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Rissho Kosei Kai

Buddhist Center of Los Angeles

National Leaders Training 2026: Study Materials

Kyohei Mikawa


I am glad you can attend this year's NLT-National Leaders Training in June! Here is a list of study materials that are suggested to read/listen and discuss as part of preparing for your meaningful learning and attendance! If you have quesionts please let me know: info@rklabuddhistcenter.com


1) Buddha's Core Teachings




2) Rissho Kosei-kai


  • One of the quickest ways to understand what Rissho Kosei-kai is and is not.




RKLA Learning Materials

Thich Nhat Hanh and Nikkyo Niwano (voice recording of Mike Sonksen's article)

  • Article for reading: (p. - )






3) The Threefold Lotus Sutra


Founder Nikkyo's Commentary (RKINA Podcast)


Opening: The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings


Chapter 2 Expounding the Dharma




The Lotus Sutra

Chapter 1 Introductory

  • Buddha meditates and illuminates different Buddhist universes including the realm of suffering and enligtenment. True awakening embraces suffering rather than excluding it. Story of Fame Seeker "Bodhisattva" appears.


  • Buddha begins with explaining how much difficult it is to attain Buddha's wisdom--setting up the value of awakening, becoming a buddha. Then he reveals that all previous teachings and practices he taught was in fact to reveal that all of his students are in fact equally a buddha-in-training from the beginning, unbeknownst to any of them. The unexpected great revelation of "one-vehicle", the universal buddhahood. But nobody except one student understood and embraced this truth.


  • Buddha's student Shariputra was the first one who embraced the truth of one-vehicle that revealed that his truest wish is to become a buddha in the future and liberate all sentient beings from the pain of suffering. The chapter starts with Shariputra's tearful sharing of his previous worries (Lotus Sutra's hoza moment!) Then the Buddha explains the meaning of his usages of skillful means that leads to the attainment of real truth by sharing a famous parable, "the burning house." (Make sure to get this parable and be comfortable with narrating yourself)


  • Four elder leaders of Buddha's assembly followed Shariputra and share their innermost feelings with honesty in front of everyone (another important hoza moment)--they calmly contemplate, understand what was truly happening in their mind, and express them with honesty and clarify. Nobody interrupts and everyone together with the Buddha holds space for them. They explain their experience and feelings of understanding and embracing the teaching of one-vehicle by sharing a parable of "rich father and poor son."


  • Commending how well they expressed their understanding and spoke about their truths with honesty for everyone, Buddha deepens their understanding of how Buddha's omnipresent compassion equally blesses all sentient beings by sharing the parable of "the medicinal herbs." Everyone loves this parable's message: you dont have to compare yourself with anyone else. All of us are equally walking on the path of our Buddhahood in each different way.


Chapter 6 The Assurance of Buddhahood

  • Following Shariputra and four elder leader diciples of the Buddha, other shravaka diciples attain their assurance of Buddhahood.


  • This chapter presents the 4th of Seven Parables in the Lotus Sutra, "Conjured City" or some people call it "Magic Castle."







Chapter 12 Devadatta



















Closing:








 
 
 

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