Topic for Hoza Discussion Reading: Cultivating a Winning Attitude Excerpt from Buddhism for Everyday Life: Memorable Dharma Messages from a Long Spiritual Journey By Nikkyo Niwano (43-43) Discussion: Meditation on the Place of the Way

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo - O-diamoku Namu – deep respect; Myoho – workings of the universe; Renge-white lotus emerging; Kyo-sutra, a thread upon which jewels of wisdom are strung. This is our chant or mantra. It is used throughout our ceremony. Namu Myoho Renge Kyo O-diamoku Namu – deep respect; Myoho – workings of the universe; Renge-white lotus emerging; Kyo-sutra, a thread upon which jewels of wisdom are strung. This is our chant or mantra. It is used throughout our ceremony.

Sash Our sash is representative of the monk’s robe. On the front is “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo”. On the back – “We practice the Bodhisattva Way”. Wearing the sash during preparation of the altar and recitation of the sutra is a purification ritual. Our sash is representative of the monk’s robe. On the front is “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo”. On the back – “We practice the Bodhisattva Way”. Wearing the sash during preparation of the altar and recitation of the sutra is a purification ritual. It puts us in a respectful state, cleanses our hearts and clears our minds. A Bodhisattva is one who practices compassion in action.

Meditation on the Place of the Way Know that this place is where the Buddha attained perfect enlightenment. In this and all places the buddhas accomplished perfect enlightenment, roll the wheel of the Law, and enter parinirvana. The Buddha knew it would be easier for his disciples to follow his teachings while he was alive than it would be after his death. This verse is from the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, Chapter 21, The Devine Power of the Tathagata. It is a declaration by the Buddha of the mental attitude that followers of his teachings must maintain after his death. In other parts of Chapter 21, it emphasizes the holiness of Enlightenment and the Buddha’s wisdom. It teaches that the right way to maintain faith is to receive, keep, cultivate, and practice the teachings. This verse is placed at the beginning of the Kyoden to remind us of the importance of the idea that the Buddha’s teachings are where ever we are. The teachings are an integral part of our daily lives. Definitions Kyoden – Kyo: teachings, Den: book. A collection of excerpts from the Lotus Sutra. Sutra – Literally, thread or string; the scriptures containing the teachings of the Buddha. Most of the major sutras were originally in Pali or Sanskrit, though some were written in Tibetan or Chinese. Recitation and Chanting – When we recite the Kyoden verses, we do it by chanting. This melodic recitation brings us in step with the rhythm of the eternal life force throughout the universe. By chanting we go beyond the words and the grammar of the sutra passages to the very heart of the teachings.

Meditation on the Place of the Way Know that this place is where the Buddha attained perfect enlightenment. QUESTION: where is “this place”? It is everywhere. One important place for members of RK is the home altar, where one can start and end each day with a recitation of the sutra. However, everywhere and anywhere we sincerely recite the sutra and practice the Law, is a place of enlightenment, whether it be at home, at work, or even in our cars. By understanding that everywhere is a place of enlightenment, we come to understand that the Buddha was filled with compassion and love for everyone and encouraged us to practice the teachings everywhere so that we can better ourselves. Definitions Buddha – A title meaning one who is enlightened, or enlightened one, one who is awake. With a capital “B” and a preceding “the” it means Shakyamuni Buddha. Buddhas with a small “b” are those who have completely realized the truth of all things in the universe. Perfect enlightenment – With the wisdom of the Buddha. Being able to see things through the eyes of the Buddha.

Meditation on the Place of the Way In this and all places the buddhas accomplished perfect enlightenment… In this and all places – it does not matter where you are at any time. If you practice the teachings you will be following in the footsteps of the buddhas and be on the path to enlightenment. “In this and all places” does not just refer to physical places where an object like the sutra is kept or where an action is performed. It refers to any and all places where the teaching is correctly practiced and maintained. Notice that the “b” is not capitalized in buddhas indicating that there have been many, many others who have gone before you on the path and were successful in reaching buddhahood.

Meditation on the Place of the Way …roll the wheel of the Law… Wheel of the Law / Dharma Wheel / Wheel of Life / Dharmacakra – The power of the Buddha is so strong that it diminishes all desire; therefore, it is called the Wheel of the Law. To roll the Wheel of the Law means to convey the teachings. In old India, kings with great virtues were said to receive the wheel treasure from heaven, and when the kings roll that wheel treasure they can conquer all. The wheel treasure precedes the kings wherever they go, destroys enemies, and levels the ground. In Buddhist terms, there are four such kings, each with a precious wheel of gold, silver, copper, or iron. The kings reign over the four great regions, north, south, east, and west. The king of the gold wheel rules the entire world. The king of the silver wheel rules, the east, west, and south regions. The king of the copper wheel rules the east and south, and the king of the iron wheel rules the south alone. One of the prophecies of the Buddha is that the king of the gold wheel will come to unify the world. This is probably the important point of the story. What do you think it means? At some point in the future not only will we be one in spirit but we will be united in our earthly lives too. The Wheel has represented Buddhism since the early period of Indian Buddhism, it even occurred in Jainism. The number of spokes of the Dharmacakra represent various meanings: 8 spokes representing the Noble Eightfold Path, one spoke for each Right beliefs, Right aspirations, Right speech, Right conduct, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, Right meditational attainment, 12 spokes representing the Twelve Laws of Dependent Origination. 24 spokes representing the Twelve Laws of Dependent Origination and the Twelve Laws of Dependent Termination 31 spokes representing 31 realms of existence (11 realms of desire, 16 realms of form and four realms of formlessness). Parts of the Dharmacakra also represents: Its overall shape is that of a circle (cakra), representing the perfection of the dharma teaching The hub stands for discipline, which is the essential core of meditation practice The rim, which holds the spokes, refers to mindfulness or samādhi which holds everything together The Dharmachakra is one of the eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism. The dharma wheel can refer to the dissemination of the dharma teaching from country to country. In this sense the dharma wheel began rolling in India, carried on to Central Asia , and then arrived in South East Asia and East Asia.. All Buddhists agree that the original turning of the wheel occurred when the Buddha taught the five ascetics who became his first disciples at the Deer Park in Sarnath. In memory of this, the Dharmacakra is sometimes represented with a deer on each side. In Theravada Buddhism, this was the only "turning of the wheel", and later developments of the Buddhist doctrine which do not appear in the Pali Canon Pali or the Agamas are not accepted as teachings of the historical Buddha. Other schools of Buddhism, such as the Mahayana and Vajrayana distinguish later "turnings". Specific accounts of them vary. In one, the first turning of the Dharmacakra is Gautama Buddha’s original teaching, in particular the Four Noble Truths which describes the mechanics of attachment, desire, suffering, and liberation via the Eightfold Path; the second turning is the teaching of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom sutra (talks about the bodhisattva path), a foundational text of Mahayana Buddhism; and the third is the teaching of the Mahavairocana Sutra a foundational text of Tantric Buddhism. There are other variations of different “turning” events. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmacakra)

Meditation on the Place of the Way … and enter parinirvana. Nirvana – literally, extinction; emancipation from all forms of existence; non-action; the highest and absolute state of spiritual bliss. Parinirvana – Literally, complete extinction’ perfect quietude, when all illusion is destroyed. This word is frequently used to signify the death of Shakyamuni. So we can seek the Buddha Way in all facets of our lives, truly realizing that we have been given the precious gift of life, and that we share in one great universal life which binds us to our parents, our children, all those around us, and the Buddha. When we follow the Buddha Way, we too can enter parinirvana or complete and perfect quietude. We too can release ourselves from all suffering and even our karmic cycle.

Where are the best places for you to chant and meditate? Questions Where are the best places for you to chant and meditate? Do you believe that you may actually one day reach nirvana or is it just a pipe dream? What is the most important action you can take to move you closer to nirvana today? Where are the best places for you to chant, meditate and practice the teachings? Do you believe that you may actually one day reach nirvana or is it just a pipe dream? What is the most important action you can take to move yourself closer to nirvana today? If we follow the advice of baseball Coach Nagashima from our reading who told Kiyoshi Nakahata “You must tell yourself you’re in tip-top shape,” then we too will believe that we are capable of conquering our human failings and truly be able to reach nirvana ourselves. This is the challenge that we have accepted for ourselves as Buddhists.