Does Nichren Shoshu teach being compassionate to others and if so, what does that even mean?

Post Reply
bcol01
Posts: 365
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 10:20 pm

Does Nichren Shoshu teach being compassionate to others and if so, what does that even mean?

Post by bcol01 »

Everything I've come across in Nichiren Shoshu just basically says, chant. I realize that compassion was the root of why the Buddha wanted to eliminate suffering, so what does Nichiren Shoshu teach about it other than, just chant?
In his writing, Hokkemongu (Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra), The Great Master Nichiren said, “If the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra wholeheartedly devote their life to the Lotus Sutra and practice according to its golden words, it is certainly needless to say that not only in the next life, but also in this lifetime they will overcome severe difficulty, prolong their life, receive the great, good fortune of unsurpassed enlightenment, and accomplish the great vow of the widespread, propagation of True Buddhism.”
narhwal90
Global Moderator
Posts: 3509
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:10 am
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Does Nichren Shoshu teach being compassionate to others and if so, what does that even mean?

Post by narhwal90 »

Perhaps consider the example of Nichiren in his goshos, how he shows gratitude, patience, compassion, encouragement towards his parents, followers, teachers.
bcol01
Posts: 365
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 10:20 pm

Re: Does Nichren Shoshu teach being compassionate to others and if so, what does that even mean?

Post by bcol01 »

Truth
narhwal90 wrote: Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:52 pm Perhaps consider the example of Nichiren in his goshos, how he shows gratitude, patience, compassion, encouragement towards his parents, followers, teachers.
In his writing, Hokkemongu (Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra), The Great Master Nichiren said, “If the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra wholeheartedly devote their life to the Lotus Sutra and practice according to its golden words, it is certainly needless to say that not only in the next life, but also in this lifetime they will overcome severe difficulty, prolong their life, receive the great, good fortune of unsurpassed enlightenment, and accomplish the great vow of the widespread, propagation of True Buddhism.”
illarraza
Posts: 1257
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 4:30 am

Re: Does Nichren Shoshu teach being compassionate to others and if so, what does that even mean?

Post by illarraza »

bcol01 wrote: Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:10 pm Everything I've come across in Nichiren Shoshu just basically says, chant. I realize that compassion was the root of why the Buddha wanted to eliminate suffering, so what does Nichiren Shoshu teach about it other than, just chant?
Compassion is one of the four Infinite virtues...From the SGI dictionary...
"Four infinite virtues: Boundless pity, compassion, joy, and impartiality. Pity here means to give living beings delight or happiness. Compassion means to remove their suffering. Joy means to rejoice at seeing them become free from suffering and gain happiness. And impartiality means to abandon attachments to love and hatred and be impartial toward everyone."
BritNYC
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2019 11:20 am

Re: Does Nichren Shoshu teach being compassionate to others and if so, what does that even mean?

Post by BritNYC »

Compassion is to do Shakubuku, to help others eradicate their suffering and attain enlightenment in ones present form, to show others the power of the Gohonzon so they can eradicate negative Karma.
Post Reply

Return to “Nichiren Shoshu”