Perceiving Evil and Protecting Good
Good Friends, Slander of the Law & Adapting to Local Customs
1. Good Friends in Buddhism
What is a Good Friend?
A good friend is someone who helps us follow the correct Buddhist teaching and advance toward enlightenment.
They may include:
Buddhist teachers
Fellow practitioners
Anyone who encourages our faith and practice
An evil friend is someone whose influence obstructs our Buddhist practice and leads us away from enlightenment.
Why are Good Friends Important?
The human mind can easily become weak or shaken. We may lose confidence, become discouraged or stop making efforts in faith.
Therefore, we need good friends who:
Encourage our faith
Help us remain connected to the correct teaching
Guide us toward Buddhahood
Nichiren Daishonin states:
“Therefore, the best way to attain Buddhahood is to encounter a good friend. How far can our own wisdom take us? If we have even enough wisdom to distinguish hot from cold, we should seek out a good friend.”
— Three Tripitaka Masters Pray for Rain , WND-1, 598
Evil Friends
The Daishonin quotes the Nirvana Sutra :
“Have no fear of mad elephants... what you should fear are evil friends.”
The point is that an evil influence can affect not only our physical life but also our Buddhist faith and life condition .
2. Transforming Evil Friends into Good Friends
Buddhism does not simply teach us to run away from difficulties or people who oppose us.
Instead, we develop strong faith and wisdom so that negative influences become opportunities for growth.
As our faith becomes stronger, the three obstacles and four devils and three powerful enemies may emerge.
But if we recognize these functions and challenge them through Buddhist practice, they can become opportunities to:
Strengthen our faith
Bring forth previously untapped potential
Develop our life condition
Advance toward Buddhahood
This is how we can transform evil friends into good friends .
Nichiren Daishonin states:
“Devadatta was the foremost good friend to the Thus Come One Shakyamuni. In this age as well, it is not one’s allies but one’s powerful enemies who assist one's progress.”
— The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra , WND-1, 770
And:
“Evil persons too will be good friends to me.”
— Why No Protection from the Heavenly Gods? , WND-2, 432
Exam Point
Good friend: Helps us advance toward Buddhahood.
Evil friend: Attempts to obstruct our Buddhist practice.
Strong faith: Can transform even negative influences into opportunities for advancement.
3. Strictness Toward Slander of the Law
What is Slander of the Law?
Slander of the Law means maligning, defaming, disparaging or rejecting the correct Buddhist teaching.
The correct teaching is the teaching that enables all people to attain Buddhahood— the Lotus Sutra and its essence, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo .
Because slander opposes the teaching that seeks happiness for oneself and others and peace in society, Nichiren Daishonin strongly admonished it.
Why Must Slander Be Challenged?
Simply avoiding slander ourselves is not enough.
We should also challenge and correct slander with the purpose of freeing people from suffering.
This compassionate practice of spreading the correct teaching while challenging slander is called:
Shakubuku
The Daishonin states:
“To hope to attain Buddhahood without speaking out against slander is as futile as trying to find water in the midst of fire or fire in the midst of water.”
— The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood , WND-1, 747
Important Distinction
Strictness toward slander does not mean hostility toward people.
We should not:
Reject people because they have different beliefs
Exclude people
Force our faith on others
The purpose of challenging slander is compassionate protection from suffering , not condemnation of people.
4. Flexibility Toward Culture and Customs
While being strict toward slander of the Law, Buddhism teaches us to be flexible toward culture, customs and traditions .
This is called:
The precept of adapting to local customs
It means respecting the culture, traditions, manners and customs of each country or region, as long as they do not violate the fundamental teachings of Buddhism .
Nichiren Daishonin states:
“The meaning of this precept is that so long as no seriously offensive act is involved... it would be better to avoid going against the manners and customs of the country.”
— Expedient Means and Lifespan Chapters , WND-1, 72
What is Essential?
We should not become attached to superficial forms of culture or tradition and mistake them for the essence of Buddhism.
The essential things are:
Faith and practice
Human revolution
Happiness of oneself and others
Peace and prosperity of society
Contribution to one's community
Simple Formula
Strict toward the Law → Flexible toward culture
We protect the essence of Buddhism while respecting the diversity of society .
Key Points to Remember
Good Friends
Good friend = someone who encourages us toward correct faith and Buddhahood.
Evil friend = someone who obstructs our Buddhist practice.
Good friends are important because the human mind can easily become weak or shaken.
Best way to attain Buddhahood = encounter a good friend.
Strong faith can enable us to transform evil friends into good friends .
Slander of the Law
Slander = disparaging, rejecting or maligning the correct Buddhist teaching.
We should not only avoid slander ourselves but also challenge it compassionately .
Shakubuku = spreading the correct teaching while challenging slander.
Challenging slander is done to free people from suffering , not to attack people.
“To hope to attain Buddhahood without speaking out against slander...” — WND-1, 747.
Culture & Customs
Precept of adapting to local customs = respect local culture and traditions provided they do not violate Buddhism.
Buddhism should be flexible toward cultural forms but unwavering toward its fundamental principles .
Don't confuse superficial customs with the essence of Buddhism .
⭐ One-Line Exam Revision
Be strict toward slander of the Law, compassionate toward people, and flexible toward culture and customs.