NICHIREN SHOSHU BUDDHISM
Christianity, Judaism and Islam teach that good fortune or misfortune is determined by the “will of God” or “the grace of God” or as “God’s blessing or punishment.” Scientists teach that DNA determines one’s good fortune or misfortune. But, even twins with identical DNA do not share the same fortune or misfortune.
In Buddhism it is not the “will of Buddha” that determines our good fortune or misfortune. True Buddhism explains that our good fortune or misfortune is determined by the Law of Cause and Effect over the three existences of life of past, present and future. The True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin discovered this Law of Cause and Effect and named it, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. He also tested the validity of this Law for 27 years from 1253 to 1279 and received actual proof in the form of protection from numerous persecutions by the established Buddhist sects and their powerful governmental patrons. He concluded from these experiences that this Law was real, not a fake law or just a story. He decided to share this Law, the source of all good fortune, with as many people as possible. However, this Law of Cause and Effect is invisible. So it was not easy to share this law or enable all people to embrace it and gain their own good fortune.
To enable all people to embrace the source of all good fortune, Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the invisible Law of Cause and Effect into the visible form of the object of worship, called the Gohonzon. When we embrace this Law and chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo to the Gohonzon, then all our misfortune naturally changes to good fortune, without our realizing it, day by day, month by month and year by year. By chanting to this Gohonzon we can test this Law and obtain the same actual proof of protection as the True Buddha.
The important point is for as many people as possible to embrace this Law and chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, the source of good fortune. Then all people, all societies, and all countries will experience tremendous good fortune. This is the dream and desire of our founder, Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha.
Historical View
Shakyamuni Buddha, who lived in India 3,000 years ago, predicted in the Great Collection Sutra (Daijuku Sutra) that the world would enter an age of strife and religious confusion 2,000 years after his death. (This age began around the year 1100.) This was to be an age when Shakyamuni’s own teachings would lose their ability to help people: “The Pure Law would become obscured and lost.” He called this age Mappo, or the ‘Latter Day of the Law.’
However, Shakyamuni made an additional prediction in the Lotus Sutra. He predicted the appearance of the ‘True Buddhism’ for the latter age of Mappo that would replace his own varied earlier teachings of provisional Buddhism. Shakyamuni taught that the Original (True) Buddha, the fundamental master of all Buddhas, would appear in the world to teach this True Buddhism for the people in this later time period. The appearance in 1222 of Nichiren Daishonin proved the validity of Shakyamuni’s prediction. Nichiren Daishonin stated:
“Now in the Latter Day of the Law, neither the Lotus Sutra nor the other sutras lead to enlightenment; only Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo can do so. And this is not merely my own opinion. Shakyamuni, Taho, and all the other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions as well as the innumerable Bodhisattvas of the Earth have so determined…. A lamp will be useless after the sun rises. How can dewdrops be beneficial once the rain falls?” (MW, Vol. 3, p. 266; Gosho, p. 1219)
The True Buddhism of the Original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, the teaching of the ultimate truth of enlightenment, was established on April 28, 1253 at Seicho-ji Temple in Toho Village of Awa Province in Japan. On that day Nichiren Daishonin first chanted and taught Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for the enlightenment of all living beings.
Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo
In the infinite past, Kuon-ganjo, the True Buddha named the ultimate Law or true entity of life in the universe as Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Literally “Nam” means devotion and “Myoho-Renge-Kyo” is the title of the Lotus Sutra. A simplified translation means “Devotion to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra.”
Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is also called the Mystic Law of cause and effect, because within it is both the cause and effect of attaining Buddhahood. “Renge” means Lotus Flower. The Lotus Flower produces its flower and seeds at the same time, representing the simultaneity of cause and effect. The cause is to chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and the effect is attaining enlightenment within our present lifetime.
Even though Buddhahood exists within our lives already, we need a practical means to manifest it every day. Once we awaken the highest potential within our lives we can manifest immeasurable wisdom and power to challenge and overcome our problems and share our joy with the people in our lives. The depth and significance of chanting Daimoku (Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo) deepens and blossoms as we continue to practice this Buddhism throughout our lives.
Nichiren Daishonin’s Dai-Gohonzon
The Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary, inscribed on October 12, 1279, is the foundation and source of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. With this essential Gohonzon as the object of faith, all people of Mappo can attain enlightenment. By chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo to the Gohonzon with sincere faith, we are able to fuse our lives with the fundamental law governing all phenomena and the enlightened life of the Original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin.
The Dai-Gohonzon that Nichiren Daishonin inscribed in the form of a mandala is the enlightened life of the True Buddha Himself, possessing the Three Virtues of Sovereign, Teacher and Parent. What do these mean for us? The Sovereign, with absolute power, works to protect all the people. The Teacher instructs and guides all people so they may attain enlightenment, the state of absolute happiness. The Parent manifests the compassion and mercy to nurture and support all living beings. Through our own various experiences and study of His teachings, we will naturally begin to realize that in fact the Gohonzon is the actual life of the Buddha. Then, our own enlightenment is possible, bringing the Buddha nature embodied in the Gohonzon and one’s own innate dormant Buddha nature into oneness.
Conclusion
Taking faith in the Gohonzon is not just based upon emotion, logic, or empirical thinking. When a person begins to practice this Buddhism, faith is simply the effort to practice every day. Over time, one’s strong sincere practice and faith will result in wonderful benefit, enabling each person to go beyond thinking or worrying about pure material gain. We will be able to focus more on sharing our joy of faith with others — helping produce a world without war where people respect all life.
Our practice is chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo (that is, Daimoku), and reciting certain portions of the Lotus Sutra (Gongyo), every morning and every evening. As a member of Nichiren Shoshu, we are able to receive the Gohonzon in your own home. In addition, to praying to this Gohonzon, we also attend ceremonies and activities at our local Temples. The deep desire to seek the truth of Buddhism is expressed as the study of doctrine. Nichiren Daishonin states:
“Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism.... Both practice and study arise from faith.” (MW, Vol. 1, p. 95, Gosho, p. 668)
As we gain actual proof of the great fortune of the Gohonzon and an understanding of the doctrine, our faith will deepen without fail.
By having strong faith in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, all people can attain the life condition of absolute happiness, or Buddhahood. As proof, benefit is revealed by the effect of Buddhahood welling
up inside the life of the believer. The emergence of the great power of benefit from the Gohonzon will provide absolute proof, leaving no room for doubt. Nichiren Daishonin clarified this life condition as follows:
“Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle? It is written that those who embrace the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra will be protected by Kishimojin and her ten daughters. They will enjoy the happiness of Aizen and the good fortune of Bishamon. Wherever your daughter may frolic or play, no harm will come to her; she will be free from fear like the lion king.”
(MW, Vol. 1, p. 119; Gosho, p. 685)
The attainment of Buddhahood in one’s present form does not mean that we will become detached from people in the world or that we won’t have troubles or sufferings. Rather, it is the ability to live a life filled with joy, challenging problems and resolving them. This is the life condition symbolized by the four virtues of Jo, Raku, Ga, and Jo. Jo (eternity) is an indestructible eternal life. Raku (happiness) is a feeling of absolute (not “relative”) happiness from the enjoyment of living itself. Ga (true self) is a strong and harmonious will, undisturbed by any outside influence. Jo (purity) is a pure life, unaffected by outside influences.
If we continue to practice for three years, five years, and so on without impatience, we will all be able to look back on our lives and, without exception, realize that our whole life has elevated, and that we have accomplished immense development. The practice of True Buddhism is a lifelong journey. Nichiren Daishonin teaches us that to begin is easy but to continue is difficult; however, attaining enlightenment lies in continuing faith.