When Shakyamuni Buddha revealed the eternal nature of his awakened life, he did not contradict his earlier teachings. Instead, he showed us how those teachings were fulfilled in terms of his own life and awakening. He also showed how those teachings would allow us to realize the purity, bliss, eternity, and true self of Nirvana in our own lives.
Lotus SeedsQuotes
The Most Important Part of Being a Buddhist
[A]ll one really needs to begin practicing is oneself. Simply having a family altar is not Buddhist practice. One will not develop Buddha nature by just having certain things in one’s house; practice itself is the most important part of being a Buddhist.
Awakening to the LotusReflection and Reform
From documents setting forth the views of various sects and from Mahayana writings, it is evident that debate and conflict arose between the supporters of the older and newer forms of Buddhism. Yet dispute ended not in mutual destruction but in reflection and reform on both sides. The advent of several rival religions at about this time inspired all forms of Buddhism to cling together, thus sparing the Buddhist world the murderous sectarian rivalries that sundered Christianity.
Basic Buddhist Concepts
Since the Beginningless Beginning
[A]s we receive the merits from the Buddha, the Great Mandala and the Odaimoku by devoting ourselves to them, we also send merits to them as well. How wonderful it is!
Our participation in the Buddha’s activities are also the activities of the Buddha residing in us and the activities of the nine realms residing in the Buddha’s life. This is the mutual possession of ten realms, Jikkai Gogu, and true cause and true effect, Hon-in Hon-ga. In other words, cause-and-effect, the realm of Buddha and the other nine realms are existing simultaneously and in oneness. Nichiren Shōnin stated in Kanjin
Honzon-Shō,
“All those who receive His (the Buddha) guidance are one with this Eternal Buddha,” (WNS2).
We are a part of the great life of the Eternal Buddha who has existed with the nine realms since the beginningless beginning.
The Three Bodies of the Buddha of Original Enlightenment
The Buddha of Original Enlightenment is universal and omnipresent. Earth, air, fire, water, colour, sound, smell, taste, touch, and all visible objects, form the Buddha’s Spiritual Body. Form, perception, conception, name and knowledge, as well as the functions of body, mouth, and will, are the Buddha’s Compensation Body. Head, trunk, hands and feet, eyes, nose, tongue and so forth, constitute his Transformation Body. Things and events are all interconvertible; they do not differ from each other in the smallest degree. When once the reason of this is understood, the three bodies of the Buddha of Original Enlightenment are displayed. Even the anger of infernal beings, the stupidity of beasts, the avarice of hungry devils, and all the base qualities inherent in other living beings, go to form the body of the Buddha of Original Enlightenment in its entirety. And it is the Great Mandala which represents and shows forth this mysterious inter-relation of entities.
Doctrines of Nichiren (1893)Awakening Our True Selves
Chanting Odaimoku and reciting the Lotus Sutra can bring about the awakening to our true selves. As we practice the eight-fold path and chant Odaimoku we can make the necessary changes in our view and our existence to ensure overcoming any obstacle.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1Bodhisattva Vow
“There are beings without limit,
Let us take the vow to convey them all across.There are depravities in us without number,
Let us take the vow to extinguish them all.There are truths without end,
Let us take the vow to comprehend them all.There is the Way of Buddha without comparison,
Let us take the vow to accomplish it perfectly.”
Hereby it is emphasized that without striving to fulfil the first vow, of saving fellow beings, the other three are vain, even if they could be achieved
History of Japanese ReligionThe Wonderful Dharma
Generally, [Myoho,] the Wonderful Dharma, or “True Dharma,” refers to the true nature of life and reality. This true reality is that nothing exists independently; that is, everything is said to be “interdependent.” From the point of view of the Buddha’s enlightenment, everything that has being and every event that comes to pass only does so in relationship to every other thing and every other event. More specifically, the Wonderful Dharma is the Dharma that is taught in the Lotus Sutra itself.
Lotus World: An Illustrated Guide to the GohonzonThe Thirst of the Gods
While Odaimoku consists of only seven Chinese characters, when you chant Odaimoku with all your faith, you will receive many of the Buddha’s rewards. Tradition says that when you chant Odaimoku faithfully, all gods and goddesses gather around you, tempted by the sound of the universal teaching. They will listen to your chanting and protect you from any harm. This tradition comes from a story about when the Buddha achieved perfect enlightenment – a god, the creator of the universe, appeared in front of the Buddha and requested the Buddha teach him about enlightenment. Gods might be almighty, but they are thirsty for universal enlightenment.
Spring WritingsActing on Our Intentions
It isn’t enough to merely form an intention and it being good is not sufficient either especially if we do not actually carry through with our intention until the end. If we had a good intention to go to work but gave up after leaving the house and merely wandered around all day never actually going to work then we could say that we lacked infinite intention. In our Buddhist practice we must realize that this is a practice of not just this lifetime but for lifetimes to come throughout infinity. So, we as Buddhist really do need to approach our intention of practice, our intention of enlightenment as an infinite intention.
Lecture on the Lotus Sutra