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The Bodhisattvas of the Earth are the Bodhisattvas that supported Shakyamuni when he preached the Homon (Essential) Teachings of the Lotus Sutra. They were entrusted with the propagation of the True Law after Shakyamuni`s death. Shakyamuni had preached various sutras for more than 40 years after he attained enlightenment, but he revealed in the Muryogi Sutra that all the teachings he had preached during those years were expedient teachings. He stated: Shakyamuni expounded that these expedient teachings were preached only to wash away the filth of earthly desires in living beings, and for the next eight years he expounded the Lotus Sutra of the True Law that leads all living beings to enlightenment.
During Shakyamuni`s sermon on the Ken Hoto (Eleventh) Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Taho Buddha, who was seated within the treasure tower, declared in a loud voice that the Lotus Sutra that Shakyamuni expounds is indeed the True Law. The Lotus Sutra states:
Taho Buddha was followed by the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, who emerged in the Yujutsu (Fifteenth) Chapter of the Lotus Sutra. They emerged in order to testify that Shakyamuni`s teachings have, in fact, existed since the remote past of Kuon,and to greatly undertake the general transmission of the Law after Shakyamuni`s death.
According to the Lotus Sutra that was expounded by Shakyamuni, the Bodhisattvas of the Theoretical Teaching (Jp. Shakke no bosatsu) such as Bodhisattva Monjushiri, who rejoiced over the Lotus Sutra Shakyamuni expounded, pledge to uphold and propagate the Law after his death. However, Shakyamuni restrains these Bodhisattvas and reveals that he has Bodhisattva disciples equal in number to the sands of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers. Suddenly, the ground starts to tremble and numerous Bodhisattvas emerge from within the earth. Strangely, these Bodhisattvas look older than Shakyamuni. They also possess the exalted physical aspect of the thirty-two features similar to those of Shakyamuni. Each one of them respectively leads with his own retinue of followers.
The Thirty-two features are honorable qualities that the Buddha possisses, such as long and slender fingers, golden skin, light radiating from the body, and a tuft of white hair between the eyebrows curling to the right. There are four leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. They are Bodhisattva Jogyo, Bodhisattva Muhengyo, Bodhisattva Jyogyo and Bodhisattva Anryugyo.
The Bodhisattvas of the Theoretical Teaching are greatly astonished by the sudden emergence of these Bodhsattvas who are older than Shakyamuni. They are even more astonished to learn that these Bodhisattvas who have just emerged from the earth were disciples of Shakyamuni in his past life. Then, Shakyamuni expounds that the Bodhisattvas of the Earth had received the seed of Buddhahood when he attained enlightenment in the remote past of Gohyaku jintengo. Therefore, they had received the good influence of Shakyamuni during this time. With the emergence of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Shakyamuni`s attainment of Buddhahood in the infinite past is verified.
In the Jinriki (Twenty-first) Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni clarifies the transmission of the essence of the Lotus Sutra ketcho fuzoku) and the entrustment of the Law to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, who will propagate the Law after his death in the age of Mappo. He states:
According to the order of this general transmission, Nichiren Daishonin made His advent in the age of Mappo with the significance of being reborn as Bodhisattva Jogyo, the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, and propagated the Law as the Votary of the Lotus Sutra.
However, the Lotus sutra and all the various sutras Shakyamuni expounded have already become invalid as the teachings to save all living beings in Mappo. This is because, as explained in Daijuku Sutra (Sutra of the Great Assembly), the Pure Law will become obscured and lost n the age of Mappo. Let us consider the following four points.
First, it is important to understand the time. The Daishonin expounds that it is important to make judgements only after understanding the time. In the Gosho, "The Selection of the Time" He states:
Mappo, the Latter Day of the Law is the evil period stained by the five impurities. It is entirely different from the two thousand years of the Former and the Middle Day of the Law; therefore, the True Teaching has to suit the evil age of Mappo.
Secondly, it is necessary to consider the difference in capacity of living beings. Living beings n the first two thousand years of Shoho and Zoho were individuals "possessing good past causes" (Jp.bon~i uzen). This refers to the capacity of people who had already accumulated good causes through their practice of Buddhism in past existences after havi had the seed of enlightenment planted in their lives during Gohyaku jintengo, Sanzen jintengo and Shakyamuni`s lifetime. Living beings in the age of Mappo however, are individuals "without good past causes" (Jp.bonmi uzen). This refers to the capacity of people who have not accumulated good causes through the practice of Buddhism in existences since the remote past. They have a deep relationship with Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha who sows the original seed of enlightenment from Kuon Ganjo.
Thirdly, the only teaching that will save living beings "without good past causes" is the Buddhism of the Sowing. We have no karmic relation with Buddhism from our past lives, nor did we accumulate any benefit or good causes. Similar to a seed that is not yet planted and therefore cannot sprout, no one in the age of Mappo can be saved with the Lotus Sutra of Shakyamuni. One can only be saved with the Buddhism of the Sowing hidden in the depths of the Juryo chapter.
Fourthly, peole should be aware of the Buddha of their ge. Shakyamuni had taught living beings that were already implanted with the seed of Buddhahood in their past lives. However, for the sake of living beings in the age of Mappo, who did not receive the seed of Buddhahood in their past lives, the Buddha, who expounds the Buddhism of Sowing that suits the time and the capacity of the people needed to make His advent.
Therefore, the general transmission of the Lotus Sutra is not the transmission of the Law of Maturing and Harvesting. This teachng is not suitable for the present time. Rather, it is the transmission of the original Law of Myoho of the Sowing hidden in the depth of the Juryo chapter of Lotus Sutra, which predicts the advent of the Original Buddha in the age of Mappo.
The Transmission of the Essence of the Lotus Sutra revealed by Shakyamuni is not kyoso (the doctrinal study of the sutras). It is he transmission of kanjin (belief in the Gohonzon, the embodiment of ichinen sanzen). The Twenty-sixth High Priest Nichikan Shonin expounded in "Interpretations Based on the Law" (Egihanmon-sho) that there are four significant principles within the transmission. They are the Transmission of Praise (Jp. Shotan-fzoku), the Encouragement of the Daimoku (Jp.Daimoku-kansho), and the Encouragement for the High Sanctuary (Jp. Kaidan-kansho). (Ref: Rokkan-sho, p. 101)
The "Transmission of Praise" means to praise the benefit of the Object of Worship that is the Entity of the Law in the transmission. The "Transmission of the Object of Worship" means that the Entity of the Law in the transmission is the Object of Worship of the Homon Teachings. The "Encouragement of the Daimoku" means to encourage the chanting of Damoku and practice by upholding the Gohonzon with steadfast faith. The "Encouragement for the High Sanctuary" in principle means the High Sanctuary where the chanting of Daimoku and the practice of the Honmon Teachings take place. It also signifies the High Sanctuary of the Object of Worship of the Honmon Teachings of True Buddhism. In actuality, "Encouragement for the High Sanctuary" carries the deeper significance of building the Hgh Sanctuary of Honmonji Temple at the foot of Mt. Fuji when Kosen-rufu is achieved.
That is to say, the Transmission of the Essence of the Lotus Sutra is the general transmission of the Three Great Secret Laws: the Object of Worship of the Honmon Teachings; the invocation or Daimoku of the Honmon Teachings;and the High Sanctuary of the Honmon Teachings, the core essence of the Daishonin`s Buddhism.
Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, in which all the Three Great Secret Laws exist, is the very teaching of Sowing that the Original Buddha of Kuon Ganjo expounded. Therefore, we revere Nichiren Daishoni as the True Buddha in the age of Mappo because He expounds Myoho during this present time of Mappo. High Priest Nichikan Shonin reveals in "The Meanings Hidden in the Depths" (Montei-hichinsho) that Nichiren Daishonin, outwardly, is the reincarnation of Bodhisattva Jogyo from the perspective of the order of the general transmisson of the Lotus Sutra, but in truth He is the True Buddha in the age of Mappo who expounds the mystic Myoho of Sowing.
In the "Record of Orally Transmitted Teachings," the Daishonin stated that the Four Great Bodhisattvas, the leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, possess the four virtues of Eternity, Hapiness, True Self, and Purity (Jp. Joraku Gajo). True self (Jp. Ga-toku) is possessed by Bodhisattva Jogyo. It signifies that nothing can destroy the Buddha or Buddha nature. The virtue of Eterniy (Jp. Jo-toku) is possessed by Bodhisattva Muhengyo. It indicates that the Buddha or Budda nature is invariable and it enables ne with faith in Myoho to recognize life throughout the three existences. The virtue of Purity (Jp.Jo-toku), possessed by Bodhisattva Jyogyo, is that which the Buddha or Buddha nature has in order to live with a pure life force in this defiled world. The virtue of Happiness (Jp. Raku-toku) is a virtue of the Budda or Buddha nature possessed by Bodhisattva Anryugyo. It means to never be disturbed or led astray by external factors, and to enjoy an abundant life force. At a certain point in time, Bodhisattva Jogyo possesses all of the four virtues of the Four Great Bodhisattvas that are inherent in the Daishonin`s life. He teaches:
All the believers of the Daishonin`s Buddhism have a precious mission as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. The Daishonin expounds in the Gosho, the "True Entity of Life" as follows:
The Daishonon also expounds in the "Record of Orally Transmitted Teachings" as follows:
We, believers of the Daisonin`s Buddhism are the disciples of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth; therefore, the four virtues of Eternity, Happiness, True Self and Purity that the Four Great Bodhisattvas possess will enevitably be manifested when we exert ourselves in the practice of True Buddhism.
It is the time for us, awaiting the auspicious occasion of the 750th Anniversary of the Founding of Nichiren Shoshu three years from now, to realize our mission as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth and to strive for the Kosen-rufu of Myoho. Through this practice we will acquire a very high life condition endowed with the four virtues within ourselves. By being confident in our mission and our benefits, we should make our best endeavors in shakabuku and chanting Daimoku.
Lecture in Praise of Nichiren Daishonin February, 1999....Typed and Published by Bill Rhodes on the Internet so all can learn more about true Buddhism....
I have preached the Law in many was, devising many means. But in these more than forty years, I have not yet revealed the truth. (Kaiketsu, p. 88)
Shakyamuni, World-honored One, all that you have expounded is the truth. (Kaiketsu, p. 400)
To put it briefly, all the doctrines possessed by the Thus Come One, all the freely exercised supernatural powers of the Thus Come One, the storehouse of all the secret essentials of the Thus Come One, all the most profound matters of the Thus Come One-all these are proclaimed, revealed, and clearly expounded in the sutra. For this reason, after the Thus Come One has entered extinction, you must single-mindedly accept, uphold, read. explain, preach and transcribe it, and practice it as directed. (Kaiketsu, p. 581)
Buddhist teachings are based upon the capacities of the people of the period. Shinpen, p. 835,M.W., Vol. 3, p. 135)
Bodhisattvas Jogyo, Muhengyo, Jyogyo and Anryugyo represent the world of Bodhisattva within our lives. (Shinpen, p. 653, M.W., Vol. 1, p. 65)
No matter what, maintain your faith as a votary of the Lotus Sutra, and forever exert yourself as Nichiren`s disciple. If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a Bodhisattva of the Earth. And since you are a Bodhisattva of the Earth, there is not the slightest doubt that you have been a disciple of the Buddha from the remote past. The Yujutsu chapter states, "I have taught these people since the remote past." There should be no discrimination among those who propagate the five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo in the Latter Day of the Law, be they men or women. Were they not Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they could not chant the Daimoku. Only I, Nichiren, at first chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, but then two, three and a hundred followed, chanting and teaching others. Likewise, propagation will unfold this way in the future. (Shinpen, p. 665, M.W., Vol. 1, p.93)
Nichire`s believers, who chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo are the descendants of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.(Shinpen, 1764)
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