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Record
of the Orally Transmitted
Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin
- Ongi Kuden -
Chapter 10: Teacher of the Law [Hosshi]
'Teacher of the Law' means that Nichiren and his disciples who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are the greatest of all teachers of the Law. 'Law' indicates the Daimoku, and 'teacher' means Nichiren and his disciples. (Gosho Zenshu p. 736)
The sutra states, "Medicine King, you should understand that such persons have already offered alms to a hundred thousand million Buddhas and in the place of Buddhas have fulfilled their great vow, and because they take pity on living beings they have been born in this human world...Pitying living beings they have vowed to be born among them where they may broadly expound and make distinctions regarding the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law…and carries out the Thus Come One's work." (LS p. 161-62, 3LS p. 187)
'Great vow' means to propagate the Lotus Sutra. 'Pity on all living beings' refers to the people of Japan. 'Born in the human world' indicates Nichiren and his disciples. 'Broadly expound' means propagation throughout the entire world. 'Lotus Sutra' indicates the Daimoku and 'Thus Come One's work' is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. (Gosho Zenshu p. 736)
The sutra states, "You should know that such persons lodge in the same place as the Thus Come One, and the Thus Come One pats them on the head with his hand." (LS p. 165, 3LS p. 190)
Nichiren and his disciples who chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo are those who 'lodge with the Thus Come One.' Fudaishi interprets this phrase as meaning 'we awaken with the Thus Come One every morning, dream with him every night. At every moment, we enter the Way and, at every moment, we reveal our true identity.' (Gosho Zenshu p. 737)
The sutra states, "These good men and good women should enter the Thus Come One' room, put on the Thus Come One's robe, sit upon the Thus Come One's seat, and the for the sake of the four kinds of believers broadly expound that sutra." (LS p. 166, 3LS p. 193)
The robe, seat and room represent the Buddha's three bodies of the Dharma body, Bliss body and the Manifested body; the three truths of non-substantiality, temporary existence, and the Middle Way; and the three categories of action of deed, word, and thought. Now Nichiren and his disciples who recite and uphold Nam Myoho Renge Kyo should strive to practice the three laws of the robe, seat and room with determination. The robe indicates the clothing of mildness and forbearance. If the seat indicates the practice of not begrudging one's life for the law, then it should by all rights be empty. The room is the residence of compassion, and thus of the desire to spread the Law. This compassion is like that of a mother for her child. To practice Nam Myoho Renge Kyo without begrudging one's life is to 'sit upon the Thus Come One's seat.' (Gosho Zenshu p. 737)
The sutra states, "If one stays close to teachers of the Law, he will speedily gain the Bodhisattva way. By following and learning from these teachers, he will see Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges." (3LS p. 194)
To 'follow' means to believe and accept and devote both body and mind to the Gohonzon. (Gosho Zenshu p. 738)
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