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The World-Honored one was silent and did not try to detain them..
.it is well that these persons of overbearing arrogance have withdrawn
Shakyamuni did not stop them from leaving. Although these people could have
listened to the preaching of the Lotus Sutra, their supreme arrogance prevented
them from attaining enlightenment.
In Encouraging Devotion (Kanji; thirteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, there is a
description of three types of supremely arrogant individuals who persecute the
votaries of the Lotus Sutra in various ways. They are called the three powerful
enemies. The first group is extremely arrogant lay people (zokushuzojo man). The
second group is extremely arrogant priests (domonzojo man). The third group is
extremely arrogant false sages (senshozojo man). During his lifetime, Nichiren
Daishonin faced the three powerful enemies, including:
1. Nembutsu believers who criticised and denounced him
2. Priests of Nembutsu, Zen, and Ritsu sects who persecuted him with
defamatory accusations and slander
3. Authorities of the Kamakura government, such as Hei-no-saemon, who
subjected the Daishonin to persecutions, which included exiles and assaults
with swords and staves. The Daishonin revealed the fact that he was the
votary of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law.
Lets eliminate arrogance in our Faith and Practice
As you know, supreme arrogance and all other forms of arrogance are vastly
harmful and will interfere with our ability to achieve enlightenment. In the Gosho,
Attaining Enlightenment at the Initial Stage of Faith through the Lotus Sutra
(Hokkeshoshinjobutsu-sho), the Daishonin states:
You should understand this matter thoroughly, and, on the path of attaining
Buddhahood, chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo without arrogance or attachment to
biased views.
In order to attain enlightenment, the Daishonin teaches us that it is especially
important to practice this Buddhism dutifully and cast aside our arrogance and
attachment to biased views.
Nichigen Sonin, Thirty-third High Priest of the Head Temple, stated:
Just as rainwater never accumulates atop the steep mountains, how can those
upon the heights of arrogance expect the flow of the Law to settle there, so that
they may possibly attain the great path of enlightenment?
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In order words, Nichigen Shonin warned us that, in the same way that rainwater
never remains permanently on high peaks, people who have mountains of pride or
arrogance will find that the flow of the Law the heritage of faith that flows forth
from the Gohonzon- will never settle in their lives and enable them to achieve
enlightenment.
High Priest Nichinyo Shonin gave us guidance, relating the story of a well-known
middle-distance runner who was one of the best athletes in Japan. On one
occasion, he happened to drink sake wine on the day before the race. However, the
next day he won the race. From that point on, all the effort that heretofore had put
into his endeavour went to waste. It was his arrogance that did him in. He felt that
he was invincible, even if he drank alcohol the night before his races. He believed
that he could perform well. Thereafter, he gradually slackened in his training.
Before long, he was completely destroyed. Such was the account of the athlete.
This story is applicable to our Buddhist practice. Actually, it applies significantly
to all aspects of our life. We must never be lazy. The root cause of laziness is
arrogance, and lets be mindful of the fact that the first of the fourteen slanders is
arrogance (kyo man). Lets all practice assiduously and never have an arrogant
attitude in our faith. Furthermore, lets practice sincerely in the Hokkeko, treating
each other with respect and reverence, as we advance toward our goal for 2021 -to
establish a membership of 800000 hokkeko believers.
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