The Ten Realms (Jikkai) describe the realm of livings beings and the different ways in which sentient beings experience their lives and their environments. When one multiplies ten realms by ten realms, the result is 100 realms. From top to the bottom, the realms are as follows:

• Realm of Buddha: the state of Buddhahood in which one has attained enlightenment and also is leading others to the same realm.
• Realm of Bodhisattva: the state of practitioner in which one is saving others as well as being practicing oneself.
• Realm of Pratyekabuddha: the state of self-practitioner in which one seeks enlightenment by oneself.
• Realm of Srävaka: the state of self-practitioner in which one seeks own enlightenment by hearing the Buddha’s voice.
• Realm of heavenly being: the state of heavenly being and deity.
• Realm of human being: the state of human being.
• Realm of asura: the state of anger.
• Realm of animal: the state of animalistic behavior.
• Realm of hungry spirit: the state of suffering caused by thirst and hunger arising out of greed.
• Realm of hell: the state of overwhelming suffering.

Through the practice of the seven characters of the Odaimoku – Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo – people can unite with the Eternal Buddha as a part of his life. This is known as Sokushin Jōbutsu, attaining Buddhahood with one’s present form. This is also referred to as Juji Jōbutsu, attaining Buddhahood by upholding the Lotus Sūtra and the Odaimoku and practicing the Sūtra in one’s daily life.

[T]he Lotus Sutra was expounded in accordance with the Buddha’s true heart and intention. In Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra is says:

“All the teachings of the Tathāgata, all the unhindered, supernatural powers of the Tathāgata, all the treasury of the hidden core of the Tathāgata, and all the profound achievements of the Tathāgata are revealed and expounded explicitly in this sutra.” (Murano, p.294)

Thus, the Lotus Sutra is equal to the Buddha himself.

The Buddha is also included in the five characters of Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo, which is the Chinese title of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren Shōnin said:

“A name has virtue representing its body.” (Jissh ō-shō, WNS2, p.4).

Therefore, the five [Chinese] characters of the Odaimoku are equal to the whole Lotus Sutra.

The primary concerns of human life can be summarized by the four sufferings: birth, old age, sickness and death. We can include the idea of the eight sufferings which would add the suffering of meeting and getting along with a unfavorable person, the suffering of separation from loved ones, the suffering of not getting what one desires and the sufferings caused by activities of the body. The intention of Buddhism is to respond to these concerns and provide a solution to such suffering through our own realization of the Eternal Buddha’s teachings.

The Three Constituents of the World (San Seken) are:

• Shujō Seken – World of sentient beings; living beings such as human and animals.
• Go-on Seken – World of the five elemental aggregates which form body, mind and environment.
• Kokudo Seken – World of non sentient beings; the land where living beings live.

Each of the constituents has the ten suchnesses, so one thousand suchnesses multiplied by the Three Constituents equal 3,000 realms.

When we can deny ego, we improve our three kinds of mind; We can be grateful for all; we can respect all; and we can be compassionate to all. At the same time, by improving the three kinds of mind, we overcome our selfish ego and improve ourselves through our greater ability to live with others. We want to be persons who realize the joy and suffering of our surroundings.
Buddha Seed: Understanding the Odaimoku