The 9 Worlds Working Through the Buddha State

How the Buddha state works through the other nine worlds

[These are Excerpts from the YouTube recording of Richard Causton's lecture on the Gosho On Attaining Buddhahood in This lifetime]

Hell - If one is in state of buddha, even the slightest glimpse of hell will be enough to force one immediately back into buddhahood. That is the reaction of the state of hell when one's buddha state is the main tendency. The other way it can be used is to feel another person's suffering. When someone else tells their tale of woe, the person can relate. They can put in a hand and help that person out. They can feel it for a moment or two just as the other person can feel it. The existence of hell even in a buddha is a constant driving force for him to remain a buddha. Buddha is a human being. Unless he is chanting nmrk, and is aware of hte other nine worlds, he ll never last as a buddha for very long

Hunger - Hunger in a buddha can be for example a yearning for kosen rufu. Constant yearning or desire to see a peaceful happy world. And of course see himself and other action to create such a world.

Animality - It is an instinctive world. The world in which the animal instinct preserves us as a species. When buddha is the tendency of one's life, one's instinct is always to preserve oneself so that one can fulfil one's purpose in life to the fullest. When you are in the state of Buddha, you find yourself taking more care of yourself than before - being more aware of what you are eating maybe, or you are sleeping enough or if you are really exhausted, you rest. This is the wisdom of Buddha. Working instinctively thorugh the state of animality to preserve you so that you can fulfil your mission

Anger  - Anger becomes passion. No one without passion can achieve kosen rufu or any thing remarkable. So with passion for kosen rufu, such a driving force for the peace of the world rises through the buddha state in the world of anger.

Tranquility - In Buddha state, iti s the time to rest mind and body so that one can generate the energy to continue with the great task of living a fulfiling a valuable life. Tranquility is used by a person in the state of buddhas to prepare themselves for another great effort, another great leap forward

Rapture - It is a passing joy. A state of life one rarely stays in for very long as in this state we tend to be stupid, and not look where we are going. But for the buddha, rapture is a passing joy, which very quickly turns into gratitude. Gratitude is not rapture but gratitude is a wonderful feeling. Rapture arises when you achieved your result, with a person in a buddha state, it turns into gratitude and from gratitude to the determination to achieve even more. So this is where rapture works in the state of buddhahood.

Learning - Learning is to master some subject, some area of knowledge. This is in order to establish oneself in a position in society which is valuable. And from there one can create the greateest influence for the good and happiness of others around them.

Absorption - This is the power to concentrate on some particular aspect in order to teach others and in order of course first to master it oneself.

Bodhisatva - This is the world where buddhahood expresses itself most fully in the desire to help others and to change society for the better.

If You Have Time to Brood, You Have Time to Chant

The Gosho teaches that benefits come from chanting daimoku. Nowhere does it say that you can obtain benefits by complaining, even if you do so a million times.

Some of you may be worried because of your mates, children or parents. But so long as you merely complain about them, you will not be able to solve your problem. Instead, resolve to turn your anxiety into an impetus for changing your karma, into a springboard for attaining enlightenment - in other words, into a good influence. Then muster your power of faith and practice, and chant and chant until you have solved your problem. Only your faith in the Gohonzon can enable you to do this.

- Guidance, Why is Faith Necessary Vol I, World Tribune Press

Thoughts - I love how this guidance instructs one to chant instead of simply complain. I remember this one funny guidance a senior gave saying 'instead of opening the bottle in the evening, open your butsudan.'
It then says to 'muster' your power of faith....Meaning, its not going to come out freely from your life like free-flowing salt when you are low. You will have to drag/coax/nudge/cajole it out..like taking out those last drops of that thick tomato ketchup.
Don't you have to do that? When you are low? So hard to open that butsudan no? But if you muster your power of faith at that time and chant for even five minutes at that time, you have won in that moment and changed a part of your karma at that moment.

Winter turns into spring

Winter turns into spring; it does not become autumn. This is an unchanging principle of nature. In the same way, the Daishonin says, those who uphold the Mystic Law, the great teaching for gaining enlightenment, will never fail to become Buddhas or remain in the deluded state of an ordinary, unenlightened person. As the Buddha promises in the Lotus Sutra, those who hear and embrace the Mystic Law will all attain Buddhahood without a single exception. This is a universal principle of life.

From the Buddha's perspective, everyone has a right to happiness. Everyone has the potential to lead a life brimming with joy. we who uphold Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, moreover, know how to tap the Mystic Law in our lives. That is why we not only have a right to happiness but also have an important mission to help others actualize true happiness in their lives as well.

"Winter always turns into spring" means that ordinary people who triumph over all challenges they encounter in the course of their Buddhist practice will definitely become Buddhas. The Daishonin's words are a mighty lion's roar, proclaiming that his disciples - whose lives are dedicated to enabling others to awaken to and manifest the Buddhahood that inherently exists within them - cannot fail to attain enlightenment.
- Daisaku Ikeda

30 Key Goshos for YWD

Please find below the list of 30 writings of Nichiren Daishonin recommended for YWD to study in Japan as mentioned in the Newsletter 8432 "The Joyful Springtime of Ikeda Kayo Kai."

1.On Est. the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land
2.Opening of the Eyes
3. Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind
4.Selection of the Times
5.On Repaying the Debts of Gratitude
6.On Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime
7.On Practicing the Buddha's Teaching
8. On the Buddha's Prophecy
9.Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra
10.Letter from Sado

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11.On Prolonging One's Lifespan
12. Lessening One's Karmic Retribution
13. The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood (Soya dono gohenji)
14.Letter to the Brothers
15. Reply to Kyo'o
16.The Three Kinds of Treasure
17.On Persecutions Befalling a Sage
18. Strategy of the Lotus Sutra (Shijo Kingo dono gohenji)
19. The Supremacy of the Law
20.The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon (Nichinyo gozen gohenji)

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21. Winter Always Turns to Spring
22.On the Treasure Tower
23. The Drum at the Gate of Thunder
24.The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life
25. The True Aspect of All Phenomena
26. Many in Body, One in Mind
27.The Kalpa of Decrease
28.Hell is the Land of Tranquil Light
29. The Dragon Gate
30. The Proof of the Lotus Sutra

Importance of Gosho Study- NHR

Shinichi concluded that this (walking unerringly on the path to happiness) could only be achieved by each member engraving the teachings of the Gosho in their lives and making the Gosho their foundation. The Daishonin's writings are clearly expressed in his writings. The Gosho elucidates the laws of life and guidelines for our behaviour and existence in this world; it explains why it is important to strive hard in the buddhist practice and why obstacles and persecution beset those who uphold the True Law. Reading the Gosho also helps a person understand and appreciate the Daishonin's spirit and indomitable conviction. This would serve as a driving force for people's faith, giving rise to courage, hope and wisdom and forming a solid foundation for thier lives.
To achieve this, Shin'ichi felt it vital to establish the Gakkai spirit as an integral core of each person's life and that this be achieved through promoting a great study movement - not one dedicated to abstract buddhist theory but to living buddhist principles relevant to actual practice.
From the NHR Volume 6, Acceleration Chapter.  

NHR - Sensei's Guidance

From NHR  Vol 9  Page212  Very encouraging guidance from Sensei - Mrs Usha

Faith is meaningless unless we carry it through until the very end.  If we dont persevere in faith , we cant transform our karma or build a foundation for genuine happiness.  But people have a tendency to be defeated by their own weakness. They may practise in earnest for a time, but then grow cowardly when faced with opposition or criticism  to their faith.  Or when they fall ill or hit a deadlock, they may become fainthearted and start having doubts.

Others abandon their faith because of a grudge held against another member arising from some minor personal conflict and then leave the Soka Gakkai the harmonious community of lay believers with a direct connection to the Buddha.  To avoid this, it is important that we base our lives not on our subjective emotions but on the teachings of Buddhism and the Gosho. 

Tell Us Your Favorite Gosho Line

Deeksha's favorite Gosho passage is from "Happiness in this world,"

"Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. no matter what happens. How could this be anything other than the boundless joy of the Law?"

What is yours? Comment below :)