Monthly Discussion Series: Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth

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Monthly Discussion SeriesUnlocking the
Mysteries of Birth Death and Everything in
Between (Ikeda 2003)Chapter 5 Lifes
Unlimited potentialApril 6, 2006Hosted by
World Peace Buddhists of Stanford
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• Agenda 7-8pm
• Quick introductions of participants and WPB
• Intro to The Ten Worlds
• Power Point Presentation Discussion on The
  Ten Worlds
• Experience Applying Buddhism, making
  victories in daily life
• Learn practice chanting

Discussion SeriesUnlocking the Mysteries of
Birth Death and Everything in Between (Ikeda
2003)
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Discussion SeriesUnlocking the Mysteries of
Birth Death and Everything in Between (Ikeda
2003)

• Buddhahood
• Bodhisattva
• Realization
• Learning
• Heaven
• Humanity
• Anger
• Animality
• Hunger
• Hell

The Ten Worlds
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Discussion SeriesUnlocking the Mysteries of
Birth Death and Everything in Between (Ikeda
2003)

• Buddhahood infinite compassion, absolute freedom,
  recognize reality of our lives, not a special
  being
• Bodhisattva compassion and altruistic behavior,
  working toward enlightenment of oneself and
  others, happiness alone is only partial
• Realization seeking truth through direct
  perception, abstract, no longer merely subject to
  environment, distracted from lifes harsh
  realities
• Learning aware of impermanence of life, dedicate
  oneself to self-reformation/improvement
• Heaven joy at having attained tangible and
  non-tangible items, something long desired such
  as an end to suffering, extremely vulnerable to
  external circumstances
• Humanity strive to control desires and impulses
  through reason, first step toward attaining
  self-mastery
• Anger perversity, hides true feelings while
  making false show of loyalty, arrogant state of
  life
• Animality driven by instinct, foolishness, fear
  the strong but prey on the weak, lack reason and
  wisdom, caught in immediate circumstances
• Hunger endless appetite, greed, a slave to ones
  own desires
• Hell life is painful, shackled, extremely weak
  life force, feeling unable to affect life,
  further self destruction

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Discussion SeriesUnlocking the Mysteries of
Birth Death and Everything in Between (Ikeda
2003)

• Mutual Possession of The Ten Worlds
• KEY CONCEPT Each of the Ten Worlds contains all
  the Ten Worlds within it
• What does this reveal about our unlimited
  potential?

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"Each droplet of water contains all essence of
the vast ocean"
Our lives permeate the entire universe
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"Hungry spirits perceives Ganges River as fire,
human being perceives it as water, heavenly
beings perceive it as amrita divine nectar"
Its our heart (mind) thats important
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"Buddhahood is a state to access to the boundless
wisdom compassion courage inherent in our own
life"
wisdom
compassion
Courage
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"To straighten the horn of a cow kills the cow"
Buddhahood can only be attained in an uncanny way
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"Suffer what is to suffer, enjoy what is to enjoy"
Buddhahood doesnt means absence of problems, but
possessing the abilities and to face whatever
challenge
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Chanting Nam myoho renge kyo action
Buddhahood
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Discussion SeriesUnlocking the Mysteries of
Birth Death and Everything in Between (Ikeda
2003)

• So What Does All This Suggest
• Establish the state of Buddhahood as the basis of
  everything we do
• Our innate compassion and wisdom then moves into
  action
• By working to demonstrate our Buddha Nature,
  through cause and effect, our Buddha Nature is
  consistently strengthened and Buddhahood becomes
  integral to all our experiences
• By establishing Buddhahood as our primary state
  we can then properly harmonize the other Nine
  Worlds and make positive use of the time spent in
  them
• Our happiness becomes invulnerable to any changes
  in our surroundings
• We also, then, have good influence on all those
  around us thereby transforming our environment

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Discussion SeriesUnlocking the Mysteries of
Birth Death and Everything in Between (Ikeda
2003)

• Discussion Points
• -What are your thoughts on each of the Ten
  Worlds?
• -Why strive to reveal our Buddha Nature?
• -Can you share an example of how you might apply
  this understanding of the Ten Worlds in your
  life?
• -What relevancy does studying the Ten Worlds hold
  in your life?