QUESTION: I have learned that the “3,000 existences contained in one thought” doctrine was first expounded in the fifth fascicle of the Great Concentration and Insight, one of the three major works of Grand Master T’ien-t’ai. Now I would like to know the meaning of spiritual contemplation (kanjin) of the “3,000 existences contained in one thought.”

ANSWER: Spiritual contemplation means for one to meditate on his own mind, observing through it ten realms, from the hells up to the realm of Buddhas, all of which are by nature contained in every mind. For instance, one can see the six sense-organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind) of other people, but one cannot see and know one’s own six sense organs unless one sees one’s reflection in a clear mirror. Despite the fact that various sūtras often preach six realms of illusion (realms of hells, hungry spirits, beasts, asura demons, men, and gods) and four realms of holy beings (Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyekabuddha and śrāvaka), we do not see how our mind contains ten realms, 100 realms, 1,000 aspects, and 3,000 modes of existence, unless we see our reflection in the clear mirror of the Lotus Sūtra and writings of Grand Master T’ien-t’ai such as Great Concentration and Insight.

Kanjin Honzon-shō, A Treatise Revealing the Spiritual Contemplation and the Most Verable One, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 131-132