Many of you have probably noticed that there are numerous Buddhist terms containing the chatacter "Ho" (the Law). The Daimoku, which is chanted everyday by those who practice Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism of the True Law and True Teaching, consists of seven Chinese characters including the character "Ho". The Chinese characters for the term "True Law" signify the True Law of the Buddha. They also signify the teaching of the Buddha, or Buddhism.
There is a passage in the first chapter of Volume One of T`ien tai's, "Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra" which states:
Kyo (the teachings) signifies words which the Sage shares with others of lesser understanding. As T`ien t'ai explains, when the Law which the Buddha (Sage) possesses is expressed in words, it becomes "The Teachings." The essence os "The Teaching" is "The Law."
The character "Ho" (Law) possesses a very important meaning in our Buddhist practice. Therefore, this word is frequently used in various Buddhist terms. The following are examples.
Hozo: The storehouse of the teachings; the Buddhist sutras; a sacred book of the Buddha's teachings.
Honmon: The teaching of the truth; the gate to the truth; the doctrines.
Hosshin: Darma Body; The property of the Law; the fundamental Law to which the Buddha is enlightened; the entity of the Buddha's life.
Horin: Oneness with the Gohonzon in wisdom; the nature of the Law; the Teaching.
Hoto: The shining of the True Law upon the darkness of the world; a system of transmission of Buddhism.
Guho: Propogation; to propogate Buddhism.
Horaku: The joy and happiness that comes from the teachings of Buddhism
Honan: Persecution due to performing Buddhist practice.
Hoshi: A successor who inherits from his master the essence of the Law of the Buddha.
Homyo: A title of a sutra; a posthumous Buddhist name (kaimyo).
Hoyo: The intrinsic quality of the truth; the essence; Buddhist rituals.
The above examples illustrate only a few of the numerous Buddhist terms using the character "Ho,", the Law.
"Ho" is the Chinese translation of the Sanskrit word, dharma, which has a variety of meanings such as: a standard; an order or discipline; a good deed; fundamental; a law or a rule; a teaching; an essence; and so on. In the first chapter of the "Treasury of Analyzes of the Law. Vashbandhu expounds the reason for the name "Ho": Because it possesses entity, it is designated as "Ho."
From the Buddhist perspective, the fundamental meaning of the character "Ho" is a teaching with a specific characteristic that fulfills its purpose. The purpose is to lead the people, who practice just as the Buddha teaches, to the attainment of Buddhahood.
The teachings of Shakyamuni (fifty years of sermons in one lifetime) can be broadly termed as "The Law." However, strict evaluation is indespensable when deciding whether all of his sermons are valid in this age of Mappo.
From the standpoint of the True Buddha of Kuon-ganjo, Nichiren Daishonin expounded the Fivefold Comparison, the Three Standards of Comparison, and other doctrines in order to establish a strict and impartial, comparative evaluation of the various Buddhist teachings.
Through these comparative analyzes The Daishonin systematically demonstrated that the Ho (Law) for the age of Mappo must explain the truth of the ultimate reality of all phenomena and the principle of actual `ichinen sanzen.'
Correct practice of this Law must enable all people to attain Buddhahood in their present form.
In His Gosho, "On True Cause of Original Enlightenment", the Daishonin teaches the principles of `Sotai-kaie' and `Zettai-kaie.' `Sotai-kaie' is the principle that reveals the supremacy of the Law of Myoho-Renge-Kyo through comparison with all other laws.
`Zettai-kaie' is the principle that reveals the truth that all laws and phenomena are contained within Myoho-Renge-Kyo. The Daishonin's True Law of the Buddhism of the Sowing is the source of all Laws. This True Law is the origin of everything in the universe, and indicates the existence of the eternal True Buddha who enables the advent of all Buddha of the Three Existences. Nichiren Daishonin reveals the true identity of this Law in the Gosho, "The Entity of the Mystic Law."
The supreme principle that is the Mystic Law was originally without a name. When the sage was observing the principle and assigning names to all things, he perceived that there was this wonderful single Law, Myoho, which simultaneously possesses both cause and effect, Renge, and he named it Myoho-Renge. This single Law that is Myoho-Renge encompasses within it all the phenomena comprising the Ten Worlds and the three thousand realms, and is lacking in none of them. Anyone who practices this Law will obtain both the cause and the effect of Buddhahood simultaneously. The sage practiced with this Law as his teacher and attained enlightenment, and therefore he simultaneously obtained both the mystic cause and the mystic effect of Buddhahood, becoming the Thus Come One of perfect enlightenment and fully realized virtues.-end quote.
The Law, indicated in the above passage as "this single Law," is the very Law of the essence of Kuon-ganjo. It is the one and only Great Pure Law that will save all people throughout the ten thousand years of Mappo.
In the "Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra," the Great Teacher T`ien-t'ai interpreted Myoho-Renge-Kyo in terms of the doctrine of the Five Major Principles.
He taught that the Law possesses the five principles of name, entity, quality, function and teaching (myo,tai,shu,yu and kyo). They are discussed in the "Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra" under the following topics:
Shakumyo: A detailed explanation of the title, Myoho-Renge-Kyo, and an exposition on how it represents the essence of the Sutra.
Bentai: A clarification of the ultimate entity of the Sutra as the true entity of all phenomena.
Myoshu: An exposition elucidating the essential doctrines of the One Sutra.
Ron'yu: A discussion of the benefit and power of the One Sutra.
Hangyo: A evaluation revealing the teaching of the One Sutra, asserting that the Lotus Sutra encompasses all other teachings, and its influence permeates all phenomena.
The Daishonin expounds in the "Soya Nyudo Dono Moto Gosho" as follows:
At that time, Shakyamuni Buddha, the Great World-Honored One, preached the Jinriki (twenty-first) chapter, displaying the ten mystic powers before transferring the essence of the Lotus Sutra to the forur Great Leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. What is this Law entrusted to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth? The Lotus Sutra further states that the comprehensive practice is to be discarded for the abbreviated practice. The abbreviated practice is then to be discarded for the essential practice. In other words, the five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo are the Five Major Principles of name, entity, quality, function and teaching.-endquote
In the age of Mappo, "the Law" that possesses the true Five Major Principles of name, entity,quality, function and teaching is Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. The one and only eternal True Teacher (Nosetsu) who preaches this Supreme Law is the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin. In the Gosho, "One Hundred and Six Comparisons" the Daishonin teaches:
Nichiren is the sovereign of the True Cause and True Effect at the stage of myoji of kuon. He is the reincarnation of Bodhisattva Jogyo, and of the Buddha of Limitless Joy of the True Land, who possesses the Three Properties. He is the Great Lord Teacher of the Honmon Teaching.-endquote
When we strive to chant Daimoku and so Shakubuku based upon the Daishonin's True Law, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, we will inevitably receive great benefit. The Daishonin states:
Now, since Nichiren and His followers believe in and solidly embrace Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, they will attain the great gem, the most superior treasure, without evening seeking it. Faith is the seed of wisdom.-endquote
Furthermore, when we make a pilgrimage to the Head Temple, Taisekiji to pray to the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary-the Oneness of the Person and the Law, and the original source of all Laws-our lives will be filled with joy. The Daishonin states:
When living beings approach Mt. Sumeru, all will assume the same golden hue. People who embrace the name, the essence of the Lotus Sutra, will expiate their negative karma, like pitch black lacquer, which they have accumulated in this lifetime or in past lives of eons ago. Their karma will be transformed into great meritorious deeds, like pure qhite karma. All the roots of good karma from time without beginning will be transformed into the same golden hue.-endquote
Finally, based on the guidance of High Priest Nikken Shonin, let us all gather at the Head Temple on the auspicious occasion of the 750th anniversary of the founding of Nichiren Shoshu in 2002. Let's all strive to "Shakabuku one person a year" with the firm foundation of chanting Daimoku. I sincerely pray for the further advancement of your Buddhist practice.