Chapter 1_ Heritage of Ultimate Law of Life & Death
Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life and Death
1. Gosho Background
“The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life and Death” was written in 1272 and addressed to Sairen-bo , a former Tendai follower who became a disciple of Nichiren Daishonin.
The central theme of this Gosho is:
The heritage (lifeblood) of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo flows through faith based on the oneness of mentor and disciple.
2. Why Is It Called the “Ultimate” Law?
“Ultimate” means fundamental, greatest and most significant .
The Gosho addresses the fundamental question of life and death , which lies at the heart of Buddhism.
Understanding the law of life and death enables us to:
Overcome delusion and fundamental darkness
Understand the interconnectedness of life
Live each day more meaningfully
Face death without fear
3. Three Views of Life and Death
Extreme 1: View of Annihilation
This view holds that nothing remains after death .
It can lead to:
Hopelessness
Fear
Anxiety
Extreme 2: View of Permanence
This view holds that an unchanging self or soul continues permanently after death.
It can lead to:
Attachment to the self
Deeper delusion
Buddhist View: The Middle Way
Buddhism rejects both extremes.
Life and death are part of an eternal rhythm of the universe .
Life and death are two aspects of the same Mystic Law.
Birth and death, arising and extinction, are inherent parts of life.
4. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the Rhythm of the Universe
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the Mystic Law governing life and death .
Myo — the unmanifested or latent aspect; also associated with death and revival
Ho — the manifested aspect; associated with life
Myoho — expresses the two aspects of life and death
Thus:
Life and death are two sides of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
All living beings are governed by this same Law.
There is therefore no fundamental distinction between Shakyamuni Buddha, the Lotus Sutra and ordinary human beings —all are entities of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
5. Aligning Our Life With the Mystic Law
We align our lives with the rhythm of the universe by:
Dedicating Our Lives to Buddhism
Maintaining faith and practice throughout our lives
Practising for ourselves and others
Taking action based on Buddhist guidance
Not Begrudging Our Life
We embrace both suffering and joy as parts of life while continuing to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Valuing the Law Above All
Dedicating one's life to Buddhist practice is the path to attaining Buddhahood.
6. What Happens When We Align With the Law?
When our lives are aligned with the Mystic Law, we can bring forth:
Courage
Compassion
Wisdom
Absolute happiness
Good fortune
These enable us to live courageously in the present, face life's challenges and continue advancing throughout the eternal rhythm of life and death.
7. How Do We Inherit the Ultimate Law?
Only Through Faith
The heritage of the Law is inherited through faith .
We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the conviction that the Mystic Law exists within our own lives .
Faith is not merely intellectual understanding or theoretical study.
Even great disciples such as Shariputra and Ananda could not fully comprehend the Buddha's wisdom. The door to enlightenment is ultimately opened through faith .
Faith Means:
Faith in the Lotus Sutra
Faith in the Gohonzon
Faith in Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
Confidence that chanting creates boundless good fortune
Applying Buddhism in one's actual life
Toda Sensei stated:
“Please attain a state of life of true happiness based on the heritage of faith, and please enable others to do the same.”
Remember
Faith is not passive or isolated.
The heritage of faith means living the teachings through our actions and helping others do the same.
8. Steadfast Faith Until the Last Moment
We should maintain genuine faith at every moment of life , including our final moment.
This means:
As long as I am alive, I will not abandon my Buddhist practice.
Remaining steadfast in faith until the final moment is itself attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime .
Death is therefore not viewed as the cessation of life, but as the completion of one life and the beginning of another phase of existence within the eternal rhythm of life and death.
Buddha in Life, Buddha in Death
“One who is Buddha in life is Buddha in death.”
This principle cannot be understood through intellectual knowledge alone. It must be experienced through chanting, Buddhist activities and challenging oneself for kosen-rufu .
9. Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment
Earthly desires are enlightenment means that our desires, worries, challenges and sufferings can become sources of joy and growth when we base our lives on Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
The goal is not to eliminate all emotions or difficulties.
Rather, through Buddhist practice we develop the life state to:
Not be controlled by our karma
Transform suffering
Overcome challenges
Continue living with courage and hope
Even when we experience the death of someone close to us, grief and emotions naturally arise. Buddhist practice enables us to develop the inner strength to overcome the suffering and continue leading a fulfilled life.
10. How Do We Continue the Heritage?
The heritage of the Law is carried forward through:
Mentor and Disciple + Many in Body, One in Mind
Mentor and Disciple
The heritage of the ultimate law of life and death flows through faith based on the oneness of mentor and disciple .
To follow this path means:
Cherishing the same great desire as one's mentor
Taking action with the same selfless commitment
Persevering despite difficulties
Striving for kosen-rufu
The Daishonin identifies Bodhisattva Superior Practices as the teacher or mentor who carries out this mission.
Many in Body, One in Mind
The disciples advance with different individual identities but share the same purpose and spirit for kosen-rufu.
11. The Mentor-Disciple Lineage
The material presents the following succession of the spirit of the Mystic Law:
Shakyamuni → Many Treasures Buddha → Bodhisattva Superior Practices → Nichiren Daishonin → Bodhisattvas of the Earth → Three Founding Presidents of the Soka Gakkai
The three presidents carried forward this spirit in modern times:
Makiguchi Sensei — gave his life for his beliefs
Toda Sensei — established the foundation and practice of the Soka Gakkai
Ikeda Sensei — developed the movement worldwide through dialogue and Buddhist practice
A key way to connect with one's mentor is:
Study the mentor's guidance and apply it in daily life.
12. Soka Gakkai and the Heritage of the Law
According to the material, the Soka Gakkai carries forward the heritage of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism through:
Mentor and Disciple
Many in Body, One in Mind
Faith in Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
Chanting
Propagation and dialogue
Striving for kosen-rufu
Kosen-rufu
Kosen-rufu means working to help people overcome the suffering of life and death, realize genuine happiness and create a world where genuine peace prevails.
Through dialogue, we also bring forth the spirit of Bodhisattva Never Disparaging —respecting and encouraging others.
⭐ Key Points to Remember
Gosho: The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life and Death
Written: 1272
Recipient: Sairen-bo
Central theme: The heritage of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo flows through faith based on the oneness of mentor and disciple .
Three views of life and death: Annihilation, permanence and the Buddhist Middle Way .
Buddhist view: Life and death are part of the eternal rhythm of the universe .
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo: The Mystic Law governing life and death.
Myo: Unmanifested/latent aspect; Ho: Manifested aspect.
How to inherit the Law: Faith .
Faith must be lived through practice , not merely understood intellectually.
Steadfast faith until the final moment = attainment of Buddhahood in this lifetime.
“One who is Buddha in life is Buddha in death.”
Earthly desires are enlightenment: challenges and desires can become sources of growth and joy through faith.
The heritage continues through: Mentor and Disciple + Many in Body, One in Mind .
Kosen-rufu: Helping people overcome suffering, attain genuine happiness and establish peace.
Key practical principle: Study the mentor's guidance and apply it in daily life .
🧠 One-line exam revision
The heritage of the ultimate Law of life and death flows through faith; faith is expressed through practice, the oneness of mentor and disciple, and unity of Many in Body, One in Mind for the sake of kosen-rufu.