Now we have two ways of reading the Lotus Sutra, and additional way of entering into the Lotus Sutra. The two ways of reading are comprehension of individual words leading to a literal understating of the Lotus Sutra. We have a doctrinal reading which describes and understands the teachings and concepts of the Lotus Sutra. As I have tried to show we now have a mystical transcendental way of reading or more correctly entering into the spaces of the Sutra which is the doorway into the heart and mind of Buddha.
With all of this we may feel as if a deeper understanding has been accomplished, that is only partially true. We have perhaps gained a different comprehension of the information contained in the Lotus Sutra but we are limited by the words and our mental tendency to comprehend from the mind.
What I would recommend is to stop and with this information begin a meditation practice spanning however long it takes to lossen the mind from the binders of literal understanding limited by words and language.
Begin your meditation by calming your mind. Do not burden yourself with either previous understanding and knowledge nor recently revealed information. Rather quiet the mind and to do this allow it to first wander as you begin chanting the Odaimoku. Continue chanting, give yourself ample time to let the mind become naturally calm, do not force this because to do so is equivalent to repressing or suppressing the mind. If we force the mind in one place it will simply ooze out in another. Let the mind wander if it needs to.
Sometimes all we need to do for those nagging thoughts is to simply honor them, saying I hear you want to eat ice cream. I hear you wanting a cup of coffee. And I promise that as soon as I finish this meditation we will go eat ice cream or drink a cup off coffee. Will you let me finish this first, I really want to do both and this I feel needs to come first.
I have had very anxious people and people who claim they simply can not stop thinking say they were surprised at how effective this technique can be. Try it see if it works for you. Make sure though that you keep your promise to your mind otherwise it will not trust in the future.
Understand that this exercise is a multi-day or multi-week practice. Perhaps you can’t do it every day, then set aside a regular schedule of even one day a week to devote to this practice. Establish a rhythm to your practice. My teacher told me the other day that one of the best times chronologically to meditate, to practice is between the hours of approximately 05:30 and 07:00. This is not just because it is early in the morning and typically the start of your day it is due to the rhythms of the body and the sun and universe which our time keeping is based upon. In our modern hectic lives we sometimes forget that time is not merely digits on a dial, rather a rhythm of life and universe. All of our time except the demarkation of weeks is based upon the universe and the moment of objects in our solar system. The week is based upon the rhythm of religions. We have a sabbath, or holiday weekend, or Sunday because of religion.
This does not mean it doesn’t apply to us though. The rhythm of weeks is how we move through society. So days, months, years are based upon the solar system and weeks are based upon society. It is a good rhythm and we can use it to our advantage to establish a rhythm in our practice, especially in this meditation exercise.
So, if not daily then weekly set aside a special time for this chanting meditation. Nichiren Shu and all Nichiren denominations are a mantra based mediation practice. The thing about mantra chanting is it is very difficult to do. People say often that chanting distracts their meditation, that is because they have not developed their meditation practice deeply and stop with inclusion of the more difficult chanting meditation. For those of you who are used to chanting consider how challenging it is to keep the mind focused on the complex practice of chanting and focusing the mind on the mantra. It isn’t easy.
So your mind is settled and calm, you are not anxious, or unsettled. You have removed from your mind object and thoughts to grasp or let go of. Continue to chant and as you do slowly insert yourself into the first assembly. This is the assembly that is gather around the Buddha in mediation, a continuation of the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings.
As you slowly join this ongoing assembly notice how you feel. Are you uncomfortable entering into this large group of beings, human and non-human? If so pay attention to that unease and again do not suppress it do not tell yourself it is silly or that you shouldn’t feel this way. Honor your feelings. Perhaps you may need to step back and reenter. Do this until you have gained a certain sense of safety.
Again, this is a multi-day practice. Most people will not be able to devote an extended length of time for this. If you do have the luxury to do a long practice set an alarm with a soft awakening alarm that will alert you about 5-10 minutes before your maximum available time. This is so you can gently ease yourself back into your present time and space. Also in your preparations for this practice no matter how much time you have leave yourself a few minutes grace to stay seated and not need to rush off into another activity. Have handy some plain water, not chilled but at room temperature. This will help hydrate you, it can be starling to realize that even in quiet meditation you are burning calories, moisture is escaping your body through your lungs in your breath as well as through the pores of your skin even if you don’t think you are sweating. So gradually come out of this kind of deep chanting meditation, have handy some replenishing water, no caffeine yet. Also abstain from immediately eating. Yes I know you promised you mind that ice cream, but you said it would be after your mediation and the slow ending is part, a crucial part of your mediation.
Over time, if not at first continuing to do this will lead you deeper and deeper into a different experience of the Lotus Sutra. You will over time become disconnected from your mental needs of comprehension and literal and doctrinal understanding. This is a transcendental entry into the Lotus Sutra. It won’t happen all at once, nor on the first time. This is something you will need to invest in, and it will be determined by your curiosity to experience the Lotus Sutra rather than merely understand the Lotus Sutra.
For now this is enough. In the next part we will go further and learn new ways of meditating while chanting. Do not rush this, to do so will only deprive you of experience and gain you nothing in the end. This is an investment of time and devotion to experience the mystery of this wonderful complete teaching. Develop you practice and hone your skills. It will become easier and you will be able to go deeper.
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