January 20, 2025
LOTUS JEWELS（Nichiren Shu News NO258）
Scaffolds are needed for building a great tower, and after completion of a tower scaffolds are demolished. This is what is meant by “discarding the expedient.” A stupa is built by using a scaffold, but no one worships a scaffold without a stupa.
—Nichiren Shonin, A Response to My Lady the Nun, Mother of Lord Ueno (ST 388), Ueno-dono Haha-ama Gozen Gohenji
Nichiren uses this analogy to remind us of the foolishness of following teachings other than the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren shows how all of the pre-Lotus Sutras, and even all non-Buddhist teachings, are merely preparations for the Wonderful Dharma: that all beings will attain Buddhahood and that the ever-present Shakyamuni Buddha is constantly leading us to enlightenment.
—Rev. Shinkyo Warner