Going Forth Under the Protection of Universal Virtue
In just a few short weeks, I will be heading to Shingyo Dojo
to complete the final phase of my initial training. Over three
years ago, on the occasion of celebrating Oeshiki in
October 1997, I underwent shukke tokudo. Shukke tokudo means “leaving home to attain the Way.” Since that
time, I have dedicated myself to training under my sensei, the
Ven. Ryusho Matsuda. This training included humble things like
cleaning the bathrooms and sweeping leaves, and it included
scholarly tasks like translating the gosho and preparing Lotus
Seeds for the 20th anniversary. The training also included
working with my fellow Shami, Shinkyo Warner and Ryuoh Faulconer,
and it included meeting famous scholars like Senchu Murano Sensei
and studying with famous teachers like Shimomiya Sensei who is a
renowned expert in shomyo practice. The past three years
has been difficult at times, for myself and my family. I am sure
that there have been times when it has been difficult for Matsuda
Sensei as well. However, I can definitely say that the past three
years have been very rewarding. I have learned more and done more
in the past three years in respect to Nichiren Buddhism than I
had in the previous 10 of wandering and searching on my own. I
feel an immense sense of gratitude. I feel gratitude to the
Nichiren Shu, to the San Jose Nichiren Buddhist Temple, to all of
you who have supported and encouraged me, and most especially to
my sensei, the Ven. Ryusho Matsuda for taking me on as his
disciple and enabling me to get to this point in my training.
In thinking about Shingyo Dojo and completing this final phase of
my initial training, I decided to look for encouragement in the
last chapter of the Lotus Sutra, “The Encouragement
of Universal-Sage Bodhisattva.” In that chapter the Buddha
says, “The good men or women will be able to obtain this Sutra
of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma after my
extinction if they do the following four things: 1. secure the
protection of the Buddhas, 2. plant the roots of virtue, 3. reach
the stage of steadiness [in proceeding to enlightenment], and 4.
resolve to save all living beings. The good men or women will be
able to obtain this sutra after my extinction if they do these
four things.” It is my conviction that by coming here today
and chanting the Lotus Sutra and Odaimoku in the
presence of the Gohonzon, all of us have been able to do these
four things. In chanting the Lotus Sutra and Odaimoku we
receive the protection of the Shakyamuni Buddha, Many Treasures
Tathagata and the emanated buddhas of the ten directions. In
chanting the Lotus Sutra and the Odaimoku, we plant the
seed of buddhahood in our lives and receive all the merits and
virtues of the Buddha. In chanting the Lotus Sutra and
the Odaimoku we are on the stage of steadiness and in fact
manifest the attainment of buddhahood in our very bodies. In
chanting the Lotus Sutra and the Odaimoku we arouse the
aspiration to attain enlightenment for all living beings. The
very practice that all of us come here to do together is by
nature the fulfillment of the four things which enable us to
obtain the Lotus Sutra.
In obtaining the Lotus Sutra, we are all able to perform
the five practices of receiving and keeping, reading, reciting,
expounding, and copying the sutra. In doing these practices the
Bodhisattva Universal Virtue (who embodies all the buddha’s
practices and merits) promises to give us his protection, and
manifest himself to us so that we may attain peace and joy and
practice with even more dedication. He declares, “Anyone who
keeps the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma
[while it is] propagated in the Jambudvipa, should think, ‘I
can keep [this sutra] only by the supernatural powers of
Universal Virtue.’ Anyone who keeps, reads and recites this
sutra, memorizes it correctly, understands the meaning of it, and
acts according to it, know this, does the same practices that I
do. He should be considered to have already planted deeply the
roots of good under innumerable Buddhas [in his previous
existence].” All of us should be humbled then, to realize
that our practice of keeping the sutra by chanting Namu Myoho
Renge Kyo is only possible through the supernatural power of
Universal Virtue. All of us should be encouraged to know that our
practice of keeping the sutra by reciting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo is
the supernatural power of Universal Virtue.
Further on, Shakyamuni Buddha adds, “Universal-Sage! Anyone
who keeps, reads and recites this Sutra of the Lotus Flower
of the Wonderful Dharma, memorizes it correctly, studies it,
practices it, and copies it, should be considered to see me, and
hear this sutra with my mouth. He should be considered to be
making offerings to me. He should be considered to be praised by
me with the word ‘Excellent!’ He should be considered
to be caressed by me on the head. He should be considered to be
covered with my robe.” All of us should be humbled to
realize that in chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo we do so in the
actual presence of the Buddha. All of us should be encouraged to
know that in chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo we have come into the
presence of the Buddha.
As a novice, I will be going to Shingyo Dojo to further pursue
the Way by chanting the Lotus Sutra, copying it,
meditating upon it and performing many other practices that will
enable me to strengthen myself so that I can be worthy to
propagate it as a priest of the Nichiren Shu. In some ways, I
think Shingyo Dojo will be a welcome retreat away from daily
life; in other ways, it will be a rigorous test of my dedication.
Either way, I will remember all of you who also receive and keep,
read, recite, expound, and copy the Lotus Sutra in your
own lives. In terms of faith, there should be no difference
between your practice and what I am about to undertake. I am also
mindful of the fact that if not for your help, I could not be
doing what I am doing. I am also mindful that I am not doing this
just for myself. I am doing this for the sake of all those in
this country who need someone to undertake this training so that
the Lotus Sutra and Namu Myoho Renge Kyo can take root
in American soil. This training then, is not to gain some kind of
secret knowledge or inside track to enlightenment. Nor is it to
get a title or credentials. This training, which I am determined
to see through to the end, is for the sake of sharing the Dharma
with you and with all of those across this country who are hungry
for it and have not yet been able to make the connection with the
true lineage of the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha, the Wonderful
Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sutra, and the Great Bodhisattva
Nichiren. In going to Mt. Minobu for Shingyo Dojo I do so in
humility and also with courage based upon the teaching of chapter
28 of the Lotus Sutra.
I have said that I am about to finish the final phase of my
initial training. I say this because I have no illusion that
Shingyo Dojo is the last part of my training. There is much more
that needs to be done. I do not foresee there ever being a time
when I do not have more things to learn from my sensei, the Ven.
Ryusho Matsuda. And I do not foresee a time when I will not have
more to learn from all of you. Becoming a Buddhist priest is not
just about being learned, it is about being someone who knows how
to learn and being someone who can help and encourage others in
learning as well. And this learning is not intellectual knowledge
or even the knowledge of ceremony or meditation techniques. The
learning I am speaking of has to do with having a broad mind, an
open heart, and the ability to manifest the Wonderful Dharma in
our words and actions so that it is fully present in our lives.
It is this kind of learning that I hope we can continue to study
together.
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