Embracing the Gohonzon as Observing One's Own Mind
Embracing the Gohonzon Is in Itself Observing One's Own Mind
The purpose of Buddhist practice is to establish, in this lifetime, the life state of Buddhahood and absolute happiness , unaffected by changes in circumstances.
For this purpose, Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Gohonzon , establishing a way for all people to reveal the world of Buddhahood within their own lives.
The principle can be summarized as:
Embracing the Gohonzon is in itself observing one's own mind.
1. The Significance of the Gohonzon
An object of devotion is what a religious tradition regards as most worthy of reverence. It reflects what is fundamental to that faith.
In Nichiren Buddhism, the object of devotion is the Gohonzon of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo , established by Nichiren Daishonin.
The Gohonzon enables ordinary people to make the world of Buddhahood within their own lives the foundation of their lives.
2. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo — The Seed of Buddhahood
Shakyamuni awakened to the fundamental Law that permeates all life. This fundamental Law is the Mystic Law .
Nichiren Daishonin revealed this Law as:
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
The Mystic Law is the cause or seed of Buddhahood and is inherently present within the lives of all living beings as their Buddha nature or world of Buddhahood .
When we believe in the Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we summon forth and manifest the Buddhahood inherent within our lives.
Nichiren Daishonin explains:
“When we revere myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own life as the object of devotion, the Buddha nature within us is summoned forth and manifested by our chanting of nam myoho-renge-kyo.”
— Those Initially Aspiring to the Way , WND-1, 887
Remember
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo = the fundamental Law and the world of Buddhahood inherent in life.
3. “I, Nichiren, Have Inscribed My Life”
Nichiren Daishonin awakened to the Mystic Law within his own life and revealed it as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo .
He then embodied this Law in the form of the Gohonzon .
The Daishonin states:
“I, Nichiren, have inscribed my life in Sumi ink, so believe in the Gohonzon with your whole heart. The Buddha's will is the Lotus Sutra, but the soul of Nichiren is nothing other than Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.”
— Reply to Kyo'o , WND-1, 412
At the center of the Gohonzon are the words:
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo Nichiren
Thus, the Gohonzon is an expression of the world of Buddhahood that Nichiren Daishonin revealed and embodied in his own life .
4. The Gohonzon as a Clear Mirror
Nichiren Daishonin revealed the fundamental Law for attaining Buddhahood and established the Gohonzon as its concrete expression.
The Gohonzon can therefore be understood as a clear mirror of the Buddhahood inherent within our lives .
When we believe in and pray to the Gohonzon, we can bring forth this inherent Buddhahood.
Remember
Gohonzon = a clear mirror that enables us to observe and bring forth the Buddhahood inherent within our lives.
5. The Gohonzon and the Ceremony in the Air
Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Gohonzon as a mandala depicting the Ceremony in the Air described in the Lotus Sutra.
The Ceremony in the Air begins with the appearance of the Treasure Tower in the “Emergence of the Treasure Tower,” Chapter 11 and concludes with the “Entrustment,” Chapter 22 .
At the ceremony, Shakyamuni entrusts the Bodhisattvas of the Earth with the mission of spreading the Lotus Sutra in the age after his passing.
The Gohonzon is based on this ceremony of entrustment.
The Treasure Tower
The Treasure Tower is a central element of the Ceremony in the Air.
Nichiren Daishonin explains:
“In the latter day of the law, no treasure tower exists other than the figures of the man and woman who embrace the Lotus Sutra.”
— On the Treasure Tower , WND-1, 299
This clarifies that the Treasure Tower represents the life of those who believe in the Mystic Law .
The Gohonzon therefore depicts the world of Buddhahood and the various life states inherent in all people.
6. The Gohonzon and the Ten Worlds
The Gohonzon is described as a mandala that is fully endowed with the Ten Worlds .
It represents the life state of Buddhahood— Nam-myoho-renge-kyo —while also containing the various attributes of the other nine worlds.
Because every one of the Ten Worlds contains the potential for the other worlds, a person manifesting any life state can, under the right conditions, manifest Buddhahood .
This connects the Gohonzon directly with the principle of:
Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life
7. The “Actual Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life”
The doctrine of Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life was formulated by T'ien-t'ai in Great Concentration and Insight .
It explains that all people possess the essential cause and potential for attaining Buddhahood.
However, Nichiren Daishonin went further by revealing the fundamental Law as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and embodying the life state of Buddhahood in the Gohonzon .
Therefore, the Gohonzon is called the:
“Actual Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life.”
Why?
Because the Gohonzon is the concrete expression of the life state of Buddhahood that Nichiren Daishonin manifested and embodied.
8. Embracing the Gohonzon Is Observing One's Own Mind
The Lotus Sutra teaches that all people possess the wisdom and compassion of a Buddha.
Observing one's mind means observing one's own life based on Buddhist principles in order to reveal Buddhahood.
T'ien-t'ai taught practices for observing one's mind, but these required extremely difficult and intensive practices that were accessible to very few.
Nichiren Daishonin sought a practice that would be accessible to everyone .
He established the practice of:
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with faith in the Gohonzon.
In Nichiren Buddhism, therefore, observing one's own mind is accomplished through faith in and practice to the Gohonzon .
This is why:
“Embracing the Gohonzon is in itself observing one's own mind.”
The Daishonin states:
“Shakyamuni's practices and the virtues he consequently attained are all contained within the five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo. If we believe in these five characters, we will naturally be granted the same benefits as he was.”
— The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind , WND-1, 365
The causes and effects of Shakyamuni's practices are encompassed within Myoho-Renge-kyo , and ordinary people of the Latter Day of the Law can receive those benefits by embracing the Gohonzon.
Key Points to Remember
Purpose of Buddhist practice: Establish Buddhahood and absolute happiness in this lifetime.
Object of devotion: The Gohonzon of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo .
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo: The fundamental Mystic Law and the seed/cause of Buddhahood .
The Buddha nature is inherent in the lives of all people .
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with faith in the Gohonzon summons forth one's inherent Buddhahood .
“I, Nichiren, have inscribed my life in Sumi ink” — Reply to Kyo'o , WND-1, 412.
The Gohonzon is a clear mirror of the Buddhahood inherent within our lives .
The Gohonzon depicts the Ceremony in the Air from the Lotus Sutra.
Chapter 11 — Emergence of the Treasure Tower begins the Ceremony in the Air.
Chapter 22 — Entrustment concludes it.
The Treasure Tower represents the lives of people who embrace the Mystic Law.
The Gohonzon is fully endowed with the Ten Worlds .
Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life was formulated by T'ien-t'ai .
The Gohonzon is called the “actual Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life.”
Observing one's mind means observing one's own life in order to reveal Buddhahood.
Nichiren Buddhism makes this practice accessible to everyone through faith in and practice to the Gohonzon .
Core exam takeaway:
Embracing the Gohonzon = observing one's own mind = bringing forth the Buddhahood inherent within one's life.