Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!eagle!data.nas.nasa.gov!news From: hms@princeton.edu (Hsing-Mean Sha) Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern Subject: Re: Shakyamuni and Nichiren Daishonin Keywords: Buddhism Message-ID: <1990Nov26.071541.9187@nas.nasa.gov> Date: 26 Nov 90 07:15:41 GMT References: <1990Nov25.012754.12879@nas.nasa.gov> <1990Nov21.011554.7514@nas.nasa.gov> <1990Nov16.020441.13897@nas.nasa.gov> <1990Nov8.012939.14684@nas.nasa.gov> <1990Nov18.195707.15515@nas.nasa.gov> <1990Nov22.003547.2369@nas.nasa.gov> Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov Organization: NAS Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA Lines: 90 Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov In article <1990Nov25.012754.12879@nas.nasa.gov>, kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov ( Keith Evans) writes: > > In the Sutra of Infinite Meaning (expounded just before Shakyamuni Buddha (SB) > taught the Lotus Sutra), he said something like "discarding the provisional > teachings, I will expound only the supreme Way" and "in these more than > 40 years or so, I have not yet revealed the truth" and "all truths and > wisdom come from one law" and this is the highest teaching that I "have > preached, am preaching and will preach" and then expounded the Lotus Sutra, > with no prompting from his disciples. > The meaning of all the other sutras is clear with an understanding of the > Lotus Sutra. I am not a scholar of Buddhism, so I can not judge whether it is true that the meaning of all the other sutras is clear with an understanding of the Lotus Sutra. But I really doubt about it. Of course, for some geniuses like six patriarch of Chan (or Zen) sect., he can achieve the beginning of englightment after only listeniing one sentence of Diamond Sutra. For common person like me, it would be safer to read and try to understand more sutras. Actually one of my understandings of Lotus Sutra is the extreme importance of *provisionality*. Yes, this is one reason I like Buddhism. It is so flexible and open-minded. There are so-called 84000 ways for various people in the process of salvation. Hinayana is one way, Mahayana is another way and also all those different schools are different ways. Some people like Zen (Chan), and I like Mahayana Buddhism, and many people in South-eastern asia follow Hinayana Buddhism. They are all correct. This is dependent on our Karmas. For example, can a person in Iran believe Buddhism or Christianity? Because of the thought of this *provisionality* and flexibility, in Buddhist history we never have any war for religion! For me, a layman of Buddhism, the different levels of englightment does not make too much meaning, since infinity or infinity + infinity are very similar to me. > > To understand Buddhism, one must understand the time. Some of the quotes > > SB expounded how his teachings would and should be practiced in the 5 500 > year periods after his death. In the 1st 500 years, the Hinayana teachings > could lead some to enlightenment as there would be faith, practice and proof. > In the 2nd 500 years, the provisional Mahayana (all Mahayana sutras except > the Lotus) would replace the Hinayana. In the 3rd and 4th 500 years the > Mahayana teachings wouyld be the ones to propagate as there would be faith > and practice. In the 5th 500 years, none of his teachings would lead to > enlightenment, but that kosen-rufu (worldwide propagation true Buddhism) > should be established and "never allow its flow to cease". As far as I know, the most popular one is to devide into three periods: (1) the preiod of correct doctrine of Buddha: many people practice and follow correct way with all their best. Some say it is theist 500 years, and some say 1st 1000 years. (2) The period of assemblance: there are many different branches, and many people are not so eager to practice as they did in the 1st period. Some say iti is the 2nd 1000 years. (3) The period of decline : many people only argue with each other without practicing and the material dillusions are prevalent. Few (not none) people can get englightment under such a situation. Some says it is the 3rd 10,000 years. Yes, we are in the beginning of the third period. This is not a good period of being englightment, but in some sense this is also the best period for people who dare to meet all those desires, difficulties and conqure them. Look at the great vows of all Bodhisattvas: (1) Sentient beings without number I vow to enlighten. (2) Vexations without number I vow to eradicate. (3) Limitless approaches to Dharma I vow to master. (4) Supreme Bodhi I vow to achieve. As I said before. strong determination can change everything. I remembered several years ago I was in a hard situation (mainly because of what I thought), I felt glad after thought deeply the meaing of "Suffering is the orgin of Bodhi." I appreciated that I have this precious chance to make me think deeper. This understanding is also appeared in one of my favorite sutra, Vimalakirti-nirdesa (Wei2 Mo2 Jei2 Jin1) Sutra (many chinese intelectuals also like it very much. Even one very famous poet in Tang dynasty chose his name after this sutra). One Bodhisattva from another world asked Shakyamuni why you were here in such a bad world (saha world). Shakyamuni said this is one of the best worlds for quickly achieving enlightment because of the so many sufferings. Vimalakirti also explains the similar thought in the sutra. Hsing-Mean Sha in Princeton hms@cs.princeton.edu