ONCE UPON A TIME....

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NICHIREN BUDDHISM (1253)

(From http://www.sgi.org )

April 28 marks the anniversary of the establishment of Nichiren Buddhism on April 28, 1253.

The Japanese monk Nichiren first invoked the chant "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" (literally "I devote myself to the wonderful law of the Lotus Sutra") on April 28, 1253, at Seichoji Temple in what is today Chiba Prefecture, where he had first studied Buddhism as a young boy.

He was 32 at the time, and extensive study of the Buddhist sutras had clarified for him that the Lotus Sutra was the vehicle that would lead all people directly to attain enlightenment, or Buddhahood in this present lifetime. It was at this time that he changed his name to Nichiren, meaning "sun lotus." This indicates that he attained enlightenment as a result of his own efforts.

Nichiren knew he would meet opposition, as there was great attachment at that time to the practice of Nembutsu, which encouraged people to believe that they could be reborn in a Pure Land after death. By declaring that the practice of the Lotus Sutra would enable people to manifest the Buddha nature in this lifetime, he was challenging the fundamental mindset of the time; that ordinary people were powerless to affect change.

He describes how, "At first, when I alone chanted the daimoku [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo], those who saw me, met me, or heard me covered their ears, glared at me with furious eyes, contorted their mouths, clenched their fists, and ground their teeth." Starting from the first day he declared his teaching, Nichiren was repeatedly threatened and attacked, risking his own life in an effort to help people discover the true message of Buddhism--that each person possesses limitless potential within their lives.

Despite being exiled twice and nearly killed on several occasions, Nichiren lived to the age of 61, dying peacefully. Transmission of his teachings and the fulfillment of his vision of peace founded on respect for the sanctity of life has been the guiding inspiration for the first three Soka Gakkai presidents and is the central pillar of SGI members' activities worldwide.

WHO IS WHO

TSUNESABURO MAKIGUCHI

Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944) was a reformist educator, author and philosopher. His educational ideas, and his theory of value-creation (soka), which underlies his pedagogy, are explored in his 1930 work Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei (The Theory of Value-Creating Pedagogy). Makiguchi's views completely contradicted the logic of the militarist government, which sought to use education to mold obedient, unquestioning servants of the state. As a teacher known for his warmth and consideration, he strove to introduce a more humanistic, student-centered approach to education. He fiercely opposed corrupt educational practices and was forced into early retirement as a result. In 1943, Makiguchi and Josei Toda (his closet disciple) were arrested and imprisoned. In 1944 Makiguchi died in prison of malnutrition, refusing to the end to compromise his beliefs.

Josei Toda was released from prison in July 1945, just weeks before the end of the war. Toda went on to rebuild the organization he and Makiguchi had founded, renaming it the Soka Gakkai.

More information  http://www.tmakiguchi.org/

THIS IS A VERY RECOMENDABLE WEBSITE

BBC religion section talks about nichiren daishonin buddhism. Very interesting !!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/subdivisions/nichiren_1.shtml

BUT...WHAT IS...

BUDDHADHOOD

Buddhahood is a dynamic state that is difficult to describe. We can partially describe it as a state of perfect freedom, in which we are enlightened to the ultimate truth of life. It is characterized by infinite compassion and boundless wisdom. In this state, we can resolve harmoniously what appear from the standpoint of the nine worlds to be insoluble contradictions. A Buddhist sutra describes the attributes of the Buddha's life as a true self, perfect freedom from karmic bonds throughout eternity, a life purified of illusion, and absolute happiness.

BUT...WHAT IS...

BODHISATTVA

BODHISATTVA is a condition in which one not only aspires for personal enlightenment but devotes oneself to relieving the sufferings of others through compassionate and altruistic actions. Even this state can have a negative aspect, however, the tendency towards self-sacrifice and acting but merely from a sense of duty and with resentment.

BUT...WHAT IS...

REALISATION

REALISATION (or Absorption) is a state in which one discovers a partial truth through one's own observations, efforts and concentration. The worlds of Learning and Realization are closely related. People in these states can become arrogant and self-centered.

BUT...WHAT IS...

LEARNING

In the learning state (also called coice-hearers) we seek the truth through the teachings or experience of others.