Bodhisattva of Never Despise

Jofukyo Bosatsu, Bodhisattva of Never Despise

“There is a Bodhisattva named Bodhisattva Never Despise who appears in the Lotus Sūtra and who practices the teachings of the Lotus Sūtra. He bows and pays reverence to whomever he meets with folded palms. He is a monk, but does not read sūtras. Before anything else he bows and venerates others. At a time of decline of the Buddha Dharma when the hearts of the people are hardened and dissolute, lecturing others based on academic learning will not do to cure them. In terms of sophistry one cannot win. Bodhisattva Never Despise only bows and venerates, and speaks of the significance of his veneration. He bows and utters the words of “I deeply respect you. I shall never despise you for you shall eventually become Buddha.” When hearing these words and receiving veneration maybe one in a thousand might start to think whether he or she has the seed to Buddhahood, or something that deserves veneration by others. This is the only way to emancipation. If we were to say that we would not venerate others because they do not venerate us, nothing good would come out of it. A likely outcome would be a spat. We must find the reverend in our heart and mind if we wish to lead a noble life. If our eyes are opened to see the reverend within our heart and mind, we find everyone we see reverend. Everyone becomes the object of veneration. That is when peace will prevail in the world.”

May 6, 1978. Atami Dōjō, Japan. Venerable Nichidatsu Fujii. Translated by Yumiko Miyazaki