[This continues a previous conversation]
What is Buddhahood or, how would you describe it? It seems like such a vague term to me. Everywhere i’ve read, vagueness abounds. I was hoping you could maybe offer your take on this word?
On the meaning of Buddhahood, I like Ven. Kenjo Igarashi’s explanation here.
Specifically to Nichiren Buddhism, you have to consider Ichinen Sanzen, the 3000 realms in a single thought moment. Here’s a quick explanation.
And in the realm of things to ponder is Rev. Igarashi’s “Consciousness Only” view of our innate Buddhahood and why it seems hidden from us. See this blog post.
I’m sorry. I digested that information and, I just don’t get it.
One of the fundamental aspects of Buddhism is the requirement that each individual ponder what it all means. No one can enlighten you. There are certain things for which we are asked to have faith but even those require constant pondering. It’s all something to consider while chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
But if we can’t articulate these concepts in a way that lay men & women can understand, how can we propagate Buddhism?
Personally, I like the concept expressed by Ven. Kenjo Igarashi that “Essentially, [the eternal] Buddha is the ‘truth.’ ” One who becomes enlightened — who enters Buddhahood — awakens to the truth. The whole truth.
And what is this truth? Here’s one attempt to explain:
The Four Noble Truths are the fundamental teachings of the Buddha, a straight-forward application of the law of cause and effect. The Four Noble Truths are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of freedom from suffering, and the truth of the way to eliminate suffering that is the Eightfold Path. The first two truths describe the effect and the cause of suffering. The last two truths describe the effect and cause of freedom from suffering.
Lotus Seeds
The Physician left behind for us in the Lotus Sutra a medicine that looks, smells and tastes pleasing. It can cure all of the suffering children. The problem is that while it is easy enough to see that something looks nice and that it smells OK, there is no way tell if the medicine tastes pleasing without taking the medicine. That is the measure of the faith needed to embrace the Lotus Sutra and to receive the merits of this practice.
I believe I’ve articulated the foundation of Nichiren Buddhism, although I admit that much of it presupposes a certain general understanding of Buddhism.
My reading from the Lotus Sutra tonight covered Chapter 5: Simile of Herbs.
Although my teachings are of the same content to anyone
Just as the rain is of the same taste,
The hearers receive my teachings differently
According to their capacities
Just as the plants receive
Different amounts of the rain water.
Articulating these concepts in a way that “lay men & women” can understand is the original problem.
I appreciate you taking the time to explain things for me. I get the impression that Buddhahood is something to be experienced and that it just cannot be really encapsulated into words?
Yes. I’d say that pretty much nothing related to Buddhahood can be encapsulated into words. But that doesn’t mean we don’t try.
Nichiren’s Buddhism draws its foundation from the Tendai Buddhism of his day and before. The founder of Tendai Buddhism, in discussing the realization of the 3,000 realms in a single thought moment as enlightenment, offered this:
“One may say neither that the one mind is prior and all dharmas posterior nor that all dharmas are prior and the one mind posterior. … If one derives all dharmas from the one mind, this is a vertical relationship. If the mind all at once contains all dharmas, this is a horizontal relationship. Neither vertical nor horizontal will do. All one can say is that the mind is all dharmas, and all dharmas are the mind. Therefore the relationship is neither vertical nor horizontal, neither the same nor different. It is obscure, subtle and profound in the extreme. Knowledge cannot know it, nor can words speak it. Herein lies the reason for its being called ‘the realm of the inconceivable.’ ” *
Describing enlightenment as “the realm of the inconceivable” works for me. Really appreciating that in each moment we have the potential to realize Buddhahood is just amazing.
* This quote comes from “Original Enlightenment and the Transformation of Medieval Japanese Buddhism” by Jacqueline I. Stone.