REFLECTIONS Words Connect Us with Others by Nichiko Niwano We humans are unique among all liv- the compassion based upon that wis- Nichiko Niwano is president of ing beings, as we are the only ones to dom that brings peace of mind to other Rissho Kosei-kai and an honorary communicate with words. There is no people. Because the use of words can president of Religions for Peace. denying that our being able to encoun- lead us to wisdom, they are important He also serves as special advisor ter the Buddha Dharma is thanks to the tools of liberation. to Shinshuren (Federation of New many people who have transmitted the For that reason, we should now take Religious Organizations of Japan). Truth and the Dharma through words this opportunity to ponder our grati- over the course of some twenty-five tude for words, as it is important that rudely, we bow our heads and sincerely hundred years. we employ this precious gift from the apologize by saying, “I’m truly sorry.” The Precisely because we have benefited gods and the buddhas to show consid- exchange of such expressions back and from their efforts at transmission we can eration to those around us. Doing so is, forth makes social actions go smoothly, now lead lives worthy of human beings in and of itself, one way of transmitting and human relationships become warm and follow the Buddha Way, but we usu- the Dharma to them. and gracious. It is such words of gratitude ally take this for granted. that connect human hearts and minds. Broadening the topic a little, someone Words that Reach However, here I must add one more once said, about human beings having the Heart and Mind important point: it does not matter a heart and mind, “There is no deny- what kind of words you use, but rather ing that, even allowing for the theory We should not forget our gratitude for what kind of “you” speaks those words. of evolution, human beings were born the gifts received by human beings, Frankly, what matters is whether your from the original principle of the heav- including words. What we should do words match your actions. Whether what enly and the natural known in Japanese first of all, in order to show our thank- you say reaches the heart and mind of as tenchi shizen, and that it is possi- fulness, is not to lose sight of the real the other person depends on this. For ble to think of humans as its agents to importance of “self.” words to inspire confidence in others reveal their hearts and minds.” This In the past, I was profoundly depends upon the way of life of the per- means that human beings are able to impressed by the phrase, “The self is son who speaks them. think about things and talk about their one’s portion of the natural world,” and Also, there is no one among us who thoughts because the original principle in light of what I have mentioned above, can know everything about this world, of the heavenly and the natural, that is for us human beings born of the orig- and even if someone spent eternity try- the gods and the buddhas, entrusts us inal principle of the heavenly and the ing to do so, it still would be impossi- with those thoughts and enables us to natural, this fact encourages us to real- ble. Seen from the eyes of the Buddha, put them into words. ize that the self is only one tiny piece of we are all novices who can attain but a Buddhism teaches us that when each the entire universe. little knowledge, so when we are talk- and every one of us awakens to our own Once we realize that as human beings ing with other people, we should never wisdom and cultivates the heart and we are just a small fraction of the whole forget our humility. mind of compassion, we are able to pur- and that our lives are sustained by the From long ago in Japan, we have sue life with a true sense of purpose. If gods and the buddhas, the words from said that words have the power to bring we really think about this, there is no our mouths become imbued with the happiness. And one way they do so is greater use of the generous gift of being heart and mind of gratitude, as we nat- through our working to transmit the able to communicate with words than urally say “thank you” or refuse to take Truth and the Dharma that we hope to understand the true nature of things, credit by saying, “It’s all thanks to others.” will liberate as many people as possi- which is wisdom, as well as to practice When we make mistakes or have behaved ble from their worries and suffering. ≥ Dharma World October–December 2014 1 OCT.–DEC. 2014 VOL. 41 FEATURES: Buddhism and Language 1 Words Connect Us with Others by Nichiko Niwano Dharma World presents Buddhism as a practical living religion and 3 Buddhism and Language: promotes interreligious dialogue Th e Lotus Sutra for world peace. It espouses views by Gene Reeves that emphasize the dignity of life, seeks to rediscover our inner nature 7 Embodying Buddha-Speech and bring our lives more in accord by Natalie Gummer with it, and investigates causes of 10 A Buddhist Paradigm human suff ering. It tries to show of Language how religious principles help solve by Dennis Hirota problems in daily life and how the least application of such principles 13 Subverting Words: has wholesome eff ects on the world Impasse and Breakthrough around us. It seeks to demonstrate in Zen Kōan Practice truths that are fundamental to all by Ruben L. F. Habito religions, truths on which all people 16 Buddhism and Language: can act. Th oughts on the Relationship between Word, Writing, Publisher: Moriyasu Okabe and Performance in Buddhist Cultural History Executive Director: Jun’ichi Nakazawa by Brian Ruppert Director: Kazumasa Murase 19 Why Gautama Buddha Hesitated to Preach: Senior Editor: Kazumasa Osaka Challenging the Constraints of Language in Buddhism Editor: Katsuyuki Kikuchi by Hiroyuki Sato Editorial Advisors: Miriam Levering, Gene Reeves, Yoshiaki Sanada, 22 Jewish and Buddhist Responses to Violence Michio T. Shinozaki by Harold Kasimow Copy Editors: 26 Th e Brighter Society Movement and the Spirit William Feuillan, Gary Hoiby, of the “Universal Gate of Truth” DeAnna Satre, Catherine Szolga by Nikkyo Niwano Editorial Staff : Th e Prism of the Lotus Sutra (6) Ryuichi Kaneko, Satoe Izawa 32 Subscription Staff : Kazuyo Okazaki by Atsushi Kanazawa Layout and Design: Abinitio Design 34 Th e Signifi cance of Lay Buddhism in Japanese History Cover photo: Shutterstock by Masazumi Shōjun Okano Photoshop work by Abinitio Design THE THREEFOLD LOTUS SUTRA: A MODERN COMMENTARY 39 Th e Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law Chapter 23: Th e Former Lives of the Bodhisattva Medicine King (2) Dharma World is published quarterly by Kosei Publishing Company, 2-7-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8535. E-mail: [email protected]. Copyright © 2014 by Kosei Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan by Komiyama Printing Company. Change of Address: Please provide both old and new addresses. Six weeks’ advance notice is requested. Requests for permission to reprint all or part of any article in this issue must be made in writing to the editor of Dharma World. FEATURES Buddhism and Language: The Lotus Sutra by Gene Reeves Gene Reeves has done research and Broadly speaking, I think there are at least two reasons lectured on the Lotus Sutra worldwide behind the Lotus Sutra’s positive view of language, behind for more than a quarter century. its admonition to have faith in and seek to understand the He was a visiting professor at the truthful words of the Buddha: its positive view of nearly University of Peking and a professor everything, and its teaching of skillful means. at Renmin University of China in Beijing until retiring in 2012, and he serves as an international advisor to I don’t know that this has been true Center for Buddhist Translation and Rissho Kosei-kai. His recent works in all times and places, but in general, Research, 2004], p. 90, Taishō 540c; include The Lotus Sutra and The it seems to me, Buddhism has been Taishō references are also provided Stories of the Lotus Sutra (Wisdom highly ambivalent about language, for convenience). In this sutra there is Publications, 2008 and 2010). about words, whether written or spo- the famous scene in which Manjushri ken. Very often sutras and their written Bodhisattva tells Vimalakirti that he words have been objects of religious should explain how a bodhisattva enters In other words, there can be no devotion, representing a very positive the gate of nonduality. In response teaching or preaching of liberation or view of language. Perhaps the Chan/ Vimalakirti remains silent, saying noth- emancipation apart from words. Zen tradition has been most consis- ing at all. And Manjushri responds, The idea of a language beyond tent in using language to denigrate “Excellent, excellent! Not to even have language, the idea of a kind of super- language, using a lot of words to dispar- words or speech is the true entrance language that transcends ordinary lan- age words. Many Zen Buddhists have into the Dharma gate of nonduality” guage, is not exclusive to Zen or to spoken of a dharma transmission that (ibid., p. 159, Taishō 553c). Th is has Buddhism. Richard Kearney, an Irish exists apart from, and even in contrast been widely interpreted as advocating American Roman Catholic philosopher, to, written sutras.