Difference between revisions of "Three mystic principles"
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| − | '''three mystic principles''' | + | '''[[three mystic principles]]''' |
[三妙] (Jpn san-myo ) | [三妙] (Jpn san-myo ) | ||
| − | The true cause, true effect, and true land, indicated in the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. The first three of the ten mystic principles of the essential teaching (latter half of the sutra) formulated by T'ient'ai (538-597) in the part of The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra in which he interprets the word myo, meaning wonderful or mystic, of Myoho-renge-kyo, the title of the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law. | + | The true [[cause]], true effect, and true land, indicated in the "[[Life]] Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the [[Lotus Sutra]]. The first three of the ten {{Wiki|mystic}} {{Wiki|principles}} of the [[essential]] [[teaching]] (latter half of the [[sutra]]) formulated by [[T'ient'ai]] (538-597) in the part of The Profound Meaning of the [[Lotus Sutra]] in which he interprets the [[word]] [[myo]], meaning wonderful or {{Wiki|mystic}}, of Myoho-renge-kyo, the title of the [[Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law]]. |
| − | The true cause is the practice that Shakyamuni Buddha undertook to reach his original enlightenment. The true effect is the original enlightenment that he attained. The true land is the place where the Buddha has been expounding his teachings since his original attainment of enlightenment. The fact that the "Life Span" chapter teaches these three together is called the integration of the three mystic principles. The mystic principle of the true cause is expressed in the passage of the "Life Span" chapter that reads, "Originally I practiced the bodhisattva way, and the life span that I acquired then has yet to come to an end." The mystic principle of the true effect is shown in the passage, "Since I attained Buddhahood, an extremely long period of time has passed." The passage that indicates the mystic principle of the true land is, "Ever since then I have been constantly in this saha world, preaching the Law, teaching and converting." | + | The true [[cause]] is the practice that [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] undertook to reach his original [[enlightenment]]. The true effect is the original [[enlightenment]] that he attained. The true land is the place where the [[Buddha]] has been expounding his teachings since his original [[attainment]] of [[enlightenment]]. The fact that the "[[Life]] Span" chapter teaches these three together is called the integration of the [[three mystic principles]]. The {{Wiki|mystic}} principle of the true [[cause]] is expressed in the passage of the "[[Life]] Span" chapter that reads, "Originally I practiced the [[bodhisattva way]], and the [[life]] span that I acquired then has yet to come to an end." The {{Wiki|mystic}} principle of the true effect is shown in the passage, "Since I attained [[Buddhahood]], an extremely long period of [[time]] has passed." The passage that indicates the {{Wiki|mystic}} principle of the true land is, "Ever since then I have been constantly in this [[saha world]], preaching the Law, [[teaching]] and converting." |
| − | In his 1273 treatise The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind, Nichiren explains the significance of the three mystic principles: "He [the Buddha of the theoretical teaching] revealed the hundred worlds and thousand factors inherent in life, but he did not expound their eternal nature.... The difference between the theoretical and the essential teachings is as great as that between heaven and earth. The latter reveals the eternity of the Ten Worlds and, further, the realm of the environment" (368). The true cause signifies the nine worlds eternally inherent in life, and the true effect, the Buddhahood eternally inherent in life. Together they reveal the eternity of the Ten Worlds. The true land signifies the realm of the environment, which is also eternal. These three represent "the actual three thousand realms in a single moment of life. | + | In his 1273 treatise [[The Object]] of Devotion for Observing the [[Mind]], [[Nichiren]] explains the significance of the [[three mystic principles]]: "He [the [[Buddha]] of the {{Wiki|theoretical}} [[teaching]]] revealed the hundred [[worlds]] and thousand factors inherent in [[life]], but he did not expound their [[eternal]] nature.... The [[difference]] between the {{Wiki|theoretical}} and the [[essential]] teachings is as great as that between [[heaven]] and [[earth]]. The latter reveals the eternity of the Ten [[Worlds]] and, further, the [[realm]] of the environment" (368). The true [[cause]] signifies the nine [[worlds]] eternally inherent in [[life]], and the true effect, the [[Buddhahood]] eternally inherent in [[life]]. Together they reveal the eternity of the Ten [[Worlds]]. The true land signifies the [[realm]] of the environment, which is also [[eternal]]. These three represent "the actual three thousand [[realms]] in a single moment of [[life]]. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Revision as of 23:50, 5 September 2013
three mystic principles
[三妙] (Jpn san-myo )
The true cause, true effect, and true land, indicated in the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. The first three of the ten mystic principles of the essential teaching (latter half of the sutra) formulated by T'ient'ai (538-597) in the part of The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra in which he interprets the word myo, meaning wonderful or mystic, of Myoho-renge-kyo, the title of the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law.
The true cause is the practice that Shakyamuni Buddha undertook to reach his original enlightenment. The true effect is the original enlightenment that he attained. The true land is the place where the Buddha has been expounding his teachings since his original attainment of enlightenment. The fact that the "Life Span" chapter teaches these three together is called the integration of the three mystic principles. The mystic principle of the true cause is expressed in the passage of the "Life Span" chapter that reads, "Originally I practiced the bodhisattva way, and the life span that I acquired then has yet to come to an end." The mystic principle of the true effect is shown in the passage, "Since I attained Buddhahood, an extremely long period of time has passed." The passage that indicates the mystic principle of the true land is, "Ever since then I have been constantly in this saha world, preaching the Law, teaching and converting."
In his 1273 treatise The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind, Nichiren explains the significance of the three mystic principles: "He [the Buddha of the theoretical teaching] revealed the hundred worlds and thousand factors inherent in life, but he did not expound their eternal nature.... The difference between the theoretical and the essential teachings is as great as that between heaven and earth. The latter reveals the eternity of the Ten Worlds and, further, the realm of the environment" (368). The true cause signifies the nine worlds eternally inherent in life, and the true effect, the Buddhahood eternally inherent in life. Together they reveal the eternity of the Ten Worlds. The true land signifies the realm of the environment, which is also eternal. These three represent "the actual three thousand realms in a single moment of life.
