Archived Posts
Tokudo At Myosho-ji 19 March 2011
Today we held the Tokudo Service for Shami Jisho. This is the initial taking of vows by a novice as they begin the training to become a priest. The following is the text of my Dharma Talk given at the beginning of the Tokudo Service. ——–Begin Dharma Talk Text————- Good afternoon, thank you all for coming to the temple today. Thank you to the visiting Nichiren Shu priests, Ryuoh Shonin from Boston and Myokei Shonin…
Non-Violence in Buddhism
“We should treasure all life from the greatest sage on high to the lowliest mosquito or gnat. Therefore, depriving any being of life is the greatest of crimes. When the Tathagata appeared in the world he made compassion for all life the basis [of his teaching]. In order to show his compassion for all life he made non-killing and providing sustenance the first precept.”
On Meditation
The following article is the text from a brochure that is made available to folks visiting the temple. Introduction Chapter Seven of the Lotus Sutra, titled “Parable of a Magic City,” lists ten things the Buddha has perfect knowledge of. These ten things are called the Ten Powers of the Buddha (Juriki, Jpn.). The Ten Powers are the following: 1. Distinguishing right and wrong; 2. Knowing the karmas of all sentient beings of the past,…
Part IIb – Periods in the Spread of Buddhism – Locations (India and China)
Part IIb – Periods in the Spread of Buddhism – Locations (India & China) This next section of this writing by Nichiren goes through the three periods of True, Semblance, and Later Age of Degeneration and the type of Buddhism practiced in India, China, and Japan during the matching phases of propagation. Before Nichiren goes into those details he makes a very important point at the beginning. This point is, I think, most important for…