I was told, “You shouldn’t harbor resentment or envy,” but I was never taught “what resentment and envy are,” or “why they are wrong.” However, more than seven hundred years ago, Nichiren Daishonin carefully and precisely explained that meaning.
The important thing I realize here is that the Gosho does not state that “slander committed without knowing the Fourteen Slanders is not a sin,” nor does it state that “retaliating with slander after being slandered is not a sin.”
There is also a related passage by Sensei Daisaku Ikeda in the chapter “Banner of the Law” of Volume 26 of The New Human Revolution; we hope this serves as a clue for you to deepen your understanding further. Since learning permeates the heart through repetition, we hope that you will listen repeatedly and make the spirit of Nichiren Daishonin your own.
※ Summary of the ‘Reply to Matsuno Dono’
【Theme①】 Knowing the “Fourteen Slanders” and transforming them into the power to overcome them
Nichiren Daishonin presented the 14 states of mind that obstruct the practice of the Lotus Sutra, which are the “Fourteen Slanders. ”These are not feelings that occur only in especially evil people, but can be considered a mental cloudiness that quietly slips into our daily lives.
For example
1.Feeling jealous when seeing someone else’s success or growth
2.Unable to honestly accept someone’s goodwill
3.Not admitting one’s own faults and blaming others
These are feelings that anyone can possess. Nichiren Daishonin teaches: “It is precisely for this reason that you should deeply admonish yourselves.”
What is important is the “mind reset ability”—awareness → reflection → the will to reform.
The Fourteen Slanders can be received not as a teaching meant for punishment, but as a guidepost for polishing the heart and fostering personal growth.
【Theme②】 From the questing spirit of the Snow Mountain Youth, the lives of those who learn sincerely are transformed
Nichiren Daishonin next recounts the story of the Snow Mountain Youth. The Snow Mountain Boy showed the resolve to offer his own life in order to hear a “half-verse” of the Buddha’s teaching. de changer leur vie ». That stance may seem extreme, but what is shown there is that “only those who seek sincerely possess the power to change their lives.”
There is no need to give your life in the modern age. However, the following attitude offers great inspiration.
Trying to know deeply, not superficially
Having the courage to face the essence of life
Not stopping one’s learning even when facing difficulties
The questing spirit of the Snow Mountain Youth is the attitude of sincerely seeking what is important in life. Here is the strict yet warm encouragement that “nothing changes if you are half-hearted.”
What we can do starting today is,
1.Continue reading even if only for 5 minutes every day
2.procrastinating on what you want to learn
3.Acknowledging one’s weakness and striving to overcome it
Cultivating this small questing spirit. From there, life surely begins to move.
【Theme③】 The way of being human: an attitude directed toward hope even amidst suffering
Nichiren Daishonin teaches the lay practitioner Matsuno Dono thus:
When suffering, consider that “the suffering in the next life is much deeper”
When happy, know that “the joy of this world is a dream within a dream”
Chant Nam-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo at all times
This teaching applies surprisingly well to us who live in the modern age.
✔ When suffering
People tend to quickly think, “Why only me?” However, the Daishonin encourages us to view “the current suffering as a great opportunity to make you stronger. ” Simply having this viewpoint changes the way you perceive suffering.
✔ When happy
When people succeed, they tend to become arrogant and let down their guard. Nichiren Daishonin teaches: “Success is not eternal. Do not forget gratitude and the spirit of improvement.”
✔ Daily practice
Faith is not a special act, but “life itself.”
Even when suffering, Even when busy, Even when happy Chant Nam-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo and Daimoku, compose your heart, and sincerely face yourself. That accumulation is what opens the life-state where one sees the world of perfect enlightenment at the end of life.
【Summary: Three Wisdoms to Apply in Modern Life】
1.Knowing the Fourteen Slanders is knowing your own heart
A mirror for looking at human weakness and making improvements.
2.The power of “sincere learning” learned from the Snow Mountain Youth
The attitude of sincerely seeking is the driving force that changes life.
3.Daily faith determines the “way of being human”
The mental attitude that transforms both suffering and joy into growth.
Is living with the writings of Nichiren Daishonin as a light in our hearts not the way to respond to the wishes of the Daishonin and President Ikeda?
Next time, we will finally enter the “Modern Japanese Translation and Commentary” of the writing Reply to Matsuno Dono. Please look forward to it.
KANEDA DAIZYO
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