I gave a sermon about the Never-Despising Bodhisattva (Jo Hu Kyo Bosatsu) on October 5, Today, I would like to give a sermon about what kind a person is a Bodhisattva (Bosatsu).

The Indian word for one who seeks enlightenment is Bodhi-sattva. The Chinese transliterated this into the four character Bodaisatta , and the Japanese took the first and third characters to make Bosatsu . Therefore, while Bodhisattva refers to someone who is seeking enlightenment, it was used as the name by which the Buddha was first called before he attained enlightenment. Once he awakened, he became Buddha, but in referring to him before enlightenment, his disciples and believers called him “Bodhisattva”. With the appearance of Greater-Vehicle Buddhism or Mahayana Buddhism a drastic change occurs. According to Greater-Vehicle Buddhism, anyone can become a Buddha. So, everyone who seeks to save others and achieve enlightenment oneself can be called a Bodhisattva. Therefore, you and I as well as anyone else who decides to take the path of Buddhism are Bodhisattva. In other words, by following the teaching of Buddhism, the Six Paramitas (Rokuharamitsu) or the Six Bodhisattva Practices, we’ll become Bodhisattva. So, I’d like to explain about the Six Paramitas.

1. GENEROLJSITY (fuse)
To give of our time and our love to all, to share, to be helpful in everyway, without expecting any return.

2. MORALITY (jikai)
To think, speak and act in the kindest way so that we do not offend.

3. PATWNCE (ninniku):
To be patient and to be thankful for every lesson learned, to be forgiving, to be free of bearing
grudges or finding fault, to have the will-power to carry out our daily tasks.

4. PERSEVERANCE (shojin)
To try hard, at all times, to follow the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha, to practice those rules taught in the Six Paramitas.

5. MEDITATION (zenjo)
To think about our goal in life, to take time each day to chant “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo”.

6. WISDOM (chie)
To remember that the light and the love of Sakyamuni Buddha’s Teachings take away the darkness of ignorance.

And within Greater-vehicle Buddhism arose another concept of Bodhisattva. There are an infinite number of living beings in the world of illusion. If one tried to save them all before becoming a Buddha oneself, then one could never achieve Buddhahood. There arose the concept of the Bodhisattva who on his own chooses the austere Path of continuing to try to save all sentient beings. These are the Bodhisatwa Kannon, , Fugen, and Miroku. These Bodhisattva are infinitely close to Buddhas In summary, there are three ways in which Bodhisattva is used.

1. The name of the Buddha before his awakening

2. Those who make up their minds to pursue the path

3. Bodhisattva identical to Buddhas who seek to save all living beings.

And further more, Bodhisattva given to highly ranked priests or highly respected such as NICHIREN Dai Shonin. NICHIREN Dai Shonin was exiled to Sado Island on October 10th in 1271. In February 1272, he wrote the Kaimokusho at Tsukahara in Sado Island. In order to reveal himself as the True Teacher, he had earlier written his Great Oaths. “I deem myself the pillar of Japan, the Eye of Japan and the Huge Ship in which Japan may reach its goal. I will not break these vows”.

Now, having survived the banishment to Izu, the ambush at Komatsubara the execution at Tatsunokuchi, and other persecutions, he was convinced that he was the reincarnation of Jogyo Bodhisattva. This Bodhisattva, according to the Lotus Sutra of Chapter 15, was the leader of those saints who sprang from the earth at the appearance of the stupa of the Many Treasures Buddha.

And, NICHIREN Dai Shomn’s goal was to spread teaching of the Lotus Sutra to all over the world and make this world a peaceful place, Buddha Land through the O-Daimoku. So, let us study the vow of Sakyamuni Buddha through our Founder, NICHIREN Dai Shonin. Realizing ourselves as the Bodhisattvas Emerged from the Earth, let us together strive to practice the Bodhisattva way.