Ongi kuden
Ongi kuden (御義口伝 (就註法華経口伝)) or "The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings" is a text in Nichiren Buddhism. Ongi Kukden is Nichiren's oral teachings (kuden[1]) on the Lotus Sutra, which his disciple and successor Nikko recorded and compiled.[2] (An English translation can be read on the Internet.)
Some practitioners of Nichiren's teachings regard Ongi kuden as one of the most important treatises in Nichiren's writings, with a reason Ongi kuden reveals the essential principles of Nichiren's teachings.(cf.[3][4][5])
The structure of Ongi Kuden
Ongi kuden is a series of lectures on important sentences and phrases of the Lotus Sutra, and includes the following lectures:
- The meaning of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
- Each of the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra (231 items)
- The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra and the Universal Worthy Sutra
- The essential passage in each of the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra
Concepts
Ongi kuden elucidates the following theories and concepts, with the ways of practices:[6]
- The Buddhism of sowing is superior to the Buddhism of the harvest in the Latter day (Mappō) [7]
- Three Great Secret Laws (Dharmas)
- Honzon (The object of devotion) in terms of the Person (Nin Honzon[8]), The object of devotion in terms of the Law (Ho Honzon[9]), and The oneness of the Person and the Law (Nin-po Ikka)
- Kuon-ganjo (referring to the Mystic Law, uncreated and eternal, of the Buddha of beginning-less time)
- Oneness of body and mind
- Three bodies and Three truths
- The mutual possession of the Ten Worlds and Three thousand realms in a single moment of life (Ichinen-sanzen)
- World peace
- Eternal happiness
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, as the core practice of Nichiren's teachings,[10] is weighted on heavily with great significance on Ongi-Kuden.
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the greatest of all joys. [11]
In addition, this is explained with the Q&A that why “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” is placed at the beginning of the Ongi kuden because it is the core of all (of Shakamuni ‘s) teachings, and is the essence of the Lotus Sutra. According to Nichiren, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the backbone of all teachings and is the basis of the mechanism of the universe; in addition, unless we base it on Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter how much we read or study Shakyamuni’s supreme teaching, the Lotus Sutra, we cannot read or study the Lotus Sutra in a true sense.
Briefly, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is explained in Ongi kuden as follows:[12]
| Phrase | Chinese | Sanscrit | Literal meaning | Interpretation in Ongi kuden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nam | 南無 | Sad | Devotion | Dedication of one’s life to the truth of Myoho-renge-kyo and the Buddha who embodies the truth,[13] in terms of both theory and practice |
| Myoho | 妙法 | Dharma | The mystic law | Ignorance and enlightenment are a single entity |
| Renge | 蓮華 | Puṇḍarīka | The lotus flower | Oneness of cause and effect |
| Kyo | 経 | Sūtra | Sutra or teachings | All phenomena through three existences of past, present, and future |
Debate on the authenticity
A large number of Nichiren's writings, in particular those collected and published by Soka Gakkai (called Gosho zenshu[14]), has been doubted their authenticity (i.e., pseudepigrapha) whether the texts were truly written by Nichiren (or even by the approved personnel) or not (also see "level of authenticity"),[15] and Ongi kuden, which in particular has been said to be compiled by Nikko as not the Nichiren himself, is in the debate. (e.g., A discussion by Kaishu Shigyo[16])
Footnotes
- ^ Michael, Saso (1987). "" Kuden": The Oral Hermeneutics of Tendai Tantric Buddhism". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 14: 235–246.
- ^ Keijin, Mamiya (2011). "Bibliographical Researches on Nichiren's Works and their Results [in Japanese]". Minobu Ronso. 16: 179–242.
- ^ Kenji, Mamiya (2006). "A sketch of studies in Nichiren's doctrine: centering on some modern scholarts in Nichiren-Shu [in Japanese]". Journal,Research Institute of Eastern Culture. 10: 69–122.
- ^ Makoto, Shinohara (2003). "Josei Toda and Students : The 50th Anniversary of the "Lotus sutra Study Group" of Tokyo University Students [in Japanese]". Journal of Soka education research. 2: 177–184.
- ^ Daisaku, Ikeda (1999). The New Human Revolution, vol 6. Soka Gakkai.
- ^ Daisaku, Ikeda (1967). Ongi kuden kougi.
- ^ This is a superiority Nichiren's followers have argued that Nichiren formulized the law and phenomena described in Buddhist teachings, namely Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, in order for everyone to practice and achieve the enlightenment. However, some have misunderstood that the practitioners must follow the Nichiren's teachings exclusively and renounce the others, but the intention of superiority is to incorporate the value of everything with proper evaluation - which is called the position of 'Zettai myo' - and Nichiren suggested to cherish the Shakyamuni's teachings or every other valuable thoughts and philosophy, and respect people, as a view that everyone can attain Buddhahood (no genetic inability for enlightenment). Frankly speaking, it can be explained as a metaphor that we can enjoy the movement of stars or utilize the power of pendulum (i.e. the phenomena preached in the Lotus Sutra) holistically with Newton's Equation of motion (i.e., Nam-myoho-renge-kyo).
- ^ cf. Kaimoku sho (The Opening of the Eyes)
- ^ cf. Kanjin-no Honzon-sho (The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind)
- ^ Senyu, Nakamura (2015). "Nichiren's "Myojisoku" and "Kangyosoku" [in Japanese]". Journal of religious studies. 89: 308–309.
- ^ Burton, Watoson (trans) (2004). The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings. Soka Gakkai. p. 212.
- ^ Masatoshi, Ueki (2001). Gender equality in Buddhism. Peter Lang. pp. 136, 159–161. ISBN 0820451339.
- ^ also see Three Great Secret Laws
- ^ "The writings of Nichiren Daishonin".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ http://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/nichirenscoffeehouse.net/gosho.html
- ^ Nichiren Shu (1981). Nichiren Shu Jiten.