nikko, Nitcho, and Nichiji. For about a month, while the others consrtructed a hermitage near Minobu Creek, in the Hakii area, Nichiren and Nikko would journey up the Fuji River and its tributaries, to spread the Hokke Shu Dharma.
One night, while they were on the banks of Isawa creek, a preta appeared to Nichiren, begging the Shonin to save him. It was the hungry spirit {preta, gaki} of a cormorant fisherman named Kansaku. Cormorant are dark feathered diving birds with slender hooked bills. Fisherman place metal collars tightly around the cormorant's necks; so that they can not swallow the fish they catch.
The man had been executed for poaching in sacred waters. Because of this, his restless spirit was doomed to haunt the river. Out of his great compassion, Nichiren chanted Daimoku for Kansaku, enabling him to feel contriton. In this way, Nichiren helped the fisherman redeem himself from his woeful destiny.
The story of Nichiren and the cormorant fisherman was the basis of the kabuki play Nichiren shônin minori no umi (Nichiren and the waters of Dharma), and Kuniyoshi had featured it in a series of 10 landscape prints published around 1831. Yoshitoshi Exhibition
Time Line
1274
Mar. 15: Arrives in Kashiwasaki.
Mar. 26: Arrives in Kamakura.
Apr. : Third and final remonstration with the government (with Taira Yoritsuna Hei-no Saemon).
May 12: Departs Kamakura and moves to Mt. Minobu.
October 11, 2005
The Beginning: Taking Refuge
On the Three-Fold Training
"Monks! Teach the Dharma, the beginning, the middle, the end of which are replete with goodness". -- The Buddha
The Beginning is the Precept, or taking refuge and/or vows. The Middle is the Mindfulness practice. The End is Insight or Wisdom.
Initiation = Kai/Sila = Sangha = Shravaka = Body = Mudra = Kaidan
Samatha = Jo/Samadhi = Buddha = Pratyeka = Mind = Mandala = Gohonzon
Vipassana = E/Prajna = Dharma = Bodhisattva = Mouth = Mantra = Daimoku
"Shakyamuni, the World-Honored One, is our august sovereign. It is he who is to be regarded as the supreme object of veneration." -- Nichiren
In a recent blog, Two Kinds of Chanting Meditation, I discussed practices to cultivate Mindfulness and Insight. Meanwhile, someone asked me, "How do I become a Buddhist? Who or what do I join to take refuge? Can I just declare myself a Buddhst? If so, what precepts should I follow, and what vows should I take?"
As a quasi-independent, Nichiren influenced,; SFI Tusker, marginal SGI and former Nichiren Shoshu member, I was unsure how to anwer.
I guess I would point to:
*Taking Refuge in the Triple Jewel aka Three Treasures.
*The Kaidan of the "Three Great Hidden Dharmas" as the Precept Platform, Receiving the Dharma directly from the Buddha, & the Gassho Mudra of the "Three-fold Contemplation" as a form of Precept.
*The Three-fold Training; San-Gaku, Kai-Jo-E.
*The "Tusker Stanzas" from the Pali Canon
*The Sigalovada & Kalama Suttas
*The Six Perfections
*The Four Divine Attributes
*The Four Universal Vows
mp3......Tiratana ... Wayfarers ...... Self Reliance
*However innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to influence those seekers who have planted the causes and conditions along the path in succeeding to achieve it.
*However inexhaustible the defilements are, I vow to contribute in extinguishing them.
*However immeasurable the dharmas are, I vow to master them.
*However unattainable the Way is, I vow to attain it.
Please post comments on how you and/or your Sangha take refuge. ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Ryuei Michael McCormick Comments:
Hi Robin,
Interesting things you pointed to - I would like to briefly comment on them and plug my writings:
*Taking Refuge in the Triple Jewel aka Three Treasures.
I agree with Dharmajim that this is the essential primal act of "becoming a Buddhist."
At Ryuei.net I have a couple of articles about this and I usually also bring in the Threefold Training of Ethics (Sila), Meditaton (Dhyana), and Wisdom (Prajna). I think that between the Three Treasure and Threefold Training you have the bare essence of basic or foundational Buddhism. Here is my discussion of this:
And another:
The Three Refuges and The Threefold Training
*The Kaidan of the "Three Great Hidden Dharmas"
I see the Three Great Hidden Dharmas as Nichiren's great contribution (though foreshadowed by the Dharma Flower Confessional Samadhi of Chih-i) which clarifies what the Three Treasures and Threefold Training are in terms of Nichiren Buddhism. I have written about this here:
as the Precept Platform, Receiving the Dharma directly from the Buddha, & the Gassho Mudra of the "Three-fold Contemplation" as a form of Precept.
Receivining the Wonderful Dharma directly from the scrolls of the Lotus Sutra is an important element of Nichiren Buddhism, and one that I think bypasses self-serving claims of "blood lineages" but at the same time I think it should be balanced with a healthy view of mentoring that should be seen as the formation of "spiritual friendships" between older and younger siblings on the Path.
The sole or Diamond Chalice Precept of upholding the true spirit of Odaimoku is also important though I fear misunderstood as a rationale for doing whatever you want as long as you chant. I don't think you have this misunderstanding, but I just point out that some do. I see the various precept codes as records of the applications of the true spirit of Odaimoku to specific situations - and these past "cases" have a lot to teach us and should cause us to reflect and perhaps measure our own adherence or lack thereof to the true spirit of Odaimoku as we encounter the specificity of our own daily challenges.
The Gassho of the Threefold Contemplation is something I think you might want to explain more. I think I can guess what you mean, but I will refrain.
Hmmm? Can I do that without breaking the samaya? What I see is that the Three-Fold Training was re-re-expressed as the Three-Fold Training, and then Nichiren expressed both as the San-Dai-Hiho. That is how I presently see it:
*Precept; Sila {Kai} = Sangha = Vinaya = Mudra = Kaidan
*Meditation; Samadhi-Dhyana {Jo} = Buddha =Samatha = Mandala = Honzon
*Wisdom; Prajna/Panna {E}= Dharma = Vipassana = Mantra = Daimoku
*The "Tusker Stanzas" from the Pali Canon
I believe these are posted at the website for the Sangha For Independents Yahoo group. I will have to write about these someday soon.
Here are three links:
Scroll to Life of the Buddha : Middle Years Stories & Teachings. This article is a continuation of - Life of the Buddha : Pre-Enlightenment. Life of the Buddha : First Sermons. Life of the Buddha : First Years of Ministry
A014.rtf
Dharma_Study_Group · Dharma Study Group
Life of the Buddha.rtf
dharmapix · Buddha Dharma Art
A014 Life of the Buddha.rtf
*The Sigalovada & Kalama Sutta
My commentary on the Sigalovada:
My comments on the Kalama and some other relevant discourses:
*The Six Perfections
I view these as the kinds of qualities that should develop in our lives if we are truly upholding the Odaimoku. I have written about them here:
*The Four Divine Attributes
Is this the same as the Brahmaviharas? [yes] If so,
Loving Kindness and Nichiren Buddhism
Equanimity
*The Four Universal Vows
These are also important but I don't have any online article about them - though they are dealt with in Dharma Flower and in Lotus Seeds.
I think it would also be important for people who are attracted to Buddhism to jump right into practice from the very start. To that end I have written the following about basic meditation techniques and also chanting practice:
I hope you don't mind me posting all these links, I just offer them as a basis for a fuller discussion of these pointers.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
Posted by: Ryuei at September 7, 2005 02:13 PM
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Where are these Tusker Stanzas? I googled with no real result. Byrd in LA
Posted by: Byrd in LA at September 7, 2005 01:47 PM
dharmapix · Buddha Dharma Art
A014 Life of the Buddha.rtf
Dharma_Study_Group · Dharma Study Group
Life of the Buddha.rtf
Two Kinds of Chanting Meditation
Chanting Meditation
Three-Fold Training
Samatha {Concentration} & Vipassana {Insight}
To review, Buddhist practice can be divided into three main categories. The first is receiving the Precept. Then there are two main kinds of Meditation:
1. The Calming and Concentration vCultivations. These deal with conventional, dualistic reality; where self & others or subject & object are real. In terms of the three Realities, this is the Reality of Form & Substance. The goals of Mindfulness Cultivation, as I do it, are:
* Become a better person, acquire merit.
* Increase Intellectual Understanding, or Factual Knowlege
* Overcome the Five Hindrances.
* Cultivate the Four Divine Attributes.
* Enter the deep concentration of Samadhi.
* Enter The "Form Realm" Absorptions.
2. The Insight & Wisdom Practices. These deal with the ultimate, non-dual reality; where self & others or subject & object do not have an abiding existence. In terms of the three Realities, this is the Reality of Emptiness. The goals are:
* Cultivate Mindfulness; that is calm alertness, attentiveness, sensitivity, etc.
* Increase Innate or Intuitive Understanding; that is Wisdom or Discernment.
* Overcome the Five Main Emotional Afflictions.
* Cultivate Direct Insight into The Three Signs and Emptiness.
* Enter The "Formless Realm" Absorptions.
* Awaken into the Timeless & Deathless State of Nirvana.
The practices I do are almost all mantra chanting meditation; combined with Mandala Contemplation, and the Prayer Gesture. There are two types of this, the faster, more prayerful chanting, and a slower, more contemplative type. A silent meditation, using the Meditation Gesture, and involving visualizations, mental imagery, and/or visionary experience, flows naturally from the latter.
Meditation Terms:
*Samatha {Chih, Shi}= Calming, Quietude, Tranquility, Serenity. These are Methods to overcome the Five 5 Hindrances and Acquire Merit {Punya}.
*Smrti/Sati {?, Nen [as in Ichinen]} = Mindfulness, Attention, Alertness.
*Bhavana = {?} Cultivation, Training; an active, energetic process. This can be mental, emotive, intellectual, physical, sensory, extra-sensory, etc.
*Samadhi {sanmei, sanmai} = deep Concentration, Focus, or Alertness to the point that all sensory input extraneous to the pursuit at hand is more or less 'tuned out'. Like a fisher-person watching a line.
*Dhyana/Jhana {chan, zen}# = Absorption. Similar to Samadhi, except there is a loss of temporal & spatial awareness. A rapt day dream is an example.
*Vipassana {Kuan, Kan} = Spiritual Insight, Objectivity, Observation, Intuition, Contemplation; a condition in which the Klesha {Bonno] are overcome; one's inherent or innate discernmemt or wisdom is tapped. Insight is not acquired, we always have it, but have forgetten.
Shodai {Zhou} = Mantra Chanting
#The Pali word Jhana is best translated as "meditative absorption state." It is the same as the Sanskrit Dhyana, which derives from Dhayati, meaning to think or meditate. You know what an "absorption state" is -- it's when you get so involved in a TV show or video game or mystery novel that you are surprised when the phone rings and brings you back to reality. The Jhanas are eight altered states of consciousness which can arise during periods of strong concentration. The Jhanas are naturally occurring states of mind, but learning how to enter them at will and how to stay in them takes practice -- www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/janas.html
October 04, 2005
Authentic Nichiren Mandara: Introduction/Comments on Pix
Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin
After coming on line; in April of 2002, I soon begin to realize that there was far more to Nichiren Buddhism than the simplistic mythology I had been taught by Nichiren Shoshu Taisekiji and The Soka Gakkai Nichiren Shoshu lay off shoot.
One of the first verboten web sites I began to visit was Don Ross's infamous Coffee House. Bow DownI was especially drawn to the on line Gohonzon Shu. That is a story in itself. At any rate, here was a collection of high resolution scans of nearly all of the authenticated extant Nichiren 'Gohonzon'. Initially, seeing these images rather frightened and dismayed me.
At this point, very little of the Gohonzon Shu and only part of the Gosho have been translated. Also, I do not necessarily 100% trust that which has been translated. All translation from a 13th century sino-japanese idiom to modern english must involve interpretation. For these reasons, a lot of my conclusions are based on educated conjecture, and are therefore tentative.
When I obtain new information that contradicts prior assumptions, my reaction is to kick and scream for a day or so, then adjust. The truth, as best as can be gleaned, is the objective. And: I HAVE NO INTEREST IN PROMOTING ANY SECTARIAN AGENDAS. That being clearly stated, I am very eager for reader input. If you have more data, or you can correct a translation or factual error, please do so by adding a comment. Many minds joining together to seek the truth can be much powerful than one. Finally, I trust this can a great learning experience for myself and others.
Coffee House Gohonzon Shu Index
Comments on Pix of Gohonzon
Mantra Powered Visualization/Amazing Grace
Chanting Meditation
Nichiren Kanjin
Insight Cultivation
Mantra Powered Chakra Visualization
Modern Buddhist Healing: A Spiritual Strategy for Transforming Pain, Dis-Ease, & Death
Riding The Wheel To WellnessBuddhist Perspective On Life's Healing Gifts, Meditation, Prayer ...
Author/s: Charles Atkins
Mantra Powered Visualization
"I knew next to nothing about allopathic medicine or alternative healing —
all I knew was the absolute power of daimoku and the technique of mantra-powered visualization I had used in my own recovery, as revealed by SGI Vice President Takehisa Tsuji. That method of chanting and imagery placed the seven characters of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo over the body, perfectly corresponding to the ancient chakra schematics of Hindu and Tantric Buddhism. I began to teach others how to chant in this manner to combat their illness." -- Charles Atkins
Modern Buddhist Healing-Guided Imagery Based on Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism
Mantra-Powered Visualization — Prayer as a Vow
Posted by rbeck at July 31, 2005 12:16 PM
Amazing Grace
Something somebody said made me think of the Gospel Song "Amazing Grace". I got to thinking, it is truly an amazing grace that a wretch like moi possesses a Buddha Nature; and moreover, that I can access it so easily. All it takes is uttering the Odaimoku with open mind/heart, some humility, and a bit of contrition.
I wanted to hear the song, hopefully a blue grass version. So I googled in search of a sample. Well, I came across this:
Littleleaf Native American Flutes & Music
Sample 1
Sample2
Not exactly bluegress, but it did nicely. May have to stretch my Visa a bit and "buy me dat" ...
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo
Posted by rbeck at July 31, 2005 12:16 PM
Slow 'Namu' Odaimoku ... moved from July 16, 2005
.. hosted by:Bouddhisme. If you listen, please visit the host site and give them a 'hit.' Here is the best correct 'wave daimoku' sound file I have heard on line. I think it is pretty much the same as what we we used to call hiki-daimoku in SGI. mp3 sound file Here is a WMA sound file of 'Shodai' Click here.
Posted by rbeck at July 16, 2005 01:24 PM
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Comments {From a previous thread on this topic.}
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Robin:
This is all very innovative, interesting stuff. I have a question about your six beat mantras and their placement on the human schematic. In one schematic you begin at the brow and the other at the crown. In my book, Modern Buddhist Healing, I attributed Nam to the sahasrara chakra and the svadhisthana of the pelvis and the muladhara at the base of the spine are accounted for by Kyo.
Please tell me the logic for these two placements you mentioned, and while you're at it, do you find my attribution is correct or not. The reason that I ask these question is because new ground is being broken on this subject and all that is written and kinown is not all that will be written or known. We're writing that book now.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at March 14, 2005 01:23 PM
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I am going to be pursuing this more. I have 2 in the hoppper now. I put the character Na there (the crown), and Mu at the 6th chakra for 7 beats. For 6 I put Nam at 7/6. I am putting 'Ge' at the pelvis and Kyo at the root. What this does is make Myo the voice and the dharma the heart.
I discussed the other way; Myo at the brow, Ho as the voice, the Lotus as the heart with Ernesto and Donna at SFI. That was how I did it, going back to the 80's and VP Tsuji.
We liked both ways, but preferred the way the 7 syllables match the 7 chakras. Donna designed 'New Buddha & Chakras to reflect this. I will post both of her images in a day ot two.
I do not want to give away too much yet. :). I found it easier to balance my ki by using Nam' for 7/6 than with kyo as 2/1.
I can not argue with your success. My answer is that I think there are multiple valid approaches to 'Chakra Wave Mantra' or 'Mantra Powered Visualization.'
Blofield (I think it was him)talked about Om-heart, Ma-left shoulder, Ni-throat, Pad-right shoulder, Me-navel, Hum - crown. Then reversing
it.
Posted by: robin at March 14, 2005 03:33 PM