Meditations

“Even if I should lose my life, fall into hell and receive innumerable sufferings, I should never slander the Righteous Law of the buddhas. . .” The Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue.

  Forty-two years now and counting, and asking the question, from the outset of practice of the Lotus Sutra, commencing in the autumn of 1976, have I ever once turned away from, doubted, or given up on the teachings of the Buddha, or on any of the “Righteous Laws of the enlightened ones, the buddhas”? Yes, there’ve been times when consistency has faltered, the Mandala which proclaims devotion to the Lotus Sutra tucked away and not at the center of meditation; perhaps some days altogether not meditating on the sutra for one reason or another. (Happily, commencing in the year 2000, continuing with  consistent daily devotion to the teachings of the Buddha in the Threefold Lotus Sutra, except for a few weeks in hospital for one reason or another, yet always with the English translation of the Threefold Lotus Sutra at my bedside.)

  It can be stated unequivocally, never once doubting, questioning, or turning away from “the Righteous Law” – from the teachings of the Buddha.  As Nikkyo Niwano puts it:  “We do not worship a thing, a spirit, or a god existing outside ourselves, but devote ourselves to the Law which causes us to live, and unites us with it.”

  Also to note: in the myriad writings read from the great teachers, from scientists and others which have been essayed, mostly through the blog, Ancestral Well—all are consistent with and supportive of the teachings of the Buddha and the Lotus Sutra, the One Vehicle Sutra which embodies all those teachings.

  Herewith are presented, quotes from some of those meditations and essays.