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.

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...

NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO

The invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo was established by Nichiren Daishonin on April 28, 1253. Having studied widely among all the Buddhist sutras, he had concluded that the Lotus Sutra contains the ultimate truth of Buddhism: that everyone without exception has the potential to attain Buddhahood. The title of the Lotus Sutra in its Japanese translation is Myoho-renge-kyo. But to Nichiren, Myoho-renge-kyo was far more than the title of a Buddhist text, it was the expression, in words, of the Law of life which all Buddhist teachings in one way or another seek to clarify. What follows is a brief and unavoidably limited explanation of some of the key concepts expressed by this phrase.

NAM

The word nam derives from Sanskrit. A close translation of its meaning is "to devote oneself." Nichiren established the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as a means to enable all people to put their lives in harmony or rhythm with the law of life, or Dharma. In the original Sanskrit, nam indicates the elements of action and attitude, and refers therefore to the correct action one needs to take and the attitude one needs to develop in order to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime.

MYOHO

Myoho literally means the Mystic Law, and expresses the relationship between the life inherent in the universe and the many different ways this life expresses itself. Myo refers to the very essence of life, which is "invisible" and beyond intellectual understanding. This essence always expresses itself in a tangible form (ho) that can be apprehended by the senses. Phenomena (ho) are changeable, but pervading all such phenomena is a constant reality known as myo.

RENGE

Renge means lotus flower. The lotus blooms and produces seeds at the same time, and thus represents the simultaneity of cause and effect. The circumstances and quality of our individual lives are determined by the causes and effects, both good and bad, that we accumulate (through our thoughts, words and actions) at each moment. This is called our "karma." The law of cause and effect explains that we each have personal responsibility for our own destiny. We create our destiny and we can change it. The most powerful cause we can make is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo; the effect of Buddhahood is simultaneously created in the depths of our life and will definitely manifest in time.

The lotus flower grows and blooms in a muddy pond, and yet remains pristine and free from any defilement, symbolizing the emergence of Buddhahood from within the life of an ordinary person.

KYO

Kyo literally means sutra, the voice or teaching of a Buddha. In this sense, it also means sound, rhythm or vibration. Also, the Chinese character for kyo originally meant the warp in a piece of woven cloth, symbolizing the continuity of life throughout past, present and future. In a broad sense, kyo conveys the concept that all things in the universe are a manifestation of the Mystic Law.