In this issue, I would like to share with you one of the bodhisattva’s six practices. I talked about that at the Higan Service on September 16, 2007. Here’s the Dharma Talk about Higan and the practice of Precept.

"We just had the Higan Service, today. What does "HIGAN" mean?  Higan in Japanese means to reach the other shore. Suppose there is a big, like the Nile or Amazon in front of you.  This shore on which you are now standing, is comparable to this world in which we live.  The water in the river is comparable to the sufferings we have.  The other shore, Higan, is comparable to the world of the Buddha's enlightenment.  You can still stay in this world, but, you are going to keep suffering.  If you want to be happy, you have to cross the river.  How can you cross the river?  When you look around, you will find some vessels.  Some of the vessels are big, some are small.  Some are made from iron, and some are made from wood.  Those vessels are called "religions".  If you don't believe anything, or don't want to believe, you may try to cross the river by swimming by yourself.  However, it's too deep and too fast-flowing a river to swim.   Besides, the other shore is too far away to reach just by swimming.

Now, you need to choose a vessel.  Of course, you want to choose the most secure, beautiful, comfortable and fastest vessel, don't you?

There is a huge vessel named the Buddha.  The captain of that vessel is Buddha Shakyamuni.  Before you get in the vessel, the captain asks you two things.  You must follow these two things in the vessel.  First, be compassionate.  Second, be respectful.  That's all. In the vessel, everyone, not only human beings but animals, plants, all living beings, even spiritual beings are treated equally and they respect each other.

Once the vessel leaves this shore, it doesn't sway because the vessel is huge and stable.  It's very fast, too, but, it never competes with other vessels.   It always gives away its right of the way because the crews and passengers should be respectful and compassionate to any other vessel.  If they find that the other vessel in danger, they will rescue the vessel, and it doesn't matter what kind of people or living beings are on board.

That is the Buddhist way to reach the other shore of the Buddha's enlightenment.

Besides that, there are six powerful engines installed in that vessel.   These six engines are called the Six Paramitas.  "Paramita" in Sanskrit means "reaching the other shore", too.

These are the six engines: First one is the paramita of charity. Second, the paramita of precepts. Third, the paramita of endurance. Fourth, the paramita of endeavor. Fifth, the paramita of meditation. And sixth, the paramita of wisdom.

In this issue, I would like to share with you the Buddhist way to keep precepts.  In Mahayana Buddhism, there are five precepts which are "not to kill", "not to lie", "not to steal", "not to have immoral sexual relationship" and "not to drink... too much". This is not realistic. So, I would say, "not to do any serious matters under influence".

Then, I would like to tell you a unique point of Nichiren-shu denomination of Buddhism.  Our founder Nichiren Shonin says we have only one precept instead of five.  it's the Namu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo.  When you call the name of highest teaching of the Buddha, our founder says that we naturally know what is right and what is wrong.  So, Nichiren-shu Buddhists need only one precept of Namu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo.

Our founder Nichiren Shonin really respects us.  So, he doesn't tell us not to do this or not to do that.  He just tells us to chant Namu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo which is the name of eternal truth.  And he trusts that whoever chants Namu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo can judge anything by themselves. Our founder, Nichiren Shonin was such a respectful person. Now, you don't have to memorize many precepts as a Buddhist.  Just one precept, which you chant:   Namu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo.

When you are getting angry, chant Namu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo and calm down.   That's your precept as a Buddhist.

When you are getting greedy, chant Namu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo and be content.  That's your precept as a Buddhist.

When you feel like you are ignorant, chant Namu-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo and ask, study and learn.  That's your precept as a Buddhist.

Now you are sure what precept you should keep as a Buddhist, aren't you?