THREE WAYS TO LOOK AT A THING

Why do we repeat to chant the

Nyoze-so, Nyoze-tai, ...Nyoze-honmatsu-kukyoto?

It is because there are three different ways to look at a thing. They are equality (ku), difference (ke), and totality (chu). It is based on T'ien-tai's "Three Kinds of Truth; ku, ke and chu." According to this doctrine, nothing exists (ku) by itself because things exist temporally (ke) only depending on other existence; therefore, we must look at all things in their totality (chu).

For instance, let's take an example of a table. A table must have a flat top supported by four legs. If I pull each of these legs off., it is no longer a table; just simple pieces of woods. Therefore, the table as such, existed only temporally.

Another example: I exist today because my parents existed. I also exist because of air, water, heat, food, and other people. If there is no air, water, food or others; I can not exist. I exist temporally because there are air, water, food and others.

Another way to look at all thing in three different ways, according to the Buddha's teaching, everyone is equal (ku) because everyone possesses a Buddha nature in which he or she is able to someday become a Buddha. Everyone is equal, but everyone is different (ke) because there are the wise and the foolish, rich and poor, males and females. Women have the privilege of bearing children while men can't. We are equal but different (chu).

Although everyone has a nose, a mouth, and eyes (ku), the shapes of them vary as do fingerprints (ke). Therefore we are equal but different (chu).

Parents love their children equally (ku), but the ways they treat an eighteen year old boy from the two year old girl will naturally differ (ke). If the parents give them the same food in the same quantities, the parents are not being realistic. The parents love their children equally, but they treat each child differently respecting the child's age, sex, and interest. Wise parents treat their children with totality of each individual (chu).

Therefore, peace and happiness never come from insisting on equality only nor on differences only. We have to realize these equality within the differences and the differences within equality. Knowing individual differences, but respecting his or her interests, talents, education, and physical condition is the way forwards peace and harmony. Everyone is equal under the U.S. Constitution, however, we must respect other people's different cultures, backgrounds, and languages. It is the way to bring peace to America.

To remind ourselves of these teachings, we repeat the last phrases of the Hoben-pon chapter three times.