Why didn't the Daimoku save Nichiren from illness?
Why didn't the Daimoku save Nichiren from illness?
?
In his writing, Hokkemongu (Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra), The Great Master Nichiren said, “If the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra wholeheartedly devote their life to the Lotus Sutra and practice according to its golden words, it is certainly needless to say that not only in the next life, but also in this lifetime they will overcome severe difficulty, prolong their life, receive the great, good fortune of unsurpassed enlightenment, and accomplish the great vow of the widespread, propagation of True Buddhism.”
-
Bois de Santal
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Sun Jun 25, 2017 7:01 am
- Location: La Manche
Re: Why didn't the Daimoku save Nichiren from illness?
How do we know that it didn't? He may well have already prolonged his life by overcoming illness but just didn't write about it much. He certainly prolonged his life in the face of great persecution. I've never had the feeling that if only he had lived a bit longer he could have completed his mission. By the time of his death he had achieved all he had set out to do, I think. In any case, no religion on earth promises eternal life in our physical body. We all have to die, sooner or later.
It is interesting to note that Zhi Yi also died at around the same age. On the other hand, Nichiren's disciple Nikko lived to 80, as did Shakyamuni.
It is interesting to note that Zhi Yi also died at around the same age. On the other hand, Nichiren's disciple Nikko lived to 80, as did Shakyamuni.
-
Caoimhghín
- Posts: 3419
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:35 pm
- Location: Whitby, Ontario
Re: Why didn't the Daimoku save Nichiren from illness?
Why didn't dhyāna save the nirmāṇakāya from backaches?
Then, the monks uttered this gāthā:
These bodies are like foam.
Them being frail, who can rejoice in them?
The Buddha attained the vajra-body.
Still, it becomes inconstant and ruined.
The many Buddhas are vajra-entities.
All are also subject to inconstancy.
Quickly ended, like melting snow --
how could things be different?
The Buddha passed into parinirvāṇa afterward.
(T1.27b10 Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra DĀ 2)
These bodies are like foam.
Them being frail, who can rejoice in them?
The Buddha attained the vajra-body.
Still, it becomes inconstant and ruined.
The many Buddhas are vajra-entities.
All are also subject to inconstancy.
Quickly ended, like melting snow --
how could things be different?
The Buddha passed into parinirvāṇa afterward.
(T1.27b10 Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra DĀ 2)
Re: Why didn't the Daimoku save Nichiren from illness?
Death is certain.
Nothing will save you from the break up of this body.
Nothing will save you from the break up of this body.
Buddha's last wordsAll compounded things are subject to decay. Strive with diligence!
There is no suffering to be severed. Ignorance and klesas are indivisible from bodhi. There is no cause of suffering to be abandoned. Since extremes and the false are the Middle and genuine, there is no path to be practiced. Samsara is nirvana. No severance achieved. No suffering nor its cause. No path, no end. There is no transcendent realm; there is only the one true aspect. There is nothing separate from the true aspect.
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
Re: Why didn't the Daimoku save Nichiren from illness?
**Gassho**
In his writing, Hokkemongu (Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra), The Great Master Nichiren said, “If the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra wholeheartedly devote their life to the Lotus Sutra and practice according to its golden words, it is certainly needless to say that not only in the next life, but also in this lifetime they will overcome severe difficulty, prolong their life, receive the great, good fortune of unsurpassed enlightenment, and accomplish the great vow of the widespread, propagation of True Buddhism.”