In 13th century Japan, Nichiren Daishonin (founder of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism) wrote:
On turning to the inner scriptures, those of Buddhism, because the more than five thousand or seven thousand volumes of Hinayana and Mahayana sutras teach that women cannot attain Buddhahood, they offer no way to requite the debt owed to one’s mother. The Hinayana teachings flatly deny that a woman can attain Buddhahood. The Mahayana sutras in some cases seem to say that a woman may attain Buddhahood or may be reborn in a pure land, but this is simply a possibility mentioned by the Buddha and no examples are given of such a thing actually having happened. Only the Lotus Sutra reveals that a woman can attain Buddhahood, and therefore I have come to realize that this sutra is the very one that makes possible true requital for a mother’s kindness. To repay that debt, I have vowed to enable all women to chant the Daimoku* of this sutra.
Sunday we celebrate our mothers.
Myosenji Temple wishes all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!
Lecture on Karma – Saturday in Arlington, VA
If you live in the Northern Virginia area please join us. If you know of others in the NoVA area who are interested in Buddhism, please share this information and invite them to attend.
