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“Welcome to Singularity Chanting.” This is a world where chanting is performed in the Metaverse. Here, you can experience clearing the mind’s filters without being trapped by ego or delusions. Feel the spirit of Nichiren, who lived a harsh life on the frigid Sado Island, and start a journey to achieve unity of mind and body. By deeply feeling the connection between yourself and others, you can take a step closer to a more peaceful world.
Encouraging Words from Nichiren Daishonin’s Gosho:
Encouraging Passage from Nichiren Daishonin’s “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude”
Original Text
Should those who study the Buddha’s teachings forget the debts of gratitude they owe to their parents, teachers, and country? Even if they do not forget the debts owed to their parents, teachers, and country, they must not forget the Buddha’s teachings. Forgetting the Buddha’s teachings is akin to forgetting the debts owed to one’s parents, teachers, and country. For example, parents give birth to and raise their children, enabling them to reach adulthood and become monks for the sake of the Buddha’s teachings. A child who does not forget the debt owed to their parents should repay them by practicing the Buddha’s teachings. Forgetting the debt owed to one’s parents while remembering the Buddha’s teachings does not mean one truly remembers the parents’ debt. The same applies to teachers and one’s country.
Meaning
Those who study the Buddha’s teachings should never forget the debts of gratitude they owe to their parents, teachers, and country. Even if they remember these debts, they must not forget the Buddha’s teachings. Forgetting the Buddha’s teachings is equivalent to forgetting the debts owed to one’s parents, teachers, and country. For instance, parents give birth to and raise their children, enabling them to become monks for the sake of the Buddha’s teachings. Children who remember their parents’ debt should repay them by practicing the Buddha’s teachings. Forgetting the parents’ debt while remembering the Buddha’s teachings does not mean one truly remembers the parents’ debt. The same applies to teachers and one’s country.
Explanation
This passage is one of Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings in “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude.” Nichiren Daishonin emphasizes that those who study the Buddha’s teachings should first be grateful for the debts owed to their parents, teachers, and country and repay those debts.
Specifically, children should be filial to their parents, students should be grateful for their teachers’ teachings, and citizens should be loyal to their country.
However, Nichiren Daishonin further explains that the debt owed to the Buddha’s teachings is far greater than those other debts. The Buddha’s teachings guide us to the truth of life and free us from suffering.
Therefore, forgetting the Buddha’s teachings is the same as forgetting the debts owed to one’s parents, teachers, and country.
Encountering the Buddha’s teachings is a great fortune. By appreciating Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings and practicing Buddhism, we repay the debts owed to our parents, teachers, and country.
Source
- Nichiren Daishonin’s “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude”
This passage teaches us the importance of gratitude.
If we can maintain a sense of gratitude toward everyone involved in our lives, including our parents, teachers, and country, we can lead a more fulfilling life.
