Articles

Nichiren Buddhism is about revealing one’s potential to live a happy, meaningful life. It is about empowering the individual to transform any situation or hardship into beneficial experience - helping …

1941 Division between Soka Kyoiku Gakkai and the priesthood surfaced because of the priesthood’s obedience to the authorities’ demands during the II World War to regard the Emperor as superior to the …

Source: SGI-USA Diagram of the Gohonzon

Nichikan Shonin (1665 - 1726) - the 26 High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu – is known as the restorer of Nichiren teachings. Among his various works, clarifying the depth of Nichiren Buddhism, was his Six …

Stagnation in the system of Nichiren ShoShu Priesthood in general - is revealed not only in the administrative part of authority they impose on ordinary people, but also in the field of their …

During the II W W, the military authorities in Japan asked various Nichiren schools to delete passages from the Daishonin’s writings it viewed as disrespectful toward the emperor and the Shinto deity …

Nichiren Shu scholars interpret the Lotus Sutra through incompatible concepts with the revolutionary nature of Sutra, as in the following: The Bodhisattvas of the Lotus Sutra While all Mahayana …

Understanding Nichiren’s identity has a great importance to all who regard him as the founder of their school of Buddhism. Various Nichiren sects show reluctance to identify their founder as a Buddha, …

In an exchange of views, which took place on Tricycle magazine online discussion - Rev. Myokei of Nichiren Shu states: ”it really doesn’t matter whether Nichiren Shonin is a Buddha”. The question …

The Priesthood “The sanction of the High Priest is what makes the attainment of Buddhahood possible” NST News, Special Issue, p3 SGI Nowhere in Nichiren’s teachings a statement is found that one’s …

The word “Buddha” is used in two contexts. It covers two meanings: Buddha as a person, and Buddha as a state of life. The Buddha “state of life” is the “world of Buddhahood”. While the person of a …

The Priesthood Heritage of the Law is “received only by a single person”. Ref: 100 Questions and Answers, Nichiren Shoshu Temple, West Hollywood, 1996 (According to the priesthood, the Heritage of the …

The Priesthood : Absolute Obedience (to the person of the High Priest) should be the attitude of lay believers. (Source: DaiNichiren magazine, III, p. 13) SGI : The demand of “Strict Obedience and …

The Priesthood ” To talk about the priesthood and laity with a sense of equality are expressions of great conceit. In fact, they correspond to the five cardinal sins…” Nichiren Shoshu Head …

Authorising the Object of Devotion The Priesthood “One should never worship anything as a Gohonzon that has not been authorised by the High Priest, who has inherited the Heritage of the Law, even if …

Buddhism explains the mechanism of how a human revolution in one individual can change one’s destiny and radiate into great causes affecting society and the environment: The eighth consciousness …

The practice of chanting is common among all indigenous spiritual practices and in all major religions. The famous Christian call Hallelujah literally means “Voice your praise to the Lord” in Aramaic, …

Among different categories that can be used for comparison between various spiritual scriptures - the criteria of peace, security and equality of people - are the most important. This would lead to a …

Why do people become fanatics? On this subject Ikeda states: “…the belief that people should serve religion leads to fanaticism” (My Dear Friends in America, page 152). In a further explanation, Ikeda …

Acknowledging the phenomenon of diversity of desires, the Lotus Sutra regards the differences in tendencies among people as a welcome aspect of reality of human existence: “People have differing …

Nichiren Shu A “Disciple” in Nichiren Shu school of Buddhism is a novice priest (who leaves home and the secular world), while “Master” is a priest of a more advanced status. In this view, Master …

“Prayer is the foundation. But at the same time, if we fail to make concrete efforts, no matter how much daimoku we chant, our prayers will not be answered. Buddhism is reason. If we just chant and …

Living in this world is expressed by the working of one’s body&mind. The Mind of the individual has various levels of depth. As the Buddhist view suggests, the various levels of mind (Nine …

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 …

“Bodhisattva Gesù”: la vita di Gesù è stata un record di lotta per il bene delle persone, cercando di salvarle dall’ignoranza e dalla sofferenza. Questa essenziale tendenza alla vita …

In historical terms, the teachings of the Lotus Sutra were recorded by the Buddha’s followers starting with the phrase “This is What I Heard". Ikeda explains that : ”The essence of ‘This is what …

Mindfulness is about “awareness of the moment”. It focuses on breathing, attention to the surrounding, as well as awareness of the inner thoughts of the mind. It is basically about passively observing …

In Buddhist tradition, the Three Treasures are : the Buddha, the Law, and : the Samgha (Buddhist Order, or Community of Believers) The Treasure of “Buddhist Order” is claimed by the priesthood as …

The Three Treasures in Buddhism are The Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha (community of Believers). The central difference in doctrine between the two schools of Nichiren Shu and SGI is found in the …

Nichiren viewed Maitreya as “one of the protective forces” and a function of “guarding and helping” the Bodhisattvas of the Earth: “Moreover… all the bodhisattvas, Bodhisattva Maitreya … will guard …

Generally speaking, Traditional Buddhism (Pre-Lotus teachings) regards Karma as the “property of the past”. Nichiren teachings, on the other hand, explanin Karma as a work in progress, and a “property …

Soka Global Movement is a society of ordinary people of diverse backgrounds, who aim to transform their life, overcoming hardships and working for inner peace and world peace. Soka is a Japanese word …

The word “authenticity” of a doctrine refers to “originality” and “truthfulness”. When applied to Buddhist teachings, authenticity is about how a doctrine accords with the final Buddhist goal of …

All Buddhist schools teach that one’s present situation is the result of one’s past actions, or Karma. Nichiren Buddhism takes this concept further, to free oneself from the past, focusing on the …

The Western model of understanding of how conception of an embryo takes place, is basically reduced to a chemical reaction: all needed for a child to be born is the availability of just two factors: a …

Nichiren explained that the teaching of the Four Noble Truths was merely one of several specific teachings, which Shakyamuni taught in accordance with his listeners’ capacity and stage of practice: …

All Buddhist Traditions acknowledge the doctrine of the Three Treasures being the Buddha, the Law (Dharma) and the Community of Believers. Our knowledge of the Buddha’s teachings about the Law would …

“I firmly believe that a great human revolution in just a single individual can help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and enable a change in all humankind”. P. Ikeda’s famous statement on …

In a revolutionary declaration, Chapter 3 of the Lotus Sutra (Simile and Parable) explains that the ultimate teaching of Buddhism is: “the Law of the Lotus”, which is “unsurpassed, wonderful and …

According to Nichiren Buddhism, we currently live in the period of time called Mappo or the Latter Day of the Law . In his writing, Nichiren figuratively mentioned that this period of time is 10.000 …

What constitutes a “right” ? In philosophy and in the legal domain, a “right” of a human being is viewed as a ‘state to which an individual is entitled’. The reason why this “entitlement to rights” …

In a revolutionary declaration, Chapter 3 of the Lotus Sutra (Simile and Parable) explains that the ultimate teaching of Buddhism is: “the Law of the Lotus”, which is “unsurpassed, wonderful and …

History records many movements aimed at the renewal and revitalisation of various fields of activities and also the betterment of society. The word “revolution” was given to the radical movements of …

Needless to say, the international conventions on human rights contain lists of various rights of citizens (which abuse would lead to the suffering of affected individuals). However, realisation of …

by Daisaku Ikeda Silent prayers are the essence of our values in life. Accordingly, even though we may read their words, it is what we actually think - the thoughts occurring to us - that become our …

In various letters of his writings, Nichiren outlines the unique and revolutionary teachings contained in the Lotus Sutra, and which makes it a class of its own in Mahayana Buddhism: A Comparison of …

The individual human being is metaphorically expressed in the sutra’s text as a “Treasure Tower”, emerging from the “Earth of reality”. The “Treasure Tower” chapter describes a projection (from the …

Among various Mahayana schools of Buddhism, Tibetan teachings in particular hold the belief that Buddhism is currently heading towards decline: a decline which will end in a complete disintegration of …

Various schools of Mahayana Buddhism employ meditation and observing the precepts to create gradual “purification of one’s karma”, a process which takes the span of many lifetimes. According to …

The changing landscape of Pure Land The traditional view in Amitabha Buddhism maintains that salvation from sufferings is found after death : “…chanting that Amitabha Buddha, through the strength of …

Le somiglianze in alcuni dei concetti tra credenze cristiane e buddismo sono state notate da diversi studiosi. In sostanza, il concetto cristiano di “Dio” e il concetto buddista della …

In his interview with Tricycle magazine, Ikeda referred to the basic difference between Zen (and also Pure Land Buddhism) - and the Buddhism of the Lotus Sutra: “The Zen practice of just sitting is …

“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 …

Amida Buddhism and the Three Properties of Buddha Mahayana Buddhism refers to the Buddha as possessing three enlightened qualities (sanjin). The three properties (Wisdom, Compassion and Manifest …

The shift in Traditional Buddhism towards accepting the concepts of the Lotus Sutra, supports the view that the Buddha’s final teaching (of the Lotus Sutra) was preached to unify all previous Buddhist …

Christian literature refers to the concept of “Law” in sense of morality as well as in sense of the objective natural principles created by God: “Everything in the universe, every plant and animal, …

In order to lead people to enlightenment, Shakyamuni Buddha gradually conveyed his teachings over a period of over 40 years, preparing his listeners step by step to understand his final teaching. The …

Zen literature presents an interpretation of the Buddha’s Flower Sermon , as the starting point of their tradition. In the Flower Sermon Shakyamuni upheld a lotus flower before his disciples - …

The Lotus Sutra refers to its own principles as being difficult to believe: “A passage from the Lotus Sutra reads that it is “the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand.” …

Tibetan literature provides its explanation of the process of discovering the reincarnated Lamas. The process of “choosing a child” as the reincarnation of a deceased Lama is based on a judgement of a …

The “Universal Law” is the cosmic power that moves the world. It is the power pulsating in the lives of living beings and in all phenomena. It is also called the “Wonderful Law” or the “Mystic Law of …

Zen rejection of the role of voice and written teachings in Buddhist practice - constitutes a major difference between Zen and Nichiren Buddhism. Zen asserts that the essence of Buddhism was …

Zen values can be perceived from the essence of the information and messages contained in Zen literature - such as in koan. Obviously, a particular koan may describe a real event (which could have …