Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism
There is a vast array of Buddhist teachings out in the world, all stemming from the teaching of the original Buddha, Siddhartha (also known as Sakyamuni). It is believed that he was born in Lumbini, modern Nepal, around 623 B.C. He was a prince who left his royal life, a wife and a child to search for a solution to human suffering which is manifested in four major ways – birth, sickness, old age and death. He traveled for years with sages and wise man, trying to find the truth and to gain an understanding about the nature of life. He genuinely cared and believed that there was an answer to his question and that his quest with eventually lead him to it. He became wiser and more knowledgeable as time went on and eventually began teaching others what he knew so far. People learned from him and then went on to teach others while he continued on his road to enlightenment, thus many Buddhist schools were born and many different practices evolved from them, branching out, growing on their own once separated from the “original” source. The Buddha’s last teaching was “The Lotus Sutra” and in it he explained that all other teachings were provisionary, just temporary stepping stones toward the final teaching, and were to be discarded. In the Lotus Sutra he taught that life is eternal (without a beginning or an end) and that each person has a potential for greatness that is equal to his. He didn’t want anyone to worship him or pray to his statues. Instead, he emphasized that each person should work on developing that potential and that we (he and all other human beings, regardless of outward characteristics such as race, gender and social standing) are all equal in that respect. He also predicted that in the Latter Day Of the Law Buddhist practice will become to ritualistic and lose its substance. That’s when the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law was to emerge into the world and bring back its essence and make the practice more accessible to ordinary human beings that couldn’t lead of a life endless mediation of a wandering monk.
Nichiren Daishonin was a monk that was born in 13th century Japan. He joined a monastery as a child and devoted his youth and young adulthood to learning different Buddhist teachings and philosophies. At the age of 31 he declared that Lotus Sutra was the ultimate teaching that held the key to overcoming suffering. His goal was to make this teaching more available to regular people so that they too could attain enlightenment in this lifetime. He taught that chanting “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo” was how every person will be able to access and wake up the profound inner potential of Buddhahood. Nam stands for devotion and Myoho-Renge-Kyo is the title of the Lotus Sutra in Sanskrit. Myoho is the Mystic Law that governs the universe. Ho is everything that we see, the manifestations of life, and Myo is life’s mystic nature, the underlying forces that make things work the way they do. A good example of Myo would be gravity – we can’t see it, but it’s there, whether we believe in it or not. Nichiren explained Myo in one of his writings: “It is simply the mysterious nature of our life from moment to moment, which the mind cannot comprehend or words express. When we look into our own mind at any moment, we perceive neither color nor form to verify that it exists. Yet we still cannot say it does not exist, for many differing thoughts continually occur. The mind cannot be considered to either exist or not to exist. Life is indeed an elusive reality that transcends both the words and concepts of existence and non-existence. It is neither existence nor non-existence, yet exhibits the qualities of both.”
Renge is lotus flower and it represents simultaneity of cause and effect as the lotus plant blossoms and seeds at the same time. Seeds are the causes that we make on our lives, such as thoughts, words and actions, and blossoms are the effects that we get as a result of these causes. The fact that seeds and blossoms appear at the same time symbolizes that each cause carries in it an inherent effect that will manifest itself at some point in the future. The effect is immediate even though it often isn't visible to us right away. This is how karma is created, through an endless flow of causes or actions that play an integral role in shaping our future. Many philosophies believe karma to be a negative force, the c_ause of our suffering and something that we are stuck with. However, both Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin explain that karma can be positive or negative and that it can be changed based on ones current actions. We are free to create a new future by recognizing and diverting ourselves away from our negative patterns. Once we are aware that we are trapped in a certain cycle that doesn't bring anything positive to our lives, we can work on redirecting our actions toward something that creates value and happiness in our lives and the lives of others. Kyo means sutra, teaching of the Buddha, sound or vibration. When we chant, we create vibrations with our voices that match the rhythm of the universe and realign us to it.
Nichren dedicated his life to propagating the way to practice Buddhism that would benefit the people and free them from suffering in this lifetime. He taught that each person has the power of the limitless potential and that we can awaken that potential from its dormant state by chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Each person has the power and freedom to create their own beautiful victorious future by living their life to the fullest with compassion and courage and by following their heart. Nichiren inscribed a scroll called Gohonzon to serve as a mirror for us to see our lives as they really are, and to reveal to us the Buddha nature hidden behind layers of delusion created by existing in this world. Go means “worthy of honor” and honzon means “object of fundamental respect”. Nichiren Daishonin Buddhists don't worship anyone, not even the Buddha. It really is more about deep respect and appreciation, and about living your life with the same heart and spirit as those who contributed to this teaching. Buddhists believe that the power of the universe is in each human being, waiting to be discovered and developed.
Suggested Reading:
The Winning Life (Free PDF)
The Buddha in Your Mirror by Woody Hochswender, Greg Martin and Ted Morino
The Reluctant Buddhist by William Woollard
Nichiren Daishonin was a monk that was born in 13th century Japan. He joined a monastery as a child and devoted his youth and young adulthood to learning different Buddhist teachings and philosophies. At the age of 31 he declared that Lotus Sutra was the ultimate teaching that held the key to overcoming suffering. His goal was to make this teaching more available to regular people so that they too could attain enlightenment in this lifetime. He taught that chanting “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo” was how every person will be able to access and wake up the profound inner potential of Buddhahood. Nam stands for devotion and Myoho-Renge-Kyo is the title of the Lotus Sutra in Sanskrit. Myoho is the Mystic Law that governs the universe. Ho is everything that we see, the manifestations of life, and Myo is life’s mystic nature, the underlying forces that make things work the way they do. A good example of Myo would be gravity – we can’t see it, but it’s there, whether we believe in it or not. Nichiren explained Myo in one of his writings: “It is simply the mysterious nature of our life from moment to moment, which the mind cannot comprehend or words express. When we look into our own mind at any moment, we perceive neither color nor form to verify that it exists. Yet we still cannot say it does not exist, for many differing thoughts continually occur. The mind cannot be considered to either exist or not to exist. Life is indeed an elusive reality that transcends both the words and concepts of existence and non-existence. It is neither existence nor non-existence, yet exhibits the qualities of both.”
Renge is lotus flower and it represents simultaneity of cause and effect as the lotus plant blossoms and seeds at the same time. Seeds are the causes that we make on our lives, such as thoughts, words and actions, and blossoms are the effects that we get as a result of these causes. The fact that seeds and blossoms appear at the same time symbolizes that each cause carries in it an inherent effect that will manifest itself at some point in the future. The effect is immediate even though it often isn't visible to us right away. This is how karma is created, through an endless flow of causes or actions that play an integral role in shaping our future. Many philosophies believe karma to be a negative force, the c_ause of our suffering and something that we are stuck with. However, both Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin explain that karma can be positive or negative and that it can be changed based on ones current actions. We are free to create a new future by recognizing and diverting ourselves away from our negative patterns. Once we are aware that we are trapped in a certain cycle that doesn't bring anything positive to our lives, we can work on redirecting our actions toward something that creates value and happiness in our lives and the lives of others. Kyo means sutra, teaching of the Buddha, sound or vibration. When we chant, we create vibrations with our voices that match the rhythm of the universe and realign us to it.
Nichren dedicated his life to propagating the way to practice Buddhism that would benefit the people and free them from suffering in this lifetime. He taught that each person has the power of the limitless potential and that we can awaken that potential from its dormant state by chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Each person has the power and freedom to create their own beautiful victorious future by living their life to the fullest with compassion and courage and by following their heart. Nichiren inscribed a scroll called Gohonzon to serve as a mirror for us to see our lives as they really are, and to reveal to us the Buddha nature hidden behind layers of delusion created by existing in this world. Go means “worthy of honor” and honzon means “object of fundamental respect”. Nichiren Daishonin Buddhists don't worship anyone, not even the Buddha. It really is more about deep respect and appreciation, and about living your life with the same heart and spirit as those who contributed to this teaching. Buddhists believe that the power of the universe is in each human being, waiting to be discovered and developed.
Suggested Reading:
The Winning Life (Free PDF)
The Buddha in Your Mirror by Woody Hochswender, Greg Martin and Ted Morino
The Reluctant Buddhist by William Woollard