March 2021
SACRED WORDS
“Each phrase and character of this sutra is truly a Buddha. The teachings of the Buddha truly benefit all living beings. Upon hearing this sutra once, you will have heard all the Teachings, as this sutra contains all the Dharma. Even though you have not practiced the Six Paramitas, the Paramitas will appear naturally in your mind. All negative karma and sufferings come from delusion. All negative karma will disappear just as the morning dew disappears with the morning sun.”
Senkyo Chodai by Nichiren
聖語
一々の文々是れ真仏なり。真仏の説法は衆生を利す。ひとたび聞けば能く一切の法を保つが故に、未だ六波羅蜜を修行する事を得ずと雖も、六波羅蜜自然に在前せん。一切の業障海は皆妄想より生ず。衆罪は霜露の如く恵日能く消除す。
日蓮聖人『撰経頂戴文』
The Six Practices to Reach the Other Shore, Hi’gan
Rev. Shokai Kanai
Higan or “the other shore” is the week; three days before the equinox and three days after the equinox during Spring and Autumn. During this week we, Buddhists, hold Higan memorial service at temples and visit cemeteries or columbarium for our ancestors. This is typically a Japanese Buddhist custom only.
Why is it only a Japanese custom? This is because when Buddhism was introduced into Japan during the 6th Century, this new foreign religion and culture were practiced only by the imperial family and noble classes. Then, Emperor Kanmu (781-806) wished that the teaching of the Middle Way and Harmony of Buddha’s compassion should inspire the ordinary people as well. So, the emperor officially announced to hold a holiday during the equinoxes of both Spring and Autumn. The reason for the holidays was for the public, especially farmers and peasants, to rest on the middle day of both Higans, after seeding in Spring and before harvest in Autumn, to show their appreciation toward their ancestors, to cherish all living beings, and to admire nature.
Today we hardly see farmers around us, but there are many people who work hard day and night and suffer from poverty, debt, human relationships, sickness, and advanced age. Therefore, Buddha says that “this shore” is full of suffering. The cause of suffering is ignorance, attachment, and anger. When we are free from these sufferings, we will reach “the other shore” or Higan. How to reach “the other shore” is to practice the Six Paramitas as follows:
Offering = To give something to others
Keeping the rules = to follow the rules where you belong
Perseverance = to be patient
Effort = to strive or not to give up
Concentration = to control you mind righteously
Wisdom = to realize truth of all things
The above six practices are always inter-related. For instance, when you give something to others, your action involves following the rules, knowing patience of the best time to give, continuing the act of giving, knowing the right way to give, and realizing the beneficial gift for him or her. Not only are these practices for your sake but also for others’ sake, too. Therefore, the Six Paramita is the Way of Bodhisattvas.
The Six Paramitas are not only to be practice during Higan seasons, but also as everyday practice. In other words, when you suffer from sickness, old age, human relationships, and debt; this world is shi-gan. When you are satisfied with daily life and happy at every moment, you are on “the other shore,” HI-GAN. By practicing the Six Paramitas daily, we relieve our suffering as we gradually move more towards “the other shore” and realizing our inner Buddha.
This month’s SACRED WORDS are a part of the special prayer that you hear at the end of Kito blessing every first Sunday. This means that even if you cannot practice the Six Paramitas, once you see and hear the Lotus Sutra, your bad karma and suffering will vanish just as if the morning dew which naturally evaporates when the sun shines. To practice chanting Odaimoku is to perform the Six Paramitas.
彼岸（悟り）に至るための６つの修行
金井勝海
彼岸とは３月の春分の日と９月の秋分の日を中日とした前後１週間を彼岸と言います。この時期にお寺の彼岸会法要に参列したり、お墓や納骨堂にお参りして先祖供養をする事は、日本仏教特有の習慣です。
なぜ、そうなったのでしょうか？それは、六世紀に仏教が日本にもたらされ、天皇を中心とした皇族と知識階級の人々だけが信仰していました。しかし、仏様の教えを一般の人々にも恩恵がいくようと願い、桓武天皇（７８１～８０６）の代に、春の種まきが終わって農夫が一休みして自然をたたえ生物をいつくしみ、先祖を敬むように、秋には収穫前の一休みをして先祖だけでなく自然や動物にも感謝をするようと休日をもうけたのが始まりと言われています。
現在の私共の周りには農業を営んでいる人はほとんど見あたりません。しかし、病気や借金や人間関係や仕事で悩み苦しんでいる人は大勢います。この悩み苦しい世界を此岸と呼びます。その悩み苦しむ原因である無知や怒りや煩悩から解放されて、穏やかに過ごせる世界を彼岸と呼びます。
その理想の世界に至るための修行が次の六波羅蜜です。
布施＝人に施す事、
持戒＝規則を守る事、
忍辱＝我慢する事、
精進＝努力する事、
禅定＝心を乱さない事、
知恵=この世の真実を知る事
以上６つの修行はお互いに補いあっています。つまり、施しをするにも持戒や我慢や忍耐や精進や禅定や智慧が伴ってきます。また一つひとつの修行が自分の為であり、同時に他人の為になっているので菩薩の修行と言われています。
六波羅蜜の修行はお彼岸の時期だけにするのではなく、毎日行っていることであり、行わなければならない修行です。
つまり、日々のあなたの生活が苦しい、つらい、いやだと思っていれば此岸であり、「自分は幸せだ」と思っているなら彼岸です。その状態が長く続けば理想の世となります。
今月の聖語の内容は、毎月の法楽加持の時に私が撰経を持ち参詣者の皆様にお経を差し上げる時に唱える日蓮大聖人のお言葉の一部です。譬え六波羅蜜の修行が出来ないひとでも、法華経を見聞きしていれば、露が朝日にあたると自然に消えるように、私共の犯した罪も知らず知らずのうちに消えて、罪障消滅できるという有難いお言葉です。