Most Buddhists do not believe that everything about us ceases to exist upon our death. Death is the starting point of a new journey. Nichiren Shonin taught that death is a pilgrimage to Mount Sacred Eagle – an encounter with the Eternal Buddha and with Nichiren Shonin.
Awakening to the LotusQuotes
Buddhism’s End in India
By turning away from the people, the Buddhist establishments deprived themselves of wide popular support and made themselves especially vulnerable to the destructive raids of the Muslims. The Buddhist faith was gone; only monasteries and monks remained. When these were wiped out, Buddhism ceased to exist in India. The obliteration was complete by the year 1200.
Basic Buddhist ConceptsEverything in the Universe
[When speaking of 3,000 realms, w]hat does this number three thousand represent? It represents everything not only of the earth, but also of the universe and includes everything in the past, present, and future. Everything of the universe from animals, plants, other beings, visible or invisible, and their activities, workings, and movements are included in the three thousand realms. Everything of the universe exists within each one of us. Everything influences us, works together as primary cause and environmental cause and brings effects, rewards and retributions. All of us exist in relationship with everything in the universe.
Buddha Seed: Understanding the OdaimokuThe Three Secret Ordinances
The Three Secret Ordinances, which are peculiar to the Nichiren Sect, are as follow:
1. Honzon, or the Chief Object of Worship.
2. Daimoku, or the Title of the [Lotus Sutra].
3. Kaidan, or the Place for Learning Moral Precepts.
The Chief Object of Worship is a hanging chart, or scroll, called the Great Mandala. The Mandala is a symbolical representation of Sakyamuni and the Truth; it embodies them in visible form, and constitutes a focus and an epitome of the whole doctrine. In the middle of it are inscribed the characters [Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo]. This group of seven characters is called the Body-in-General of the Buddha, while on either side are arranged certain delineations of a pictorial nature, known as his Bodies-Separate, and representing the Ten Worlds of Living Beings.
Doctrines of Nichiren (1893)Human Being, Human Doing
Some view Buddhism as merely a self-help process, practicing mindfulness as if that was all there is. If we view our Buddhist practice in such a way then we are still residing in the realm of doing, even if the doing is more beneficial than other doings.
As a self-help model alone we would be merely replacing one method of doing with another method. Buddhism offers more, much more. Buddhism creates the conditions within our lives for a transcendent experience of our relationship not only to and with ourselves but also being transcendent with all else.
Finding our true identity is key, and we can’t do this if we ignore the being part of human. Daily we work hard and worry, yet the gem we truly seek is something we already posses.
Lotus Path: Practicing the Lotus Sutra Volume 1The Gospel of the Lotus
The “Lotus” is a gospel of universal salvation and its purpose is to interpret the life and personality of the historical Buddha Sākya-muni as a manifestation of eternal truth (Dharma) working ever to bring all beings without exception into the all-embracing way (Eka-yāna) of salvation and enlightenment. His power of saving all is likened to the rainwater which, being one and homogeneous in itself, nourishes all plants and herbs of diverse sorts according to their respective natures and capacities. Not only was Buddha himself an example of Buddhist perfection but he also guides and inspires everyone who is ready to follow him. His working is not limited to his lifetime. He is an eternal and omnipresent Lord of the Universe, and besides his own direct instruction and inspiration, he sends innumerable saints, Bodhisattva, for the salvation of all throughout the ages. Thus we can see why Prince Shōtoku selected this book as the central theme of his lectures. His life was an emulation of this work of Buddha, and considering himself to be a Bodhisattva, he derived inspiration from those passages where Buddha’s saints were depicted as working incessantly for perfecting themselves by saving others and inducing others to take the same way to perfection.
History of Japanese ReligionOpening the Eyes
It should be noted that [gohonzons] are only considered to be the focus of devotion after they have received an “eye-opening” ceremony. … The object is acknowledged from that moment on as the living symbol of the focus of devotion; no longer is it simply an artistic representation. In other words, due to the practice of the Buddha’s teachings on its behalf by one who understands the essence of the Lotus Sutra, the statue or mandala is said to have “opened its eyes” and become a Buddha. From that time on, it represents the living presence of the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha and serves as a catalyst for the realization of our own Buddhahood.
Lotus World: An Illustrated Guide to the GohonzonThe Source of Corruption
When there are complaints about this world being a corrupted human world, haven’t you ever thought or wondered, “Who made it like this?” In fact, it was us. We, human beings, corrupted this world. This world is innocent. If such human beings were to move to an ideal world, they would definitely corrupt the world again, and it would be just as they describe this world. Unless we improve our minds and purify our spirits, we will repeat the same behavior, and end up with the same results, no matter where we live.
Spring WritingsObstacles in the Path to Enlightenment
The path to enlightenment is not easy. Along our way there are certainly many things that will appear to complicate our lives. We will certainly face many obstacles, but we should always keep in mind that because of the teachings of the Buddha we have an excellent guide who will show us the way to Buddhahood. Practicing Buddhism is not easy, but it is not impossible to accomplish the ultimate goal of manifesting our inherent Buddha.
Lecture on the Lotus SutraThe Perfect Expression of the Ultimate Truth
During the Ceremony in the Air, Shakyamuni Buddha is shown to be the Original Buddha, whereas all other buddhas throughout the universe are merely reflections of him. He is not just one buddha among others. He is the one who perfectly expresses the ultimate truth, the Wonderful Dharma, which all buddhas teach. This truth is not many, it is one, and it is universal. The truth is the same for all beings, though it may he expressed and understood differently by different people. Ultimately, anyone who awakens to this truth and teaches it to others will be in harmony with Shakyamuui Buddha. Though other teachings may be distorted or partial reflections of the truth, when we uphold the Wonderful Dharma of lhe Elernal Shakyamuni Buddha, we are upholding the most perfect and complete expression of the true nature of reality.
Lotus Seeds