The Four Universal Vows (Shigu seigan)
Okyobi Sermon, October, 2005
Reverend Shogu Kimura
Introduction
In both Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattva, without fail, makes four lifelong vows when he first resolves to begin his Buddhist practice. They are: “to save innumerable living beings,” “to eradicate countless earthly desires,” “to master immeasurable Buddhist teachings,” and “to attain the supreme enlightenment.” These are called the Four Universal Vows (shigu seigan), and they represent the four pledges to propagate Buddhism.
A vow (seigan) is not merely a desire. It is a firm determination to accomplish an objective, without fail, even by risking one’s life and soul, and even in the face of the most formidable obstacles.
In his Gosho, “The Inability of Those of the Two Vehicles and Bodhisattvas to Attain Buddhahood Through the Pre-Lotus Sutra Teachings” (Nizen nijo bosatsu fusa butsuji), Nichiren Daishonin stated the following about the provisional, pre-Lotus Sutra teachings:
All Bodhisattvas make the Four Universal Vows. Of these vows, “attaining the supreme enlightenment” is impossible without first “saving innumerable living beings.” Accordingly, since the doctrines taught during the first forty years were limited to the Two Vehicles, the aspiration of the Bodhisattva also remained an impossibility. … In further considering this, since the doctrines taught during the first forty years did not did not enable those of the Two Vehicles to attain enlightenment, they also did not enable the Bodhisattvas to attain Buddhahood. (Gosho, p. 181)
The principle of the mutual possession of the ten worlds (jikkai gogu) and the possibility for those of the Two Vehicles to attain enlightenment are not taught in the provisional, pre-Lotus Sutra teachings. Nichiren Daishonin wrote the following in his Gosho, “The Revelation of the Essential Significance of the Lifetime Teachings of Shakyamuni” (Ichidai shokyo tai-i):
The practice of the Bodhisattvas and the practice to accumulate good causes do not contain the Four Universal Vows until this sutra [Lotus Sutra] is embraced. (Gosho, p. 92)
Thus, the Four Universal Vows emerge only in the realm of the Lotus Sutra. This means that the true path to save all humanity opens up only when the True Buddhism from the infinite past of kuon-ganjo is revealed by the True Buddha Nichiren Daishonin. Only then is it possible to achieve the Four Universal Vows.
My sermon today will focus on the true significance of the Four Universal Vows, based on the True Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin.
Saving Innumerable Living Beings
The vow of saving innumerable living beings is the determination to save all mankind and to cause each individual to attain enlightenment. This vow teaches that those who aspire to a life based on True Buddhism must eliminate all notions of being satisfied with receiving benefits and achieving salvation only for oneself. It also teaches us the importance of having deep compassion and actually performing the Buddhist practice in order to save ourselves and others – to save all the people in the world.
In order to save all people, the practitioners must uphold the sincere aspiration to achieve worldwide Kosen-rufu. Religions other than Nichiren Shoshu may present a superficial understanding of the vow to save innumerable living beings; however, they do not provide us with an understanding of its true significance. They are unclear about what teaching to propagate, how to save all mankind, and what doctrine to use. The followers do not all actively participate in the practice for the sake of others, uphold the aspiration to achieve worldwide Kosen-rufu, or practice everyday toward that objective.
To people of all circumstances around the world, we, as disciples and followers of Nichiren Daishonin, propagate faith and practice in the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of True Buddhism, inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin, who was unaffected by the numerous great persecutions that he encountered. The Daishonin inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon so that all people throughout their three existences could achieve true happiness and attain enlightenment in their present form. In Nichiren Shoshu, each of us, priests and lay believers, performs Gongyo morning and evening and prays for the achievement of Kosen-rufu. Furthermore, we uphold the directions of our High Priest, we do shakubuku, and we act upon the vow of saving innumerable living beings, not as an empty theory, but in actual practice.
The vow of saving innumerable living beings is a pledge to lead all people to believe in the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary and to save them from the fundamental darkness at the essential core of their lives.
Eradicating Countless Earthly Desires
The vow to eradicate countless earthly desires is the pledge to completely eliminate the numerous earthly desires that are the root causes of all suffering.
Buddhism teaches that each person possesses 84,000 earthly desires. All people live each day and each moment based on these numerous earthly desires. For example, aspirations, wishes, and hopes are all based on earthly desires. Thus, it is extremely difficult to completely eliminate them. Our will to live is an earthly desire, and our wish to eliminate earthly desires is in itself another earthly desire. Realistically, it is impossible to completely eradicate earthly desires. The vow to eradicate countless earthly desires is our determination to eliminate our negative karma from the past and to purify our lives – characterized by earthly desires and flaws – by upholding the way of the Buddha.
The True Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin teaches us to transform earthly desires into enlightenment; to turn the sufferings of birth and death into nirvana; to physically attain enlightenment; and to secure true happiness for ourselves. Furthermore, it teaches us to transform the world of suffering into the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light and to purify the world. The beneficial power of Myoho-Renge-Kyo is the driving force for all of these principles: earthly desires are in themselves enlightenment (bonno soku bodai); the sufferings of birth and death are in themselves nirvana (shoji soku nehan); the saha world is in itself the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light (shaba soku jakko); and, in addition to these, the doctrine of changing poison into medicine (hendoku iyaku).
Therefore, the vow to eradicate countless earthly desires denotes our action to transform the innumerable earthly desires that we possess into enlightenment, through faithfully chanting Daimoku to the Gohonzon. It signifies our effort to use the hardships, suffering, yearnings, and aspirations that we experience as a result of our earthly desires, to transform our lives into a life condition of true happiness.
Mastering Immeasurable Buddhist Teachings
The vow to master immeasurable Buddhist teachings is the pledge to learn and understand the entirety of the Buddha’s teachings. Anyone who aspires to embark upon the way of the Buddha determines to study and master the fundamental doctrine – the supreme teaching – within the vast and profound sea of Buddhist knowledge.
The True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, who made his advent in the Latter Day of the Law, was the first to reveal the great Law from the eternal past of kuon-ganjo and to teach the essential principles of True Buddhism. Studying the doctrines of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism is not an easy task. It is important to resolutely attend the sermons held at the temples and to gain an understanding of the significance of Gosho passages, based on our faith and on chanting Daimoku in our homes. As we study the teachings of the Daishonin, we must grasp in our hearts the essential significance of those passages through our various life experiences, keeping a truly positive attitude and never becoming arrogant.
Thus, the vow to master immeasurable Buddhist teachings is our determination to study the profound teachings of Nichiren Daishonin and to manifest the effects of those teachings in our lives.
Attaining the Supreme Enlightenment
Finally, the vow of attaining the supreme enlightenment is the pledge to perform the Buddhist practice to achieve the supreme enlightenment. It represents the determination of those who aspire to embark upon the way of the Buddha to attain the life condition of enlightenment in their present form, based on their practice of Buddhism.
The achievement of enlightenment in one’s present form is absolutely impossible without the Mystic Law (Myoho) of Nichiren Daishonin. In order to experience the supreme enlightenment of the Buddha as our own enlightenment, we must follow the correct instructions of the True Buddha and participate in activities based on our faith and practice. The fundamental activity is none other than chanting Daimoku to the Gohonzon, the correct Object of Worship.
Practice for Oneself and for Others (Jigyo keta)
When we look upon the Four Universal Vows from the standpoint of the principle of practice for oneself and for others, the first vow, the salvation of innumerable living beings, represents the practice for others. The remaining three vows denote the practice for oneself. We must uphold these Four Universals Vows, characterized by the practice for ourselves and for others, and firmly establish in our hearts, a steadfast determination in faith, as we offer our vows to the True Buddha. The Daishonin stated the following in the “Orally Transmitted Teachings” (Ongi kuden):
Ultimately, the vow to save innumerable living beings is the most essential of the Four Universal Vows. Now, Nichiren and his disciples fundamentally seek only to save all people by none other than Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. This is the principle of “promptly acquiring the form of the Buddha” (soku joju busshin). Indeed, the Four Universal Vows represent ichinen sanzen. What, then, is the nature of the Four Universal Vows? It is none other than Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo taught by Jogyo. (Gosho, p. 1862)
Based on these Four Universal Vows, the way to save all humanity is by propagating the Daimoku of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism of the Sowing, hidden in the depths of Essential Teaching of the sutra and by embracing the Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of True Buddhism, containing the Three Great Secret Laws. In order to assist in the salvation of all mankind, we must have a solid determination to achieve Kosen-rufu.
Conclusion
Our High Priest Nikken Shonin stated:
Of the Four Universal Vows, the first is the pledge to save innumerable living beings. There is no greater objective than to determine to save an infinite number of people. The other vows are characterized by the eradication of countless earthly desires, the mastery of immeasurable Buddhist teachings, and the attainment of the supreme enlightenment. These all represent truly boundless means. (March 31, 1994)
He further said:
We must advance forth, never losing sight of the spirit of the practice for oneself and for others and the four objectives characterized by the Four Universal Vows, consisting of “saving innumerable living beings,” “eradicating countless earthly desires,” “mastering immeasurable Buddhist teachings,” and “attaining the supreme enlightenment.” (August 24, 1989)
We must sincerely embrace these directions from our High Priest Nikken Shonin. Let’s enthusiastically perform our practice for ourselves and for others, as we advance towards 2009, the 750th anniversary of the revelation of the truth through the writing of the Rissho ankoku-ron. I would like to conclude by praying that you will thoroughly maintain correct faith and practice in Nichiren Shoshu, upholding the pride and conviction that you are, indeed, the very people who will actualize the Four Universal Vows.