The Confessional Samadhi of the Lotus Sutra

The Confessional Samadhi of the Lotus Sutra

Fa-Hua San-Mei Ch'an-I

This work, written by Chih-I, describes the liturgical practice of faith that he used. Kuang-Ting's introduction to The Great Calm-Observation (Mo-Ho Chih-Kuan) says:

"In ‘Calm-Observation’ (Chih-Kuan), the Wise One of T’ien T’ai taught the approach to the Dharma that he practiced in his own heart. Light filled up the room as he presented his two pupils that had practiced the Confession of the Lotus Sutra and raised up the Dharani."

This seminal work describes the object of worship that was later revealed pictorially as the Gohonzon of Nichiren. This is also the earliest work that expresses the mantra later promulgated by Nichiren.

Note: Because of the relevance of this work to Nichiren's Buddhism, the liturgical mantras are transliterated into Japanese rather than Chinese for this translation.

An Outline of "The Confessional Samadhi of the Lotus Sutra":

A. On Cultivating the Confession of the Lotus Sutra for Three Weeks (Page 1)

B. The Prerequisites for the Three Weeks Practice (Page 2)

C. Clarifying the Proper Method for Entering Into the Bodhimandala for Three Weeks and Cultivating One's Practice with Diligence and a Single Mind (Page 3)

D. The Method for Entering Into the Bodhimandala & Properly Cultivating the Practice (Page 4)

1. Adorning and Purifying the Bodhimandala (Page 5)

2. Purifying the Body (Page 5)

3. Offering Service in Thought, Word, and Deed (Page 6)

4. Requesting the Three Treasures (Page 7)

5. Praising the Three Treasures (Page 8)

6. Worshipping the Buddha (Page 9)

7. The Confession of the Six Senses, and (Page 10-16)