The Confessional Samadhi of the Lotus Sutra, continued...

The Confessional Samadhi of the Lotus Sutra, page 2

B. The Prerequisites for the Three Week Practice

There are two kinds of practice:
1. The beginners' practice
2. The long-term practice

To instruct those just starting out, it is necessary to use the beginners' practice. To instruct those that have cultivated longer, we rely upon the 14^th Chapter of The Lotus Sutra called The Practice of Peace and Contentment.

To practice the confession it is first necessary to perform certain prerequisites. Why is this so? If one hastily enters into the Sanctuary of Enlightenment¹ and does not first adorn and purify one's body and mind, the Bodhi Mind will not be inspired and one's practice will not be accordance with the teaching. One will not be in sympathy with the sanctuary of enlightenment and no one will come down into it². It is therefore necessary to subdue one's mind and cease attachments to any other business or obligations for a week before doing the main confession.

One offers service to the Three Treasures³, adorning the sanctuary of enlightenment and wearing clean clothing when doing so.
One focuses one's thoughts with singleness of mind.
One remembers the evil deeds one has committed in this life as well as those which as been compiled from past generations. Bearing heavy shame and humility, one worships the Buddha and confesses.
One walks, one chants the Sutra, and one practices observation of the mind in seated meditation⁴.
One raises a vow of determination to properly practice this Samadhi so that the body and mind will be pure and without obstacles.
One vows with all one’s heart to achieve complete success.

It is also necessary to chant the confessions described later and penetrate them completely.

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Footnotes:

1. The Sanctuary of Enlightenment: The Bodhimandala, the place of enlightenment.

2. 'One will not be in sympathy with the sanctuary': One will not be capable of spiritually invoking the Three Treasures - 'No one will come down into it': The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, including all the good spirits of heaven, will not respond and enter into the Bodhimandala.

3. The Three Treasures: The Buddha (the teacher), the Dharma (the teaching), The Sangha (the taught)

4. Walking, Chanting, Meditating: These three practices will be explained in detail later

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