Lotus Sutra I Nichiren Daishonin and the Lotus Sutra | Key Teachings
Nichiren Daishonin and the Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra embodies the essence of Mahayana Buddhism and teaches that all people can attain Buddhahood .
Pre-Lotus Sutra teachings generally taught that ordinary people could not attain Buddhahood in their present lifetime and would need to practice over numerous lifetimes.
The Lotus Sutra radically changed this view by revealing that Buddhahood is inherent in the lives of ordinary people and can be brought forth from within.
Two important doctrines support this teaching:
The True Aspect of All Phenomena
The Attainment of Buddhahood in the Remote Past
1. The True Aspect of All Phenomena
The Lotus Sutra consists of 28 chapters , divided into:
Theoretical Teaching — first 14 chapters
Essential Teaching — latter 14 chapters
The True Aspect of All Phenomena is taught in the Expedient Means , the second chapter.
All phenomena refers to all living beings of the Ten Worlds and their respective environments.
True aspect refers to their ultimate reality or true essential nature.
Nichiren Daishonin explains that all beings and environments in the Ten Worlds are manifestations of Myoho-renge-kyo .
“All beings and environments in the Ten Worlds, from hell, the lowest, to Buddhahood, the highest, are without exception manifestations of Myoho-renge-kyo.”
— WND-1, 383
Therefore, there is no fundamental difference between a Buddha and an ordinary person. All beings possess the potential for Buddhahood.
The Lotus Sutra consequently reveals that:
Persons of the two vehicles can attain Buddhahood.
Evil persons can attain Buddhahood.
Women can attain Buddhahood.
All people possess the potential to reveal Buddha wisdom.
Purpose of the Buddha's Appearance
The Expedient Means chapter explains that Buddhas appear in this world to:
Open the door to Buddha wisdom.
Show Buddha wisdom to all people.
Awaken people to Buddha wisdom.
Enable people to enter the path of Buddha wisdom.
Shakyamuni's fundamental wish is expressed as:
“To make all persons equal to me without any distinction between us.”
This represents the fundamental purpose of Buddhism.
2. Attainment of Buddhahood in the Remote Past
The Essential Teaching , the latter 14 chapters of the Lotus Sutra, reveals that Shakyamuni attained Buddhahood in the remote past .
Before this revelation, Shakyamuni was understood to have attained Buddhahood for the first time in India under the Bodhi tree.
The Lifespan chapter, Chapter 16, reveals that Shakyamuni had actually attained Buddhahood an immeasurably long time ago:
“It has been immeasurable, boundless, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of nayutas of kalpas since I in fact attained Buddhahood.”
This reveals the eternal nature of Buddhahood .
Shakyamuni also states:
“Originally I practiced the Bodhisattva way, and the life span that I acquired then has yet to come to an end but will last twice the number of years that have already passed.”
This indicates that the nine worlds are also eternal and always present .
Therefore, Buddhahood and the nine worlds are not separate from one another.
Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds
The revelation of Shakyamuni's original enlightenment shows that the nine worlds are inherent within Buddhahood .
Shakyamuni could appear as a Bodhisattva and carry out Buddhist practice while Buddhahood remained inherent within his life.
This illustrates the principle of mutual possession of the Ten Worlds .
The Buddha's Presence in This World
Although Shakyamuni is free from the cycle of birth and death, he appears to enter Nirvana as an expedient means to encourage people to seek the Buddha's teachings.
The Lifespan chapter states:
“As an expedient means, I appear to enter Nirvana, but in truth I do not pass into extinction.”
The Buddha's eternal land is described as the land of eternally tranquil light , which is none other than this Saha world.
When people seek the Buddha sincerely and practice the Lotus Sutra, their innate Buddhahood emerges .
Thus, the principle of Shakyamuni's attainment of Buddhahood in the remote past reveals the true nature of life:
Everyone is essentially a Buddha, from the most distant past into the limitless future.
Key Points to Remember
The Lotus Sutra consists of 28 chapters .
First 14 chapters = Theoretical Teaching .
Latter 14 chapters = Essential Teaching .
The True Aspect of All Phenomena is taught in the second chapter, Expedient Means .
All phenomena = beings of the Ten Worlds and their environments.
True aspect = Myoho-renge-kyo.
The Lotus Sutra reveals that all people can attain Buddhahood .
Persons of the two vehicles, evil persons and women can attain Buddhahood.
The Essential Teaching reveals Shakyamuni's attainment of Buddhahood in the remote past .
Chapter 16 = Lifespan of the Thus Come One .
Buddhahood and the nine worlds are eternal and inherent .
This illustrates mutual possession of the Ten Worlds .
The Saha world is the land of eternally tranquil light .
The fundamental purpose of Buddhism is to enable all people to reveal Buddha wisdom and attain a life state equal to that of the Buddhas .