Implications of the Principle of IchinenSanzen

What are the implications of the principle of IchinenSanzen?

 Destiny is not fixed: 

The concept of IchinenSanzen is derived from the Lotus Sutra, which differs from pre-Lotus teachings in regard to attainment of Buddhahood (and to overcoming one’s karmic obstacles).  Based on the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren Buddhism teaches that one’s future is not dictated by past karma, but by one’s current actions (or life-essence) at each moment.

Our present life-essence (ichinen), our full intention or determination - directs our life to create a relevant scenario of future events.  Any situation we experience at present has an impact on the future. The future we are inspired to create starts from our determined actions at each moment - based on the Mystic Law.

Buddhahood is a reality: 

According to the principle of IchinenSanzen, life at each moment contains - not only the lower states of suffering - but Buddhahood as well , as a potential. The teaching of the “Ten Factors of Life” (mentioned in the Hoben/ Expedient Means chapter of the Lotus Sutra) implies that there is no physical or mental barrier preventing ordinary people from attaining Buddhahood. 

Additionally, the Principle of the Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds teaches that in any state of life, Buddhahood exists as a potential (or dormant state) awaiting manifestation.  These teachings are the essence of Ichinen Sanzen - which teaches that not only the lower states of hardships and sufferings exist, but also the higher states of life including Buddhahood, and that all these states of life have the same right to exist and manifest at any moment of time.

Interconnectedness of Individual, Society and Environment: 

Buddhism distinguishes three realms of existence of life; the Individual, society and the environment.  What is valid for the individual (experiencing the Ten Worlds in one’s own life) is also valid for a “group of individuals” – or society, as well as for the environment - without which people do not exist. 

IchinenSanzen teaches the inseparability of these “three realms”: oneself (as an individual), society (to which one belongs), and the environment (sustaining all life).

The interconnectedness of these three realms implies that: an inner change in the life of an individual can trigger a change in the lives of others and can affect the surrounding environment.

IchinenSanzen is the Ultimate Truth:

At this moment of time (ichinen), there are uncountable events taking place in people’s lives, expressing the Ten Worlds.  One’s life is inseparable from the life of all living beings and the environment.  Although one’s life is unique, personal and is different from others, nonetheless all lives exist at the same time in this one moment.  All living beings are interconnected and their lives are inseparable.  The sum of all lives (and their environment) at this moment of time - is the Cosmic Life. 

This inseparable connectedness of all lives is the ultimate truth:

One’s life exists within the Ultimate Truth.  There is no separation between one’s own life and the ultimate truth (which is the cosmic life itself).   IchinenSanzen basically teaches that one’s life - and all life of the universe - share the truth of mutual existence.m

The Gohonzon (the Life of Buddha) expresses IchinenSanzen:

The purpose of the doctrine of IchinenSanzen is to declare that Buddhahood is an “inherent state” within the physical reality of all life, as it is. 

The characters inscribed in the Gohonzon refer to the three realms of life: the names of individual human beings, the protective powers of society and the reference to cosmic powers acting within the environment. 

The three realms of life are inscribed in the Gohonzon around the central characters of the Mystic Law, MyohoRengeKyo, and which refers to the Ten Factors of life.  The Mystic Law displays all the Ten Worlds - which are included within the Gohonzon - mutually inclusive.   Thus the Gohonzon encodes all elements of IchinenSanzen: the three realms, the Ten factors and the Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds.  This depiction of reality of life in the Gohonzon is transformed into the state of Buddhahood, the life of Buddha which is beyond time or space.