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The Prose & Verse of The Lotus Sutra
Measuring the Life of The One That Has Come - Chapter 16
Page 4
An explanation of the chapter's title:
The One That Has Come (Nyorai):
This is the general
title of all the Buddhas in the ten directions from the past, the present and
the future; of the Two Buddhas, the Three Buddhas, and the source and manifestation
of the Buddhas. More specifically it is the title of the original threefold body
of
enlightenment.
Measuring the Life (Juryo):
This describes the measure
of the merits & virtues of all the Buddhas in the ten directions from the
past, the present and the future; of the Two Buddhas, the Three Buddhas, and
the source and manifestation of the Buddhas. Now it is the main description of
the merits & virtues coming from the original threefold body of enlightenment.
Therefore this is called:
The Chapter on
Measuring the Life of The One That Has Come (Nyorai Juryo Hon).
The name The One That Has Come
(Nyorai) has a very important meaning - we will now clarify the ideas of the duality
and the trinity of The One That Has Come - this will make other illustrations easier to understand.
The Duality of The One That Has Come:
The Discourse on The Attainment of Reality1 says:
“The vehicle that comes into this world from the path of absolute reality and attains
enlightenment is called The One That Has Come”.
Upon awakening to the meaning of the spiritual
path, the vehicle comes
into this world from the path of absolute reality and attains enlightenment. This is called The Spiritual
Body
of The One That Has Come2.
Because of the wisdom of absolute reality, the vehicle is on the path of absolute
reality. It
comes and is born into the threefold existence of this world5 and
is revealed as having become truly enlightened. This is called
The Body that is the Living Response of The One That Has Come4.
The Trinity of The One That Has Come:
The Great Discourse6 says:
“In understanding according to the Dharma and teaching according to the Dharma
we speak of The One That Has Come.”
A. The Absolutely True Object:
Being neither cause nor effect, with or without a Buddha enlightened to it, its
nature and appearance are always as they are, being the same everywhere in all
places. Therefore it is said to be ‘The One That (Is As-It-Is)’.
It is unchanging but upon appearing in this world it is said that it ‘Has Come’.
This indicates The Spiritual Body of The One That Has Come2.
B. The Absolutely True Wisdom:
The wisdom that comes from the absolutely true path of reality attains the
wonderful enlightenment. This wisdom is called ‘according to the principle of
reality’.
From the principle it is said to be ‘The One That (Is As-It-Is)’
From the wisdom it is said that it ‘Has Come’
This is The Body that is the Living Reward of The One That Has Come3.
Therefore The Discourse says:
“In understanding according to the Dharma…we speak of The One That Has Come”
C. By means of The Absolutely True Object & Wisdom Being Blended, one is here
and there able to reveal that which has truly become enlightened. Quicksilver
is blended with gold, with which one can paint images of many colors. Merits
and virtues are refined with the Spiritual Body,
which here and there responds, manifests and goes away. And so there are the eight signs
of attaining enlightenment and the turning of the wheel of the Wonderful
Dharma.7
This is The Body that is the Living Response of The One
That Has Come4.
Therefore The Discourse says:
“In teaching according to the Dharma we speak of The One That Has Come"
Outline of Title Outline of Prose Ongi Kuden on this
Footnotes:
1. The Discourse on The Attainment of Reality: (S. Satyasiddhi Sastra) Written by Harivarman, translated into Chinese by Kumarajiva.
2. The Spiritual Body of The One That Has Come: (S. Dharma-kaya Tathagata) The Body of the Dharma, of Spiritual Truth, that is everywhere in all places whether one is aware of it or not. The embodiment of spirituality that pervades all things. The ground of the one mind, the spiritual realm; It could also be translated 'Spiritual Life'. It is the totality of what is, whether we are aware of it or not. It is everything that the materialist would call the world, or existence, but it is invested with life or spirit; What some might call God.
3. The Body that is the Living Reward of The One That Has Come: (S. Sambhoga-kaya Tathagata) Literally, The Body of Reward; The embodiment of wisdom and virtues that is awareness of the spiritual truth, and that is the reward of spiritual merit for the causes made on the spiritual path. Although a direct translation here would be 'body' (S. kaya) I have chosen to add the word 'living' to emphasize the fact that this 'body' is not just an inanimate mass but rather a living spiritual entity.
4. The Body that is the Living Response of The One That Has Come: (S. Nirmana-kaya Tathagata) Literally, The Body of Response; The manifestation of the Buddha; The body or, more precisely, life that is manifested in this world in response to the spiritual needs of living beings of faith.
5. The threefold existence: The past, present & future, that is, the temporal world that we all live in as mortal beings.
6. The Great Discourse: (S. Maha Prajna Paramita Sastra) Major work by Nagarjuna on The Sutra on the Perfection of the Great Wisdom (S. Maha Prajna Paramita Sutra) translated by Kumarajiva
7. The eight signs
of attaining enlightenment:
a. Descent into the Tusita Heaven awaiting
birth in this world
b. Entry into the womb
c. Birth into this world
d.
Leaving home
e. Subjugation of the devil
f. Attainment of enlightenment
g.
Teaching of the Dharma
h. Entering into Nirvana
The turning of the wheel of the Wonderful
Dharma: Teaching of the Dharma generally, and more specifically teaching
the The Lotus Sutra.
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Since July 9, 2001