Lotus Sutra Study Program Conclusion - The Sutra on Contemplating Bodhisattva Universal Sage

The final chapter of the Threefold Lotus Sutra: The Sutra of the Method for Contemplating Bodhisattva Universal Sage
"“Universal Good will put their minds at ease, hearing the profound teaching, will comprehend its meaning and hold it in their memory without forgetting it. As they do this day after day, their minds will gradually become sharper. Universal Good will teach the practitioners to recall and remember the buddhas in the ten directions. By following the teaching of Universal Good, the practitioners will become correct in mind and thought, and they will gradually come to see, in their mind’s eye, a buddha of the eastern quarter, whose golden body is majestically aligned and dignified. Having seen one buddha, they will see another buddha, and so on and so forth, gradually seeing all the buddhas everywhere in the eastern quarter. Because their mental faculties have become sharper, they will see all the buddhas everywhere in the ten directions.”
These sessions are a different approach to studying the Lotus Sutra, they are a personal approach to the Lotus Sutra and not academic, theoretical, or dogmatic. The Lotus Sutra is best viewed as stories and parables, never to be taken literally. The Lotus Sutra is a living breathing sutra. Seek insight into what does the Lotus Sutra say to you? It may be different for each or us. And it may change for you over time.
What does the Lotus Sutra mean to you, me, us, our practice?
I use four texts as guides for these presentations to help triangulate the meaning:
1) Two Buddhas Side by side - Stone/Lopez representing an academic viewpoint,
2) Buddhism for Today - Niwano representing a Lay Nichiren perspective,
3) Open Heart, representing a different sect of Buddhism’s viewpoint and
4) Ongi Kuden allegedly recorded from Nichiren oral lectures on My. Minobu.
I augment these four texts with with Nichiren Shu's Nichiren Buddhist Dictionary, Nichiren’s Gosho, Zhiyi’s Clear Serenity, Quiet Insight and SGI’s Nichiren Buddhist Library.
Buddha was just a human; like us! Given to mortal processes of birth, aging, sickness and death. As was Nichiren. They both found meaning and purpose in life through helping relieve suffering and guide people to happiness.
In their example we can find our own True Purpose.
The Sutra of the Method for Contemplating Bodhisattva Universal Sage
Themes:
Practice
“Listen Attentively and Deeply Ponder and Reflect”
How we change our karma, purify ourselves, and realize awakening
Tenfold Practice
Repentance - Self Power
Humility - Other Power
Actual Proof
What does The Sutra of the Method for Contemplating Bodhisattva Universal Sage mean to us in our daily life and practice?
Become your True Self
Be like Samantabhadra
Practice - without practice there is no awakening
Balance between effort and ease
Accept yourself, right now; good qualities and bad qualities
Accept the gap between the ideal and the actual
Take responsibility for your actions
Observe you are part of the whole
Have trust and confidence in the process-flow-Buddha-nature

[@Jon-ze2bw]

Hi, seems like your website is down.

[@TwoBuddhasMeditation]

Still in development, hopefully launching this week. Thank you for connecting.

[@Jon-ze2bw]

@@TwoBuddhasMeditation Ah, OK. Thanks for answering. Any courses coming up?

[@danielrichard7575]

'Promo SM' 😀