Guardians Of Hell
Aizen Myoo Day
According to the calendar I have today we celebrate Aizen Myoo, though it was on the 25th of June that Nichiren is said to have seen a vision of Aizen. I have no knowledge of why the difference in the days.
“The hells, the regions of hungry spirits, the regions of animals, and the regions of asuras of those worlds were eliminated; and the gods and men of those worlds were removed to other worlds. The ground of those purified worlds became lapis lazuli. The worlds were adorned with jeweled trees five hundred yojanas tall. The trees were adorned with branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. Under the trees were lion like seats of treasures five yojanas tall, adorned with great treasures.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XI)
Aizen is one of two guardians represented on the Nichiren Omandala, either as a statue or on the calligraphic Omandala. As you can see from the photo today Aizen is a pretty fierce looking person. Aizen, unlike Fudo, is said to actually enter hell to rescue believers where as Fudo stands at the gates to prevent entry to hell.
Hell as we learn is a condition of mind, a condition of suffering. One of the things I like to note when I am explaining hell is that it is a condition of powerlessness and is one of generally being reactionary. That is, in the state of hell, we generally tend to be reacting to conditions much as a victim seems powerless in their circumstances. Of course this is a simplification but it is useful.
As we learn in the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha does not ignore Hell or suffering, in fact as seen in the above quote, he takes the hell regions and purifies them, in fact all of the lower worlds are not ignored, they are converted to Buddha lands.
This is our practice as well. We don’t merely overcome our bad circumstances or even avoid them, instead they become the ground upon which we construct a beautiful life manifesting the pure Buddha land. This Buddha land is not outside ourselves, it is the practice of changing our suffering into joy.
“Good men or women in the future who hear this Chapter of Devadatta of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma with faithful respect caused by their pure minds, and have no doubts about this chapter, will not fall into hell or the region of hungry spirits or the region of animals. They will be reborn before the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten quarters. They will always hear this sutra at the places of their rebirth. Even when they are reborn among men or gods, they will be given wonderful pleasures. When they are reborn before the Buddhas, they will appear in lotus flowers.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XII)
Rebirth is not always manifest in the cessation of this physical existence and transition to another. Rebirth is contained in this very moment of our lives. The next moment we live in is and can be a rebirth from past moments. We should have no doubts that the practice of and belief in the Lotus Sutra is the cause of our rebirth in the next moments to a world of joy and deepening relationship with the Lotus Sutra. This moment contains the potential for a rebirth in the next moment as a Buddha.
“Anyone who hears that my life is so long, and understands it by faith even at a moment’s thought, will be able to obtain innumerable merits.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XVII)
Never fear, never loose hope, because of the promise of the Buddha and his gift of teaching the Lotus Sutra, we can overcome any obstacle in our life and transform our sufferings into enlightenment.
