Nichiren Buddhism

Part 1

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From Practice

to Theory

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Soka Gakkai International

• Value Creation Society• A lay association based on the teachings of the

Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism.• More than 12 million members in 192 countries

and territories worldwide.• Non-governmental member of the United Nations• Activities:

– Peace activities through UN

– Promotion of culture between countries

– Education - kindergartens, school systems in Japan

and universities in Japan and America

• Daisaku Ikeda - SGI President and Buddhist philosopher

Daisaku Ikeda

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Nichiren Daishonin

• Nichiren (1222-1282)• Japanese Buddhist teacher and

reformer.• Founder of the Buddhist teaching

upon which the SGI bases its activities.

• Inscribed the object of devotion for observing one’s mind (Gohonzon) and established the invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the universal practice for attaining enlightenment.

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Everyone can be a Buddha!

• The Lotus Sutra declares:– All living beings have the potential to attain enlightenment or

Buddhahood. – Life is eternal, with neither beginning nor end.

• Nichiren further taught:– The only difference between a Buddha and a common

mortal is that a common mortal is deluded and Buddha is enlightened (awaken).

– A Buddha is one who perceives the true nature of life and leads others to attain the same enlightenment.

– Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo allows people to directly tap their enlightened nature and is the primary practice of SGI members.  

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Three elements of Buddhism

• Faith– Each of us has enormous potential, Buddhahood, which can

be revealed in this lifetime: internal life force, wisdom, courage and compassion

• Practice:– For yourself:

• Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo (daimoku) in front of Gohonzon (the scroll with Chinese diargams and some names in sanscrit)

• Gongyo - Reading aloud two chapters of Lotus Sutra (morning and evening)

– For others: Help others to become happier

• Study– Religion without study is fanatic

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Why Chanting?

To develop unshakable state of happiness and satisfaction, thus

• To achieve goals and realize dreams• Create value for yourself and for the society

So what do SGI members chant for?

Everything

Health

Finances

Relationships

GradesJobWisdomWorld peace

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Too Good to Be True

• How is it possible to obtain such results only by chanting incomprehensible words in front of the piece of paper?

• What does Nam-myoho-renge-kyo mean?• What is special about this piece of paper called

Gohonzon?

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Buddhism Questions Our Beliefs

For example• Nobody likes to suffer• We suffer when we encounter problems or obstacles• The connection between problem and suffering confuses people: problem =

suffering– Unemployed - unhappy– Thinks - “Unhappy because unemployed”– Is the one who has work happy? - Not always– So, unhappy because feels incapable

to find the work

• Sounds Banal - Tremendous difference• If you consider problems resolvable -

they become challenges• Buddhism teaches - Attitude towards problems defines if we win or

loose in building a happy life• Use problems as opportunities to grow, become stronger

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How to Become Stronger

• Through faith, chanting and studying• Nichiren Daishonin

“When we chant to resolve our problems, we can make that the suffering that we experience and that we challenge helps us to grow”

• Growing from sufferings? Bizarre idea? Not from Buddhist point of view

• All sufferings are not only inevitable, but necessary• The problems represent the means for people to develop their

full potential as human beings• Nichiren Daishonin

“You can know your real force only by fighting a powerful enemy.”

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Buddhism - Practical Philosophy

• Shakyamuni and dieing deer• Real spirit of Buddhism is to offer immediate practical

solution and not a philosophical discussion• Buddhism is a philosophy that

– Explains how life functions– Teaches how to be happy

• Instead of asking help fromoutside Buddhists chant– To bring out internal force– Wisdom– Courage– Compassion

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Nichiren: Three Proofs

• No blind faith• Three ways to understand, evaluate and judge a

religion1. Documental proof - teaching is based on and in accord with

documents2. Theoretical proof - how theory applies to life, compatibility

with reason and logic3. Actual proof - results produces when teaching is put into

practice

• The 3rd one is most important! It is not important how fascinating is theory, it has to produce results to be valuable

• In Buddhism faith growth from actual proof

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What does Nam-myoho-renge-kyo mean?

• Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the fundamental law of the universe expounded in Nichiren Buddhism.

• All life is an expression or manifestation of this law. When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we attune our lives to the perfect rhythm of the universe. The result is increased life force, wisdom, compassion and good fortune to face the challenges in front of us.

• Nam (devotion), the action of practicing Buddhism.

• Myoho (Mystic Law), the essential law of the universe and its phenomenal manifestations.

• Renge (lotus flower), which seeds and blooms at the same time represents the simultaneity of cause and effect. We create causes through thoughts, words and actions.

• Kyo (Buddha’s teaching), all phenomena.

• Literal “I devote myself to the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law.”

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The Complexity of Meaning

• Literal meaning is easy, but profound understanding is difficult• Theory of relativity E=mc2

– Everybody can understand literal meaning. Knowledge in physics is necessary to understand the profound meaning

– Einstein not only understood the law but was able to express it with 5 characters

– Didn’t invent anything (symbols or ideas), understood the relationship between energy, mass, light and time.

• Myoho-renge-kyo (5 characters)– Each character is an expression of one profound and complex aspect of

life– All together the relationship between the life itself and the universe.– To feel effect - you have to chant - to harmonise yourself with the Law of

Life– Like effect of music - brings joy or makes us crying - don’t feel anything if

you study only characters - you have to listen– We will study the meaning of Myoho-renge-kyo in our next meeting

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Myo ho ren ge kyo