Jesus’ identity according to Soka Nichiren Buddhism

“Bodhisattva Jesus”:  Jesus’ life was a record of struggle for the sake of people, trying to save them from ignorance and suffering.  This essential life-tendency of altruism and compassion - which Jesus expressed despite facing great challenges -

is what Buddhism considers as the highest way leading to enlightenment, being the “Bodhisattva way”.

According to Mahayana tradition, Bodhisattvas make four universal vows:

(1) to save innumerable living beings, (2) to attain mastery over desires, (3) to master immeasurable teachings, and (4) to attain supreme enlightenment.  The essence of these Four Vows of Bodhisattva - can be also felt and verified through the flow of Jesus’ life.

In his dialogue with the British historian Arnold Toynbee, SGI president Ikeda identified Jesus as a Bodhisattva:

“I believe that both St Francis and Jesus belong in what we Buddhist call the Bodhisattva World”.  page 42

There is a strong tendency in Christianity to consider Jesus as a “living essence”- Christ, and not just as an individual.  This is quite clear through indications such as the “Christ in you” or that “God exists in your heart”.  In this perspective, Christ is synonymous with the spirit of love, compassion and devotion to helping others, features which coincide with what Buddhist call “the Buddhanature” existing as a potential drive in all people.

In his book: “A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher”, Rev, Laurence Carter of Martin Luther King Jr Chapel, Alabama, outlines the similarities between Christianity’s belief in Jesus and Nichiren Buddhism teachings  (based on the concept of Bodhisattva):
“ And it is precisely because of my profound conviction in the teachings of Jesus the Christ, the Prince of Peace, that I want to raise up the Nichiren Buddhist peace movement and its leader Daisaku Ikeda”. page 214

Jesus’ compassion and altruism was also reflected in the life of St Francis, whose focus was on helping ordinary people rather than claiming religious authority over them.  Many of his remarkable statements allude to the Bodhisattva way but perhaps his call for “Overcoming Self” is almost identical to the Buddhist principle of Self-Mastery (mastery over the mind and desires).

Reference to St Francis as a Bodhisattva in SGI literature fits his sincerity and actions expressing the Bodhisattva vows.