The Buddhist story, “The Jewel hidden in the robe,” told in Chapter 8 of the Lotus Sutra, tells a tale of ignorance, spiritual poverty, and transformation.
Pilgrimage to Mt. Minobu
It was extremely cold that morning and I could see my breath as I made my way through the other halls and corridors to get to the Main Hall. Once there, however, I forgot about the cold and the cramps caused by sitting in the seiza posture. It was an overwhelming experience to hear so many voices chanting the sutra and Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, and to see the Ceremony in the Air represented by such a stunning array of golden larger than life images in such a huge hall.
The Zen of Otis Reading
The other day, I was driving around in my car and I happened to be listening to Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” and it occured to me as I was listening to the lyrics that this song is all about the practice of “just sitting.” So I thought I would share the thoughts and associations that came into my mind while hearing this song:
Sitting in the morning sun
I’ll be sitting when the evening comes
The Practice of the Odaimoku
Nichiren Buddhism’s primary practice of chanting in praise and acceptance of a Buddhist scripture may sound odd, so I want to say more about this. To begin with, the Odaimoku is not just the name of a scripture or sutra but is meant to indicate the supreme teaching or Dharma of the Buddha which is what the sutra is about. In fact, in China and Japan long books have been written explaining how each of the words used in the title embrace all the many profound teachings and practices taught by Shakyamuni Buddha. To chant in praise of the title is a way to keep in mind and devote ourselves to the most comprehensive and profound teaching of Buddhism.