Though one might point at the earth and miss it, though one might bind up the sky, though the tides might cease to ebb and flow and the sun rise in the west, it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered.
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p345)
Prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra will definitely be answered – this is the theme of On Prayer, a letter infused with Nichiren Daishonin’s absolute conviction.
The Daishonin wrote this letter in 1272 when he was in exile on Sado Island. The writing is thought to be a reply to questions raised by Sairen-bo, a disciple of the Daishonin who at the time was also living in exile on Sado Island
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“Though one might point at the earth and miss it”, “though one might bind up the sky” – these are impossible feats that defies reason and logic. However, the Daishonin said that even if such impossible phenomena were to occur, there are no way that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered. This letter is infused with such absolute conviction of Nichiren Daishonin.
The Mystic Law is the fundamental Law of the universe that permeates all life and the universe and the Lotus Sutra is the very crystallization of the Buddha’s vow to propagate the teachings of this Mystic Law and lead all living beings to Buddhahood.
When one practises the teachings of the Lotus Sutra through one’s words, thoughts and deeds as a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra, the living beings of the Ten Worlds in the entire universe will be activated to help realize the prayers offered by the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra.
Therefore, in order to have one’s prayers answered, what is most crucial is to offer “prayers of a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra” through and through. One must breakthrough the confines of one’s “small self” and offer thorough prayers based on the great vow to realize kosen-rufu till the end.
The important point to note when doing so is to earnestly offer prayers that permeate our actions, words and thoughts.
“Action” refers tp physical action. Merely making a wish in one’s heart (thoughts) is not sufficient. One must take courageous actions in reality towards realizing one’s prayers.
“Words” refer to verbal action and specifically refers to the chanting of sonorous daimoku to the Gohonzon. The key point here is to pray till one’s prayers are answered with an indomitable, dauntless spirit, without giving up.
“Thoughts” refers to one’s mental action. It refers to one’s single-minded determination based on strong faith.
Set a clear and concrete goal and summon forth the power of conviction and hope with the belief that “I’m going to have my prayers answered without fail!”
SGI President Ikeda said in his guidance, “The Mystic Law is the fundamental law or principle of the universe. The prayers of those who chant, practice and champion this incomparably profound Mystic Law are directly in tune with the fundamental rhythm of the universe.
As such, their prayers will definitely be answered. And they themselves will be safeguarded and protected without fail by the heavenly deities and all Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the universe.
Prayer for the sake of kosen-rufu is crucial. What I mean here is prayer infused with a vow to support and protect the Soka Gakkai – the organization actualizing kosen-rufu – and contribute to its vibrant success and development; prayer based on the winning spirit of Buddhism, so that we can show actual proof of the greatness of the Mystic Law in our own lives.”
Lets offer heartfelt prayers fervently and take actions to conduct courageous dialogues and score victories in our lives as we advance forward.
Footnote:
The practitioner of the Lotus Sutra – One who practices in exact accordance with the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and propagates it. It also refers to one who practise the Lotus Sutra with one’s life and one who continue to uphold the teachings of the Lotus Sutra even when one encounters great obstacles and persecutions.
Keypoints:
1. “Though one might point at the earth and miss it”, “though one might bind up the sky” – these are impossible feats that defies reason and logic. However, the Daishonin said that even if such impossible phenomena were to occur, there are no way that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered.
2. Why is it impossible for “the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered”? The reason is because the Mystic Law is the fundamental Law of the universe. When one takes faith and practises Nam-myoho-renge-kyo through one’s words, thoughts and deeds as practitioner of the Lotus Sutra, all living beings, including the heavenly deities, Buddhas and bodhisattvas in the entire universe will be activated to help realize the prayers offered by the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra.
3. However, the most crucial point is to offer “prayers of a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra”. So, even if we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo but our prayers are not “prayers of a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra”, then our prayers may not be answered. “Prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra” mean prayers based on the great vow to realize kosen-rufu. In other words, our faith and practice must not be self-centred, they must base on the great vow to realize kosen-rufu till the end. When such a spirit for kosen-rufu permeates our words, thoughts and deeds, then we will find our prayers will never go unanswered. Even when our prayers may seem unanswered at the present, if we continue to chant and strive for kosen-rufu, we will definitely see all our prayers realized eventually. This is the absolute conviction of the Daishonin conveyed to us in this gosho.
Translated and adapted from the July 2010 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p345)
Prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra will definitely be answered – this is the theme of On Prayer, a letter infused with Nichiren Daishonin’s absolute conviction.
The Daishonin wrote this letter in 1272 when he was in exile on Sado Island. The writing is thought to be a reply to questions raised by Sairen-bo, a disciple of the Daishonin who at the time was also living in exile on Sado Island
************************************
“Though one might point at the earth and miss it”, “though one might bind up the sky” – these are impossible feats that defies reason and logic. However, the Daishonin said that even if such impossible phenomena were to occur, there are no way that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered. This letter is infused with such absolute conviction of Nichiren Daishonin.
The Mystic Law is the fundamental Law of the universe that permeates all life and the universe and the Lotus Sutra is the very crystallization of the Buddha’s vow to propagate the teachings of this Mystic Law and lead all living beings to Buddhahood.
When one practises the teachings of the Lotus Sutra through one’s words, thoughts and deeds as a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra, the living beings of the Ten Worlds in the entire universe will be activated to help realize the prayers offered by the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra.
Therefore, in order to have one’s prayers answered, what is most crucial is to offer “prayers of a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra” through and through. One must breakthrough the confines of one’s “small self” and offer thorough prayers based on the great vow to realize kosen-rufu till the end.
The important point to note when doing so is to earnestly offer prayers that permeate our actions, words and thoughts.
“Action” refers tp physical action. Merely making a wish in one’s heart (thoughts) is not sufficient. One must take courageous actions in reality towards realizing one’s prayers.
“Words” refer to verbal action and specifically refers to the chanting of sonorous daimoku to the Gohonzon. The key point here is to pray till one’s prayers are answered with an indomitable, dauntless spirit, without giving up.
“Thoughts” refers to one’s mental action. It refers to one’s single-minded determination based on strong faith.
Set a clear and concrete goal and summon forth the power of conviction and hope with the belief that “I’m going to have my prayers answered without fail!”
SGI President Ikeda said in his guidance, “The Mystic Law is the fundamental law or principle of the universe. The prayers of those who chant, practice and champion this incomparably profound Mystic Law are directly in tune with the fundamental rhythm of the universe.
As such, their prayers will definitely be answered. And they themselves will be safeguarded and protected without fail by the heavenly deities and all Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the universe.
Prayer for the sake of kosen-rufu is crucial. What I mean here is prayer infused with a vow to support and protect the Soka Gakkai – the organization actualizing kosen-rufu – and contribute to its vibrant success and development; prayer based on the winning spirit of Buddhism, so that we can show actual proof of the greatness of the Mystic Law in our own lives.”
Lets offer heartfelt prayers fervently and take actions to conduct courageous dialogues and score victories in our lives as we advance forward.
Footnote:
The practitioner of the Lotus Sutra – One who practices in exact accordance with the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and propagates it. It also refers to one who practise the Lotus Sutra with one’s life and one who continue to uphold the teachings of the Lotus Sutra even when one encounters great obstacles and persecutions.
Keypoints:
1. “Though one might point at the earth and miss it”, “though one might bind up the sky” – these are impossible feats that defies reason and logic. However, the Daishonin said that even if such impossible phenomena were to occur, there are no way that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered.
2. Why is it impossible for “the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered”? The reason is because the Mystic Law is the fundamental Law of the universe. When one takes faith and practises Nam-myoho-renge-kyo through one’s words, thoughts and deeds as practitioner of the Lotus Sutra, all living beings, including the heavenly deities, Buddhas and bodhisattvas in the entire universe will be activated to help realize the prayers offered by the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra.
3. However, the most crucial point is to offer “prayers of a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra”. So, even if we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo but our prayers are not “prayers of a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra”, then our prayers may not be answered. “Prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra” mean prayers based on the great vow to realize kosen-rufu. In other words, our faith and practice must not be self-centred, they must base on the great vow to realize kosen-rufu till the end. When such a spirit for kosen-rufu permeates our words, thoughts and deeds, then we will find our prayers will never go unanswered. Even when our prayers may seem unanswered at the present, if we continue to chant and strive for kosen-rufu, we will definitely see all our prayers realized eventually. This is the absolute conviction of the Daishonin conveyed to us in this gosho.
Translated and adapted from the July 2010 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.
