Selling the Bearskin

Spiritual Story by James Fadiman and Robert Frager

Ali and Hasan went out bear hunting. For four days they saw nothing. Each night they slept in a nearby village, pledging part of the bear's skin against the cost of their lodging. On the fifth day a huge bear appeared, and Ali said nervously to his friend, "I don't mind confessing that I'm afraid to take this bear." Hasan laughed, "Just leave it to me." So Ali scrambled like lightning up the nearest tree, and Hasan stood with his gun at the ready. The bear came lumbering on, and Hasan began to grow more and more scared. At length he raised his gun to his shoulder, but by now he was trembling so much that, before he could take proper aim, his gun went off and missed the target. Hasan, remembering that bears never touch a dead body, threw himself flat and held his breath. The bear came up, sniffed all around him and finally made off. Ali, who had been watching the whole affair from his tree, now came down and, congratulating Hasan on his escape asked him, "What did the bear whisper in your year?" "Don't sell the bearskin before you have caught the bear."

The Unity of Husband and Wife

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, November 27, 2012:

 

Only in the Lotus Sutra do we read that a woman who embraces this sutra not only excels all other women, but also surpasses all men.

The Unity of Husband and Wife
Written to Nichigen-nyo on January 27, 1275

The Four Debts of Gratitude

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, November 26, 2012:

 

Even if we should gather all the water of the four great oceans to wet inkstones, burn all the trees and plants to cinders to make ink, collect the hairs of all beasts for writing brushes, employ all the surfaces of the worlds in the ten directions for paper, and, with these, set down expressions of gratitude, how could we possibly repay our debt to the Buddha?


Written to Kudo Sakon-no-jo Yoshitaka on January 16, 1262

Letter to Niike

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, November 25, 2012:

 

Strive ever harder in faith, and never give in to negligence. All the people appear to believe sincerely when they first embrace the Lotus Sutra, but as time passes, they tend to become less devout; they no longer revere nor make offerings to the priest, giving themselves up to arrogance and forming distorted views. This is most frightening.

Letter to Niike
Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280

Letter to Horen

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, November 24, 2012:

A person of wisdom is one who, understanding the time, spreads the teachings of the Lotus Sutra accordingly; this is his most important task. If a person's throat is dry, what he needs is water; he has no use for bows and arrows, weapons and sticks. If a person is naked, he wants a suit of clothes but has no need for water. From one or two examples you can guess the principle that applies in general.
Letter to Horen
Written to Soya Kyoshin in April 1275

Searching for God

Spiritual Story by Rabindranath Tagore

I have been seeking and searching God for as long as I can remember, for many many lives, from the very beginning of existence. Once in a while, I have seen him by the side of a faraway star, and I have rejoiced and danced that the distance, although great, is not impossible to reach. And I have traveled and reached to the star; but by the time I reached the star, God has moved to another star. And it has been going on for centuries. The challenge is so great that I go on hoping against hope... I have to find him, I am so absorbed in the search. The very search is so intriguing, so mysterious, so enchanting, that God has become almost an excuse�the search has become itself the goal. And to my surprise, one day I reached a house in a faraway star with a small sign in front of it, saying, "This is the house of God." My joy knew no bounds�so finally I have arrived! I rushed up the steps, many steps, that led to the door of the house. But as I was coming closer and closer to the door, a fear suddenly appeared in my heart. As I was going to knock, I became paralyzed with a fear that I had never known, never thought of, never dreamt of. The fear was: If this house is certainly the house of God, then what will I do after I have found him?" Now searching for God has become my very life; to have found him will be equivalent to committing suicide. And what am I going to do with him? I had never thought of all these things before. I should have thought before I started the search: what am I going to do with God? I took my shoes in my hands, and ilently and very slowly stepped back, afraid that God may hear the noise and may open the door and say, "Where are you going? I am here, come in!" And as I reached the steps, I ran away as I have never run before; and since then I have been again searching for God, looking for him in every direction�and avoiding the house where he really lives. Now I know that house has to be avoided. And I continue the search, enjoy the very journey, the pilgrimage.

Aspiration for the Buddha Land

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, November 23, 2012:

You absolutely must not lament over my exile. It says in the "Encouraging Devotion" chapter and in the "Never Disparaging" chapter [that the votary of the Lotus Sutra will meet with persecution]. Life is limited; we must not begrudge it. What we should ultimately aspire to is the Buddha land.

Aspiration for the Buddha Land
Written to Toki Jonin on November 23, 1271

Reply to the Lay Nun Myoho

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, November 22, 2012:

But now you, born a woman in the evil world of the latter age, while being reviled, struck and persecuted by the barbaric inhabitants of this island country who are unaware of these things, have endured and are propagating the Lotus Sutra. The Buddha at Eagle Peak surely perceives that your surpass the nun [Mahaprajapati] as greatly as clouds do mud. The name of that nun, the Buddha Gladly Seen by All Living Beings, is no unrelated matter; it is now the name of the lay nun Myoho.

Reply to the Lay Nun Myoho
Written to the lay nun Myoho in 1281

Three Obstacles and Four Devils

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, November 21, 2012:

There is definitely something extraordinary in the ebb and flow of the tide, the rising and setting of the moon, and the way in which summer, autumn, winter and spring give way to each other. Something uncommon also occurs when an ordinary person attains Buddhahood. At such a time, the three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear, and the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat.

Three Obstacles and Four Devils
Written to Ikegami Hyoe no Sakan Munenaga on November 20, 1277

The Three Obstacles and Four Devils

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, November 20, 2012

 

You should not have the slightest fear in your heart. It is lack of courage that prevents one from attaining Buddhahood, although one may have professed faith in the Lotus Sutra many times since innumerable kalpas ago.

The Three Obstacles and Four Devils
Written to Ikegami Hyoe no Sakan Munenaga on November 20, 1277

To My Friends

May 10, 2012

Let's wisely manage our physical health and
lead rhythmical daily lives based on the
principle of "faith equals daily life."
Let's recite gongyo and chant daimoku
with a clear, resonant voice and make
progress, brimming with dynamic life force.

Origin of Death

Spiritual Story by Joseph Bruchac

When the world was new, Old Man and Old Woman were walking around. "Let us decide how things will be," Old Man said. "That is good," said Old Woman. "How shall we do it?" "Well," Old Man said, "since it was my idea I think I should have the first say in everything." "That is good," said Old Woman, "just as long as I have the last say." So they walked around and looked at things. Then Old Man spoke. "I have been thinking about hunting," he said. "The men will be the hunters. Anytime they want to shoot an animal, they will call it and it will come to them." "I agree men should be the hunters," Old Woman said. "But if the animals come when they are called, life will be too easy for the people. The animals should run away when they see thepeople. Then it will be hard for the men to kill them. That way people will be smarter and stronger." "You have the last say," Old Man agreed. Then they walked around some more. After a while, Old Man spoke again. "I have been thinking about what people will look like," he said. "They will have eyes on one side of their face and their mouth on the other. Their mouths will go straight up and down. They will have ten fingers on each hand." "I agree that people should have their eyes and their mouth on their face," Old Woman said. "But their eyes will be at the top of their face and their mouth at the bottom and they will be set across. I agree they should have fingers on their hands, but ten on each hand will make them clumsy. They will have five fingers on each hand." "You have the last say," Old Man agreed. Now they were walking by the river. "Let us decide about life and death," Old Man said. "I will do it this way. I will throw this buffalo chip into the river. If it floats, when people die they will come back to life after four days and then live forever." Old Man threw the buffalo chip into the water. It bobbed up and floated. "I agree we should decide it this way," Old Woman said. "But I do not think it should be done with a buffalo chip. I will throw this stone into the water instead. If it floats, the people will die for four days and then come back to life and live forever. If it sinks, the people will not come back to life after they die." Old Woman threw the stone into the water. It sank immediately. "That is the way it should be," Old Woman said. "If people lived forever, the Earth would be too crowded. There would not be enough food. This way people will feel sorry for each other. There will be sympathy in the world." Old Man said nothing. Some time passed. Old Woman had a child. She and Old Man loved the child very much and they were happy. One day, though, the child became sick and died. Then Old Woman went to Old Man. "Let us have our say again about death," she said. But Old Man shook his head. "No," he said, "you had the last say."

On Prolonging One's Life Span

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, November 19, 2012:

 

In this age, it is as natural for a woman to change her fixed karma by practicing the Lotus Sutra as it is for rice to ripen in fall or chrysanthemums to bloom in winter. When I prayed for my mother, not only was her illness cured, but her life was prolonged by four years. Now you too have fallen ill, and as a woman, it is all the more timely for you to establish steadfast faith in the Lotus Sutra and see what it will do for you.

On Prolonging One's Life Span
Written to the lay nun Myojo in 1279

Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, November 18, 2012:

 

How long does a lifetime last? If one stops to consider, it is like a single night's lodging at a wayside inn. Should one forget that fact and seek some measure of worldly fame and profit? Though you may gain them, they will be mere prosperity in a dream, a delight scarcely to be prized. You would do better simply to leave such matters to the karma formed in your previous existences.

Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263

The Sailor's Decision

Spiritual Story by Unknown

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean." The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life....to which boy he would throw the other end of the line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son! He threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered." By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian." "Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me." "You see....I was the son's friend."

Words of the Week

Words of the Week

May 7, 2012

Capable individuals are fostered
through a hands-on approach.
Youth develop through the two ways
of practice and study.
Let's pray and take action together
with our new members who
have a profound mission, and
build a bastion of capable people
where everyone is a protagonist.

The Receipt of New Fiefs

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, November 17, 2012:

 

The same is true of your attaining Buddhahood. No matter what grave offenses you might have committed, because you did not turn against the Lotus Sutra, but showed your devotion by accompanying me, you will surely become a Buddha. Yours is like the case of King Possessor of Virtue, who gave his life to save the monk Realization of Virtue and became Shakyamuni Buddha. Faith in the Lotus Sutra acts as a prayer [to attain Buddhahood]. Strengthen your resolve to seek the way all the more and achieve Buddhahood in this lifetime.

The Receipt of New Fiefs
Written to Shijo Kingo in October 1278

The Sutra of True Requital

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, November 16, 2012:

 

Thus it seemed that I could not possibly escape with my life. Whatever the design of the heavenly gods in the matter may have been, every single steward and Nembutsu believer worthy of the name kept strict watch on my hut day and night, determined to prevent anyone from communicating with me. Never in any lifetime will I forget how under those circumstances you, with Abutsu-bo carrying a wooden container of food on his back, came in the night again and again to bring me aid.

The Sutra of True Requital
Written to the lay nun Sennichi on July 28, 1278

Hold My Hand

Spiritual Story by Unknown

Once a little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, "Sweetheart , please hold my hand so that you don’t fall into the river." The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand." "What’s the difference?" asked the puzzle father. "There’s a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

Wu-lung and I-lung

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, November 15, 2012:

 

The benefit of all the other sutras is uncertain, because they teach that one must first make good causes and only then can one become a Buddha at some later time. With regard to the Lotus Sutra, when one's hand takes it up, that hand immediately attains Buddhahood, and when one's mouth chants it, that mouth is itself a Buddha, as, for example, the moon is reflected in the water the moment it appears from behind the eastern mountains, or as a sound and its echo arise simultaneously.

Wu-lung and I-lung
Written to the lay nun Ueno on November 15, 1281