Highlights of the June 2026 Study Material

Awakening the Buddha’s Supernatural Powers in All People

This month, we are studying the “Supernatural Powers of the Thus Come One,” the Lotus Sutra’s 21st chapter. Nichiren Daishonin regarded this as one of the sutra’s most important chapters because it depicts Shakyamuni Buddha entrusting the Bodhisattvas of the Earth with accomplishing kosen-rufu after his passing.

Shakyamuni wished to lead all people, without exception, to happiness and enlightenment far into the future. To fulfill this aim, he asks in earlier chapters who will propagate this teaching after his passing. Though various disciples volunteer, he declines their offers, explaining that they are unwilling to undertake this task in the trouble-filled saha world. 

Then, in the 15th chapter, “Emerging from the Earth,” multitudes of Bodhisattvas of the Earth dramatically appear from beneath the ground. Shakyamuni reveals that he has been training and teaching these bodhisattvas since the distant past. Because of this, they are uniquely prepared to fulfill their vow to spread the Mystic Law in the most chaotic and defiled age.

Ikeda Sensei explains:

In any land, the Bodhisattvas of the Earth shoulder the task of widely propagating the Law from the Buddha to all people. Why is that? It’s because while the Bodhisattvas of the Earth have the same state of life as the Buddha, their conduct is thoroughly that of bodhisattvas. They could therefore be described as “bodhisattva-Buddhas.” (The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 5, p. 127)

In this age, the way to engage in Buddhist practice and realize kosen-rufu is by going out into the world, among the people. 

After the Bodhisattvas of the Earth vow to spread the Law, Shakyamuni displays ten supernatural powers—acts said to move the entire universe. These include extending his long tongue to the Brahma Heaven, emitting light of countless colors from every pore, snapping his fingers so their sound reaches all the worlds and enabling unobstructed passage throughout the ten directions.

While these powers seem fantastical, their purpose is symbolic. They represent the functions of life and the process of realizing kosen-rufu. Sensei explains: “‘Supernatural powers’ means the power of the spirit or of life. In particular, it refers to the great life force of Buddhahood” (WLS-5, 138). And Nichiren clarifies, “The Thus Come One refers to all living beings” (OTT, 167).

In this way, this chapter reveals that the Buddha’s supernatural powers are expressions of the universal life force that exists within all people. By manifesting this life force, Bodhisattvas of the Earth work to awaken each person to their potential and steadily advance kosen-rufu.

 —Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department

Ikeda Sensei’s Guidance

Bodhisattva-Buddhas: Rejoicing and Spreading the Law 

The Buddha goes to the place where people are suffering the most—to the saha world. A real Buddha shares everyone’s sufferings. Anything short of this is not the genuine article. …

Referring to the principle that the saha world itself is the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light, [Josei Toda] once said, “Buddhism at this point has refuted everything it had expounded.” This is because, contrary to what had previously been taught, this concept reveals that the ideal is not to eventually reach some distant pure land. Rather, it is to eternally strive for peace and human happiness while living in this world, which is filled with suffering. The Buddha exists nowhere apart from such endurance.

That the saha world is the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light is stating this revelation from the standpoint of the environment. From the standpoint of the person, it implies that the Buddha is in reality a “bodhisattva-Buddha.” Shakyamuni was a bodhisattva and at the same time a Buddha.

The idea of the bodhisattva is said to refer originally to the way of life Shakyamuni followed while he was striving for enlightenment. But it is not the case that Shakyamuni was a bodhisattva only during his years of practice. Even after he had attained the Way, Shakyamuni continued to carry out the actions of a bodhisattva to spread the great Law to which he had awakened. While boundlessly rejoicing in the awareness of the eternity of life that filled his being, he spread that Law to others. This is what is meant by a “bodhisattva-Buddha.”

That’s why Mr. Toda said that this revelation turned Buddhism on its head. The essential point is that even after attaining enlightenment, Shakyamuni continued to exist as a human being. The Lotus Sutra thus appeals: “Restore your humanity!” (WLS-5, 134–35)

Digging Deep

June Study Guide 

Please use these questions to guide your study of  The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 5, pp. 121–46. 

1) Why does Nichiren Daishonin deem the “Supernatural Powers” chapter one of the most important chapters in the Lotus Sutra? (WLS-5, 121–22)

In this chapter, what is the meaning of “transmission” and how does it relate to the mentor-and-disciple relationship? (WLS-5, 123–26)

2) Ikeda Sensei says, “Shakyamuni was a bodhisattva and at the same time a Buddha” (WLS-5, 135). Explain the term “bodhisattva-Buddha.” (WLS-5, 127–35)

3) Regarding the “ten super-natural powers of the Thus Come One,” Sensei says that “ ‘supernatural powers’ means the power of the spirit or of life” (WLS-5, 138). How can we understand this in terms of human life and from the standpoint of the Buddhist philosophy of life? (WLS-5, 137–39)

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Looking Forward: July Syllabus

The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 5, pp. 147–74
Part Five: “Supernatural Powers of the Thus Come One” Chapter
6:“The Dawn of ‘Humanistic Buddhism’ ”

From the June 2026 Living Buddhism