Chapter 4
Understanding by Faith

  

SUMMARIES

It is not enough to maintain a feeling of blind belief. Understanding helps faith, while belief and understanding develop into action.

The Four Great Shomons or hearers of the Law of Buddhism were overjoyed to hear the Dharma that they had never heard before and to see that Sâriputra, one of their fellow shomons, was assured of his own future Buddhahood with the name of Flower-Light Buddha in the preceding chapter. So they commented that it was just as if they had obtained innumerable treasures without seeking them. Then they revealed the parables of "The Rich Man and His Poor Son."

Explanations

"Exposed their right shoulders" (P.88, L.9):

It was the custom in India to expose one's shoulder, which denoted a sincere heart. Consequently, priests and lay people in Nichiren Shu put their kesa on from their left shoulders and not from their right shoulders.

"Joined their hands together with all their hearts" (P.88, L.10):

In Nichiren Shu, we put our palms together in gassho and chant the Odaimoku or the Sacred Title of the Lotus Sutra, "Namu Myôhô Renge Kyô." "Namu" means Devotion, Love, Trust and Hope. Therefore when we chant the Odaimoku, we vow to devote ourselves to the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, trust the Eternal Buddha, receive Buddha's love and hope our prayers are answered.

"We have obtained innumerable treasures although we did not seek them." (P.89, L. 7):

This does not mean that we just sit and wait for treasures to appear. As you will see in the following parable how the son improved his mental attitude in stages covering a span of 20 years, we must struggle for improvement in daily life. Enlightenment is to be achieved within the turmoil of our daily life, not in silent seclusion. Let us always try to improve ourselves, inspire our children, grandchildren, and society step by step.

THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND HIS POOR SON (P.89, L.9 - P.92, Last Line):

A poor little boy ran away from his father when he was very young. He lived in another country for many years. He wandered about in all directions, seeking food and clothing. Many years later while wandering here and there, he happened to walk towards his home country.

At that time his father stayed in a city in the countryside. He had been vainly looking for his son ever since first ran away. The father was now very rich. He had innumerable treasures. His storehouses were filled with gold, silver, coral, and crystal. He had many servants, carts, cows, and sheep. He dealt with many merchants and customers.

The poor son happened to come to the city where his father was living. The father had been thinking of his son ever since he had first lost him. He thought, "I am old and decrepit. I have many treasures. But I have no son other than the missing one. When I die, my treasures will be scattered and lost. Therefore, I am always yearning for my son."

At that time the poor son happened to stand by the gate of the wealthy man's house. Seeing the rich man, the poor son was frightened and thought, "Is he a king or someone like a king? This is not the place where I can get some work to get food and clothing easily. If I stay here any longer, I shall be forced to work." He tried to run away.

The rich man recognized him at first sight as his son. He was delighted. He immediately dispatched a man standing beside him to quickly bring back the poor son. The messenger ran up to the poor son and caught him. The poor son was frightened and cried, "I have done nothing wrong. Why do you stopped me?" The messenger pulled him by force. The poor son thought, "I have been arrested though I am not guilty. I shall be killed." Becoming more and more frightened, the poor son fainted and fell to the ground.

Seeing all this in the distance, the father said to the messenger, "I do not want him any more. Do not bring him forcibly! Pour cold water on his face to awaken him!" The father said this because he had realized that his son was too base and mean to meet a noble man. He knew that the man was his son, but expediently refrained from telling others that this was his son.

Waking up, the poor son stood up and went to a village of the poor to get food and clothing. The wealthy man dispatched messengers in secret. He said to two men looking worn-out, powerless and virtueless, "Go and gently tell the poor man that he will be employed here for a double day's pay. If he agrees, bring him here and have him work together with you to clear dirt."

The poor son drew his pay in advance and cleared dirt. Seeing him, the father felt great compassion towards him and took off his necklace, his garment and other ornaments. He put on tattered and dirty clothing. He approached the workers and said, "Work hard! Do not be lazy!"

Seeing this poor man working hard, the father told him, "Do not hesitate to take the trays, rice, flour, salt and vinegar - as much as you need! Make yourself comfortable."

Years later, the rich man gave the poor man a name and called him son. The son was glad to be treated kindly, but still thought that he was an humble employee.

Still more years passed. After that the father and the son trusted each other. Now the son felt no hesitation in entering the house of his father, but still lodged in his old place.

Now the rich man became ill. After a while the father noticed that his son had become more at ease and peaceful, that he wanted to improve himself, and he felt ashamed of the thought that he was base and mean. As the moment of death for the father drew near, he told his son to call in his relatives, the king, ministers and members of his household. When they were all assembled, he said to them, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is my son, my real son. I am his real father. He ran away from me when I lived in a certain city, and wandered with hardships for more than fifty years. His name is so-and-so. All my treasures are his now."

At that time the poor son was very glad to hear these words of his father. He had the greatest joy that he had ever had. He thought, "I never dreamed of having this store of treasures myself. It has come to me unexpectedly.

EXPLANATIONS:

The wealthy man is the Eternal Buddha while the poor son is those of us who do not realize that we are indeed the Buddha's children. We often ask the Buddha, "Give me this! Give me that!" This is still a stage of the shomon who is base and mean. Through the advice of the Buddha, if we put forth continuous effort without giving up, although it may take time, we will receive the precious treasure of Buddhahood without expectation.

~ Namu Myohorengekyo ~