Gosho Quote for November 2024
The Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice
(“Shishin gohon-sho”)
Murky water does not have a mind, but it can become clear by capturing the [reflection of the] moon. When the grass and trees are showered with rain, they cannot possibly be aware of it, yet they produce blossoms. The five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo are neither the text of the sutra nor its meaning. They are none other than the essential intent of the entire sutra. Beginning practitioners may be unaware of this essence, but by practicing [Myoho-Renge-Kyo], they will naturally follow the sutra's intent.
(Gosho, p. 1114)