Why Practice for Oneself and Others Must Go Together | Nichiren Buddhism
Why Practice for Oneself and Others Must Go Together
Nichiren Buddhism teaches two essential dimensions of Buddhist practice: practice for oneself and practice for others.
These two forms of practice are deeply connected.
Practice for oneself develops our inner life, while practice for others expresses our faith through concern for another person's happiness.
When these two dimensions move together, Buddhist practice becomes balanced, dynamic and deeply connected to daily life.
What Does Practice for Oneself Mean?
Practice for oneself means taking responsibility for transforming our own life.
It includes:
Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Performing gongyo
Strengthening faith
Developing wisdom and courage
Applying Buddhist principles to our daily lives
Through this practice, we strengthen our life condition and develop the inner resources needed to face life's challenges.
Practice for oneself builds the foundation from within.
What Does Practice for Others Mean?
Practice for others means acting with the sincere desire that other people also become happy and reveal their potential.
It can include:
Encouraging someone who is struggling
Listening sincerely
Sharing our Buddhist experience
Supporting another person's efforts
Introducing someone to Buddhist practice
Taking action for kosen-rufu
Practice for others is therefore not simply about talking to people about Buddhism.
It is about believing in the potential of others and acting for their happiness.
Why Practice for Oneself Alone Is Incomplete
If our Buddhist practice focuses entirely on ourselves, it can gradually become narrow.
We may begin to think primarily about:
Our own benefits
Our own problems
Our own happiness
Our own protection
Faith can become disconnected from compassion.
Buddhism, however, teaches us to expand our life.
When we genuinely challenge ourselves to encourage and support others, our own life condition also expands.
Practice opens our life rather than turning us inward.
Why Practice for Others Alone Is Unsustainable
The opposite imbalance is also possible.
We may become so focused on supporting others that we neglect our own inner practice.
Without strengthening ourselves:
Our life force can become depleted
Encouragement can lose depth
Confidence can weaken
Faith can become inconsistent
This is why practice for oneself is essential.
We need to continually strengthen our own life so that we can continue supporting others with sincerity, wisdom and compassion.
We cannot sustainably give strength to others without cultivating strength within ourselves.
How Practice for Oneself and Others Strengthen Each Other
The two forms of practice have different functions, but they continuously reinforce one another.
Practice for Oneself Develops
Stability
Wisdom
Courage
Life force
Confidence
Practice for Others Develops
Compassion
Broad-mindedness
Responsibility
Confidence
A sense of mission
When these two dimensions function together, our Buddhist practice becomes much more expansive.
Inner practice gives us the strength to support others.
And supporting others gives greater meaning and purpose to our inner practice.
The Rhythm of Balanced Buddhist Practice
A simple way to understand this relationship is as a continuous rhythm:
Chant to strengthen yourself.
Act to encourage and support others.
Return to chanting with deeper determination.
Then we go out into life again and take action.
This creates a positive cycle in which faith is continuously strengthened through both inner transformation and outward action.
Practice for Oneself and Others in Daily Life
This principle does not apply only to Buddhist activities.
It can be expressed throughout our daily lives.
At work, we may strengthen ourselves through prayer and reflection and then encourage a colleague who is struggling.
In our family, we may chant for wisdom and then respond to a difficult situation with greater patience.
Among friends, we may share our own experience of overcoming hardship and give someone hope.
In each case, inner transformation and concern for others work together.
Practice for Oneself and Others and Kosen-Rufu
The spirit of practice for others is closely connected with the broad aim of kosen-rufu.
Kosen-rufu means working toward a society in which people can reveal their inherent dignity, overcome suffering and create genuine happiness.
This cannot be accomplished through individual effort alone.
Each person needs to strengthen their own life while contributing to the happiness of others.
That is why practice for oneself and practice for others must function together.
Two Wings of the Same Faith
We can think of these two dimensions as two wings of a bird.
A bird cannot fly effectively with only one wing.
In the same way, Buddhist practice becomes unbalanced if we focus exclusively on ourselves or exclusively on others.
Practice for oneself gives us inner strength.
Practice for others gives that strength direction and purpose.
Together, they enable us to move forward.
The Deeper Meaning of Buddhist Practice
Ultimately, Buddhist practice is not simply about becoming happier individually.
It is about transforming our own life while helping others reveal their own potential.
When we practice for ourselves, we strengthen the life condition from which we act.
When we practice for others, we express the compassion and wisdom developed through that inner transformation.
The two therefore become one continuous process.
Conclusion
Practice for oneself and practice for others are not two separate paths.
They are two expressions of the same faith.
We chant to strengthen our own life.
We take action to encourage others.
Then, through our efforts for others, we deepen our own faith and return to our practice with renewed determination.
This creates a cycle of faith, inner transformation and compassionate action.
Nichiren Buddhism teaches us that when our own transformation and our concern for the happiness of others move together, Buddhist practice becomes truly alive in daily life.
Transform yourself.
Encourage others.
Grow together.
That is the spirit of balanced Buddhist practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is practice for oneself in Nichiren Buddhism?
Practice for oneself refers primarily to strengthening and transforming our own life through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, gongyo, faith and the application of Buddhist principles in daily life.
What is practice for others?
Practice for others means acting with a sincere desire for another person's happiness and encouraging them to reveal their own potential. It can include sharing Buddhism, offering encouragement and supporting others through difficulties.
Why must practice for oneself and others go together?
Practice for oneself develops the wisdom, courage and life force needed to support others. Practice for others develops compassion and broad-mindedness, giving greater purpose to our own practice.
Can I practice only for myself?
While personal practice is essential, focusing exclusively on oneself can make faith narrow and disconnected from compassion. Nichiren Buddhism emphasizes both inner transformation and concern for others.
Can helping others without personal practice become difficult?
Yes. Supporting others without continually strengthening our own life can lead to exhaustion, inconsistency and loss of inner strength. Personal practice provides the foundation for sustained support of others.
How does practice for others strengthen my own faith?
When we encourage others, we challenge our own fear, doubt and self-centeredness. We also become more determined to chant, study and apply Buddhism in our own lives.
Is practice for others the same as preaching Buddhism?
Not necessarily. Practice for others can include sharing Buddhism, but it also includes listening, encouraging, supporting and believing in another person's potential.
How are practice for oneself and practice for others connected with kosen-rufu?
Kosen-rufu involves working toward the happiness and dignity of people and the creation of a more peaceful society. This requires both transforming our own lives and contributing to the happiness of others.
Key Takeaway
Practice for oneself gives us the strength to support others, while practice for others expands and deepens our own life. When the two move together, faith becomes a dynamic cycle of inner transformation, compassion and action.