Keeping the Tigers Away

Spiritual Story by Idries Shah

Nasrudin was throwing handfuls of crumbs around his house. "What are you doing?" someone asked him. "Keeping the tigers away." "But there are no tigers in these parts." "That's right. Effective, isn't it?"

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, July 31, 2012:

What is the purpose of life? It is happiness. But there are two kinds of happiness: relative and absolute. Relative happiness comes in a wide variety of forms. The purpose of Buddhism is to attain Buddhahood. In modern terms, this could be explained as realizing absolute happiness—a state of happiness that can never be destroyed or defeated

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, July 31, 2012:

What is the secret to victory? Mr. Toda once described that in a certain sense life is a gamble. "If you are lucky, you will win," he said. "But if you are unlucky, then sometimes no matter how hard you try you lose. This is a hard fact." That is why, in addition to ability, good fortune is essential. The key to creating good fortune is found in faith and daimoku. I hope that you will all act in accord with the fundamental Law of Buddhism and lead victorious lives filled with unsurpassed good fortune.

The Opening of the Eyes

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, July 31, 2012:

 

Even a wise man cannot become a Buddha through the other sutras, but with the Lotus Sutra, even fools can plant the seeds that lead to Buddhahood. As the sutra passage I have quoted earlier puts it, "Although they do not seek emancipation, emancipation will come of itself."

The Opening of the Eyes
Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272

Cooking By Candle

Spiritual Story by Idries Shah

Mulla Nasrudin made a wager that he could spend a night on a near-by mountain and survive, in spite of ice and snow. Several wags in the teahouse agreed to the adjucate. Nasrudin took a book and a candle and sat through the coldest night he had ever known. In the morning, half-dead, he claimed his money. "Did you have nothing at all to keep you warm?" asked the villagers. "Nothing." "Not even a candle?" "Yes, I had a candle." "The the bet is off." Nasrudin did not argue. Some months later he invited the same people to a feast at his house. They sat down in his reception room, waiting for the food. Hours passed, and they started to mutter about food. "Let's go and see how it is getting on," said Nasrudin. Everyone trooped into the kitchen. They found an enormous pot of water, under which a candle was burning. The water was not even tepid. "It is not ready yet," said the Mulla. "I don't know why - it has been there since yesterday."

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, July 30, 2012:

Religion must teach an "attitude to life." To live a life of true human dignity is certainly difficult. Life is change; it is continuous change. Nothing is constant. The four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death are an eternal theme that no one can escape.
Amid harsh reality, people yearn from the depths of their beings to live with dignity and for their lives to have meaning, and they make efforts toward that end. The product of these human yearnings, these prayers, is religion. Religion was born from prayer. What is Nichiren's response to these prayers of human beings? What attitude toward life does he teach? The answer, in short, is the principle of attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, July 30, 2012:

Faith enables us to secure ultimate victory. It enables us to live with vigor and joy and to strive to improve ourselves—to become the very best people we can be. Moreover, faith enables us to walk through life with complete assurance and confidence, unafraid of anything.

Letter to Niike

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, July 30, 2012:

 

Our worldly misdeeds and evil karma may have piled up as high as Mount Sumeru, but when we take faith in this sutra, they will vanish like frost or dew under the sun of the Lotus Sutra.

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

Compass

Spiritual Story by Houman Farzad

Someone brought a compass that he had found and asked Mulla Nasrudin if he knew what it was. Mulla looked at the compass and began to cry. A few minutes later, he stopped crying and began to laugh. The man asked: "Why did you cry and why are you laughing now?" Mulla said: "I cried because I thought how stupid you were not to know what a tiny object like this is. Then I laughed, because when I thought about it, I realized that I didn't know what it was either."

THE STORY OF THE TWELVE ANIMALS on the Chinese Calendar-

NOTE: When and how did the twelve animals became designated as the animals of each consecutive years are not officially known. But the following folk legend is the most popular one.

ACT I  -  A Demand for Respect 

One day the Four Celestial Generals came to see Emperor Sakra (the King of Heavens in Buddhism, some Chinese called him Jade Emperor) and reported, "Your Majesty, there is a group of animals protesting outside the Heavenly Gate demanding respect."

"What is going on?" asked Emperor Sakra. "Bring their representatives in. I like to hear what they say."

"Yes, your Majesty" replied the Celestial Generals and soon they returned with a mouse, an ox and a monkey."

"Your Majesty." said the animal representatives. "We demand respect from human beings."

"Why?"

"Because we animals provide human beings with food, milk, clothing, transportation, work and recreation. We plow their fields, pull their carts, watch their houses, sing to them and give them companionship. Therefore, we demand recognition and respect from human beings."

"OK. Your request is granted" said the King of Heavens. "The Lord Buddha is the teacher of all sentient beings in the Universe. Now he is sick and you should all visit Him. I now give the decree that the first ten animals that go to see Him on the coming New Year Day will be named the animals of the consecutive years. Now, you go to tell everyone in the Animal Kingdom."

So off they went. The mouse would inform all the household animals, the ox, all the farm animals and the monkey, all the animals in the wild, that the Lord Buddha was sick and everyone would visit Him to pay tribute, right on midnight of the coming New Year Eve.

ACT II  -  The Mouse Cheated the Cat 

Time had come on New Year Eve. The cat came home from a big New Year Eve party and was very tired. He asked the mouse, "I am very tired. I like to sleep for a while before I go to see the Lord Buddha. Can I trust you to wake me up so that we can go together?"

"Sure" said the mouse. "Trust me. Otherwise, I would not tell you of this big occasion at all."

Then the cat went to his bed and soon was sound asleep. It was now a few moments away from midnight and the mouse thought, "If I go by myself, I will have one less competitor." So off he went without bothering waking up the cat.

ACT III  -  At the Temple 

As everybody was waiting outside the Temple, the Celestial Generals arrived to make sure everything was in order and to act as referees. They would report back to Emperor Sakra the result of this competition. Buddha's senior student Ananda was responsible for recording the winning animals. When everybody was ready, one of the Celestial Generals shouted out the order in military fashion, "ARE YOU READY? NOW!! GO!!"

Off everybody went in the race. The ox was a very strong animal because he used to plow the land for human beings, so he was leading all the way. "How can I win the race? I am no match for the ox. I have to do some trick." thought the mouse. And he jumped onto the ox and climbed all the way to the horn. When the ox arrived, the mouse jumped down and immediately paid tribute to the Buddha. Ananda had no choice but to give the mouse a first, followed by the ox. Soon, all the other eight animals arrived in the following order: tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey and rooster. And Ananda wrote down all the ten animals in his report.

"STOP!!" shouted the Celestial Generals " We have ten animals already!"

But Ananda wrote in such a hurry and excitement that he put down DOG instead of STOP in his hand writing.

"We have enough animals! Would you stop writing PLEASE?!" shouted the Celestial Generals. But, in an excitement, Ananda put down PIG instead of PLEASE. Seeing this, the Celestial Generals rushed over to Ananda and took the report from him.

When daylight arrived, the Celestial Generals took the report and returned to the Heavenly Palace. "Oh Well" said Emperor Sakra, on reading the report. "Since there are twelve animals paying tribute to the Lord Buddha. I will decree that all of them will be named animals of each year from now onwards." And from then onward, each of the the twelve animals is designated for each year in the Buddhist calendar.

ACT IV   -  The Mouse Deserves Punishment for his Cheating 

Back home the cat asked the mouse, "When are we going to see the Lord Buddha?"

"You slept like a log." replied the mouse. "Everyone went, and I am the winner!"

On hearing this, the cat was furious. "You cheater!" He jumped upon the mouse and killed him. From then onwards, all the cats in the world will try to catch and kill the mouse whenever possible.

NOTE: In Buddhism, the Four Celestial Generals stand guard at the gateway to Heaven (similar to the role of St. Peters in Catholic). Sometimes they are called the Four Great Diamond Generals.

Cross reference between Western and Chinese Calendar:  Mouse    - 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912, 1900 Ox       - 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, 1901  Tiger    - 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914, 1902 Rabbit   - 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915, 1903 Dragon   - 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, 1904 Snake    - 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, 1905 Horse    - 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906 Sheep    - 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907 Monkey   - 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908 Rooster  - 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909 Dog      - 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910 Pig      - 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Sunday, July 29, 2012:

Compassion is the very soul of Buddhism. To pray for others, making their problems and anguish our own; to embrace those who are suffering, becoming their greatest ally; to continue giving them our support and encouragement until they become truly happy—it is in such humanistic actions that Nichiren Buddhism lives and breathes.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Sunday, July 29, 2012:

The ultimate essence of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism lies in living on through to the very end, pressing ever forward, courageously taking on each new challenge we encounter and never giving up. Constructing eternal glory—the state of Buddhahood—within our own lives is the purpose of our Buddhist practice in this lifetime. Hence the Daishonin's constant urging that we make tenacious efforts in the present.

Letter to Jakunichi

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, July 29, 2012:

Believe in the Gohonzon with all your heart, for it is the robe to protect you in the world after death. No wife would ever leave her husband unclothed, nor could any parents fail to feel compassion for their child shivering in the cold. Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra are like one's wife and parents. You have helped me and thereby saved me from disgrace in this life; in return, I will protect you from disgrace in the next. What one has done for another yesterday, will be done for oneself today.

Letter to Jakunichi-bo
Written to Jakunichi-bo Niike on September 16, 1279

They Won't Let Me In

Spiritual Story by Unknown

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. People were filling the church to its full capacity! As they entered, each were given a bulletin filled with announcements, topic of today's sermon, what songs they would sing and who to pray for. At the end of the line stood an older man. His clothes were filthy and you could tell that he had not bathed in days. His face was covered with whiskers, for he had not shaved for a very long time. When he reached the usher, he removed his tattered old brown hat in respect. His hair was long, dirty, and a tangled mess. He had no shoes on his feet, and wore only soiled black socks to cover the sores upon his feet. The Usher looked at him turning up his nose at the old man and said, "Uh, I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid we can't let you in. You will distract the congregation and we don't allow anyone to disrupt our service. I'm afraid you'll have to leave." The old man looked down at himself and with a puzzled look on his face, he placed his old brown hat back upon his head and turned to leave. He was sad as he loved to hear the choir sing praises to the Lord. He loved to watch the little children get up in front of the church to sing their little songs. He carried in his pocket a small worn out Bible and loved to see if the minister preached a passage from the Bible that he had underlined. But he was respectful, and didn't want to cause any commotion, so he hung down his head and walked back down the steps of the big brick church. He sat down on the brick wall near the edge of the church yard and strained to listen through closed doors and windows to the singing going on in the church. Oh how he wished he could be inside with all the others. A few minutes had passed by when all of a sudden a younger man came up behind him and sat down near him. He asked the old man what he was doing? He answered, "I was going to go to church today, but they thought I was to filthy, my clothes to old and worn, and they were afraid I would disrupt their service. Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is George." The two men shook hands, and George couldn't help but notice that this man had long hair like his. He wore a piece of cloth draped over his body tied with a royal purple sash. He had sandals on his feet, now covered with dust and dirt. The stranger touched George's shoulder, and said: "George, don't feel bad because they won't let you in. My name is Jesus, and I've been trying to get into this same church for years -- they won't let me in either."

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Saturday, July 28, 2012:

The Buddha's compassion is perfectly equal and impartial. The Buddha views all beings as his own children and strives to elevate them to attain his same enlightened state of life. It's not that there are no differences among people. Rather, it's that the Buddha, while fully recognizing people's differences, does not discriminate among them.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Saturday, July 28, 2012:

Life is a process of ongoing challenge. Those who lead lives of boundless challenge realize boundless growth. In a time of tumultuous change, what people need most is the vitality to challenge their circumstances and the wisdom to open the treasure-house of knowledge and to ceaselessly strive to create new value.

The Sutra of True Requital

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, July 28, 2012:

 

Since I have realized that only the Lotus Sutra teaches the attainment of Buddhahood by women, and that only the Lotus is the sutra of true requital for repaying the kindness of our mother, in order to repay my debt to my mother, I have vowed to enable all women to chant the daimoku of this sutra.

 

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

The Carpenter's Tools

Spiritual Story by Unknown

Brother Hammer served as the chairman. The other members of the tool belt informed him that he must leave, because he was too noisy. But brother Hammer said, "If I have to leave this carpenter's shop, then brother Gimlet must go too. He's insignificant and makes a very small impression." (A gimlet is a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and a cross handle for boring holes). Little brother Gimlet arose and said, "All right, but brother Screwdriver must go also. You have to turn him around and around to get anywhere with him." Brother Screwdriver turned to the other tools in the belt and said, "If you wish, I will go, but brother Plane must leave too. All of his work is on the surface; there's no depth to what he does." To this brother Plane leveled his terse reply, "Well, then, brother Saw will have to depart too. The changes he proposes always cut too deep." Brother Saw complained, saying, "Brother Ruler will have to withdraw if I leave, for he's always measuring other folks as though he were the only one who is right." Brother Ruler then surveyed the group and said, "Brother Sandpaper doesn't belong here either. He's rougher than he ought to be, and is always rubbing people the wrong way." In the midst of the discussion, the Carpenter of Nazareth walked in. He had come to perform his day's work. He put on His tool belt and went to the workbench to make a pulpit. He employed the ruler, the saw, the plane, the hammer, the gimlet, the screwdriver, the sandpaper, and all the other tools. When the day's work was over, the pulpit was finished, and the carpenter went home. All the accusations against each of these tools were absolutely true, yet the carpenter used every one of them. No matter which tool He use, no other tool could have done the work better.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, July 27, 2012:

The brilliance of true humanity lies in surmounting feelings of envy with the resolute attitude "I'll create an even more wonderful life for myself." If you are jealous of others, you will not advance; you will only become miserable. Please do not be defeated or consumed by such emotions.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, July 27, 2012:

Buddhism is found in the reality of society and daily life. Because Buddhism is in no way separate from this reality, we must strive through our actions and behavior to be exemplary models for others.