Laurel District (SGI-USA)  Nichiren Buddhists http://www.laureldistrict.homestead.com E-mail  laureldistrict@Comcast.net

Joint District Study Group Curriculum

Dear Study Enthusiasts, During 2001 , those present felt we should break up our trek through the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin (WND).  The 1138 pages and 172 Gosho's might seem a forbidding challenge at the beginning.  So we thought we would adjust our path to cover first the Ten Writings that Nikko Shonin identified as the Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin.  Four of these are either not translated or not available for English reading students. We completed  "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"  pages 2-32 WND.  This used to be known as the "Risho Ankoku Ron"  This Gosho was the great treatise that Nichiren presented to Hojo Tokiyori.  In this work, Nichiren castigates the popular Buddhist sects of the time as leading the people astray and resulting thereby in the great unhappiness in the land.   Already, there had been flood, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, fires.  The only calamities left were foreign invasion and civil strife.  Both Nichiren predicted would occur in this Gosho if people and particularly the rulers didn't reform.  The concept of Ichinen Sanzen and our influence on ourselves, society, and our environment is laid out through a discourse between Nichiren, the host, and the guest, who is representative of  mistaken people. November 11th, 2000  We studied  "The Opening of the Eyes" Full title is "Opening the Eyes of Wooden and Painted Images" Pages 85-90 WND.  An extra Gosho, not part of Nikko's ten. We learned about the ability of our Buddha nature to affect both sentient and insentient beings. December 9th, 2000 we studied The second Gosho is # 30 "The Opening of the Eyes" Part 1 Pages 220 - 251 WND. Nichiren Daishonin wrote this thesis over a two-year period while in exile on Sado Island.  Dated February 1272, it was written for all his followers and was entrusted to Shijo Kingo, a samurai and a disciple of the Daishonin. Nichiren Daishonin reveals himself here to be the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law who possesses the three virtues of parent, teacher and sovereign. the treatise concludes that the ultimate law is hidden in the depths of the Juryo (sixteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra.  This Gosho is known as the work that defines the true object of devotion in terms of the Person. January 13th, 2001 we continued with "Opening of the Eyes" Part 2 from pages 251 - 300 WND. MARCH  10th, 2001 we studied "The True Object of Devotion" Full title "The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind Established in the Fifth five-Hundred Year Period after the Thus Come One's Passing"Pages 354-382 WND. This gosho was also written on Sado Island over a two-year period and is dated 25 April 1273.  This Gosho was entrusted to Toki Jonin, a government  official and an early convert to the Daishonin's teachings.  It is known as the work that defines the object of worship in terms of the Law because it sets forth the theoretical basis for the Gohonzon as the object of devotion for attaining Buddhahood in the Latter Day.  It teaches the principle of "juji soku kanjin", which means that embracing the Gohonzon is in itself enlightenment. MAY 12th, 2001 We studied "The Selection of the Time" Pages 538-594 WND. Written in 1275 from Mount Minobu, this Gosho was entrusted to Yui Nyudo, a follower of the Daishonin's living in Nishiyama in Suruga Province.  It explains that there is a correct teaching for each of the three periods of  the Former, Middle and Latter Days of the Law and that in the Latter Day the true Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the correct teaching to be propagated. JUNE 9nth, 2001 We studied "Repaying Debts of Gratitude" Pages 690-745 WND. Written at Mount Minobu and dated 21 July 1276, this treatise was written in appreciation for the Daishonin's late teacher Dozen-bo.  he sent it to his former senior priests Joken-bo and Gijo-bo at Secho-ji temple, where he had previously studied.  From the point of view of Buddhist doctrine, it discusses the vital importance of repaying debts of gratitude, especially to a teacher, and concludes that the way to repay such obligations fully is to embrace and propagate the Mystic Law. Deferred for a while The sixth of the Major Writings Series would be "The Four Stages of Faith and Five Stages of Practice" Pages 783-793 WND. Dated 10 April 1277 and written at Mount Minobu to Toki Jonin, this Gosho discusses the four stages of faith and the five stages of practice indicated in the Funbetsu Kudoku (seventeenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra.  It defines the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the direct way of enlightenment in the Latter Day. "The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra" a Discussion    Volume 3 Examining Chapters 11-15 of the Lotus Sutra  (The Emergence of the Treasure Tower, Devadatta, Encouraging Devotion, Peaceful Practices, Emerging from the Earth) The Joint District Study Group decided to work their way through the 8 Volume Series. Volume 3 commences on 15 December 02.  The Joint District Men's Division members are hosting these monthly study meetings for ALL who choose to study.  Come Join Us!!!