CategoryBuddhist Study

Nichiren Daishonin envisioned a society of respect, equality and happiness enjoyed by all. This was a far cry from the feudal, class-based society of 13th-century Japan in which he lived. Yet he tirelessly worked to fulfill his vision based on the Lotus Sutra’s teaching that all people inherently and equally possess Buddhahood.  This tenacious pursuit

The following commentary is from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on harmony in his subseries “A Religion of Human Revolution,” part of the “Buddhism of the Sun—Illuminating the World.” It can be found in A Religion of Human Revolution, pp. 59–60. Myo [meaning mystic, of myoho, the Mystic Law] means to revive, that is, to return to

“Thank you!”—such a short but powerful phrase. Research has shown that living with gratitude has positive, lasting effects on our overall well-being and relationships with those around us. Expressing gratitude is vital to leading a happy, fulfilling life.  Ikeda Sensei says: Solar systems follow their own defined orbits. Galaxies also travel through space in harmonious

The following text is excerpted from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on “The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” which can be found in Learning From Nichiren’s Writings: The Teachings for Victory, vol. 4, pp. 4–8. The Gohonzon Exists for the Enlightenment of All People “To begin with, this Gohonzon was revealed in the last eight years of

The following text is excerpted from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on “The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra,” which can be found in Learning from the Writings: The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, pp. 143–44. In its original sense, the term strategy refers to battle tactics, the science of warfare or martial arts. Considered more broadly, it

The following excerpt is from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude” in his lecture series Learning from the Writings: The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, pp. 222–27. To repay one’s debts of gratitude is the highest virtue. Neglecting gratitude is a reflection of a life controlled by innate negativity. As we each

The following was published in the December 2021 Living Buddhism, pp. 26–27. The Three Great Secret Laws represent core principles of Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching. They are: 1) the object of devotion of the essential teaching, 2) the daimoku of the essential teaching and 3) the sanctuary of the essential teaching. Here, “essential teaching” refers to

Buddhism’s ultimate goal has always been to enable people to attain Buddhahood, or enlightenment. Early Buddhists believed, however, that achieving this highest state of life required carrying out incredible efforts over countless lifetimes. The Lotus Sutra expounds a radically different perspective, teaching that rather than a destination to be reached sometime in the future, Buddhahood

The following excerpts are from the introduction to Ikeda Sensei’s series SGI President Ikeda’s Lecture Series: The Opening of the Eyes, pp. 3–9. The central theme of Nichiren Daishonin’s lengthy two-part treatise, “The Opening of the Eyes,” can indeed be summed up in the short phrase opening the eyes. While the Daishonin’s original text of

The following is excerpted from On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime: SGI President Ikeda’s Lecture Series, pp. 31–33 Practicing Nichiren Buddhism means not being swayed this way and that; it means constructing a self that is solid and resolute like towering Mount Fuji. But if we neglect this task and focus our energies somewhere else,

If a spark as small as a bean is set to a single blade of grass in a spring field of a thousand square ri thick with grass, it becomes in an instant an immeasurable, boundless blaze. Such is also the case with this robe. Though only one robe, it has been offered to the

Concept #20: Oneness of Mentor and Disciple

Concept #19: Oneness of Life and Its Environment

Concept #18: Oneness of Good and Evil

Concept #17: Oneness of Body and Mind

Concept #16: Oneness

Our behavior makes all the difference. What effectively conveys the greatness and power of our Buddhist teaching and practice is nothing but our respectful, humanistic actions. As Nichiren Daishonin states: “The purpose of the appearance in this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behavior as a human being” (“The Three

Concept #15: Faith Equals Daily Life

Concept #14: Many in Body, One in Mind

Concept #13: The Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life