1.Modern Translation
However, if one chants while betraying the spirit of this sutra, then a difference in benefit will arise.
The reason is that just as there is no difference in the intrinsic value between gold possessed by a foolish person and gold possessed by a wise person, and just as there is no difference in the power to burn between a fire lit by a foolish person and a fire lit by a wise person.
There is fundamentally no distinction in the benefit of Nam-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo.
However, if one chants while betraying the spirit of the Lotus Sutra’s teaching, then a difference in that benefit will arise.
1.Lecture
Nichiren Daishonin strictly yet warmly teaches that if one chants Daimoku contrary to the spirit of the Lotus Sutra, a difference in benefit will arise.
President Ikeda stated: “Foolishly, some priests clung to old class consciousness, falling into the illusion that ‘priests are superior’ and ‘laity are inferior.’ Their attitude of looking down on Soka Gakkai members was slander itself, trampling upon the Daishonin’s spirit.”
We can say that in this single point revealed by Nichiren Daishonin, both the strictness of Buddhism and its profound compassion are contained.
2.Modern Translation
There are various stages in the practice of the Lotus Sutra.
To speak broadly of them, the fifth volume of the [Hokke] Ki records: “Regarding the clarification of the types of evil, this passage mentions both those that are discussed and those that are not. Some divide this by first listing the causes of evil, and then describing the results of evil. The causes of evil are the following fourteen types:”
- Arrogance
- Laziness
- Attachment to self
- Shallow understanding
- Attachment to desire
- Failure to understand
- Lack of belief
- Frowning and showing dislike
- Doubt
- Slandering the Law
- Lightly regarding the good
- Hating the good
- Envying the good
- Resenting the good
These Fourteen Slanders apply to everyone, whether lay practitioners or priests.
This is truly a fearsome matter and must be deeply admonished.
2.Lecture
What Nichiren Daishonin teaches here are the “Fourteen Slanders” that can occur within our own hearts; he revealed these as tendencies that can sprout in anyone’s mind as we live with human weaknesses.
Regarding despising, hating, envying, and resenting good, President Ikeda stated: “Slander means ‘to speak ill of,’ but the last four—despising, hating, envying, and resenting goodness—are directed at people. It means to look down on, hate, envy, or resent those who uphold the Gohonzon. In short, it is resentment and conflict among fellow members.”
The evil minds of “arrogance,” “laziness,” and “attachment” lurking in our lives are the greatest obstacles that cloud the power of our Buddha-nature and hinder our own progress toward happiness.
The practice taught by Nichiren Daishonin is not about becoming a perfect human being, but rather a way of life where one continues to strive toward goodness even while struggling with delusions.
3.Modern Translation
The Bodhisattva Never Disparaging (Fukyō Bosatsu) of the past taught: “All people possess the Buddha nature. By embracing the Lotus Sutra, they are certain to attain Buddhahood. Therefore, disparaging others is the same as disparaging the Buddha.”
And he practiced the discipline of reverence.
Even towards people who did not embrace the Lotus Sutra, he showed the same reverence, saying, “This person may also embrace the Lotus Sutra someday. That person also possesses the Buddha nature.”
The fourth volume of this sutra teaches: “If a person, whether lay or monastic, slanders a practitioner who embraces and preaches the Lotus Sutra, even just a single word, that offense is heavier than the offense of slandering the Buddha Shakyamuni for one kalpa.”
Furthermore, it even teaches, “Whether that slander is true or whether it is not true.”
3.Lecture
The conduct of Bodhisattva Never Disparaging shown in this passage is the very core of Nichiren Daishonin’s “philosophy of respect for all people.”
With the eyes of absolute conviction that “you are inherently a Buddha,” he respected everyone and strove to awaken their Buddha-nature.
Our efforts in propagation (Shakubuku), through which we believe in the happiness of our friends and engage in sincere dialogue, are nothing other than the modern-day practice of Never Disparaging’s “bows of respect.”
The Lotus Sutra teaches that whether lay or ordained, slandering a person who upholds and teaches the Lotus Sutra, even by a single word, incurs extremely grave retribution—regardless of whether the slander is based on fact or not.
President Ikeda guided: “Shin’ichi Yamamoto sensed the stirrings of devilish forces attempting to destroy kosen-rufu in the priests’ persistent slander and defamation of the Gakkai. He felt strongly: ‘Now is the time to establish within the heart of each member a firm faith and the spirit of Soka mentor and disciple dedicated to the mission of kosen-rufu.’ He also resolved: ‘I will personally go and meet with the priests in various regions, engage in sincere and frank dialogue, and encourage a correct understanding of the Gakkai.'”
Thank you for reading.
To be continued in [Reply to Lord Matsuno – Modern Translation and Lecture, Part 3].
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