Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life
Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life
Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life is a Buddhist principle that explains how ordinary people can attain Buddhahood .
It is one of the philosophical principles underlying Nichiren Daishonin's inscription of the Gohonzon of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo , the object of devotion for enabling all people in the Latter Day of the Law to attain Buddhahood.
The principle was formulated by T'ien-t'ai of China in his work Great Concentration and Insight to help people put into practice the Lotus Sutra's teaching that all people can attain Buddhahood .
What Does “A Single Moment of Life” Mean?
A single moment of life = one's life as it exists at any given moment.
Three thousand realms = all phenomena, things and their varied functions.
The principle teaches that each moment of life contains all three thousand realms .
Therefore, life at every moment possesses limitless potential. When we transform our life state, the environment surrounding us can also change.
This makes Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life a teaching of hope and transformation .
As SGI President Ikeda expressed it in The Human Revolution :
“A great human revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and further will enable a change in the destiny of all humankind.”
How Are the 3,000 Realms Calculated?
The number 3,000 comes from three components:
10 Worlds × 10 Worlds × 10 Factors × 3 Realms = 3,000
Or:
10 × 10 = 100
100 × 10 = 1,000
1,000 × 3 = 3,000
The three components are:
Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds
Ten Factors of Life
Three Realms of Existence
1. Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds
The mutual possession of the Ten Worlds is the core principle underlying the Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life.
The Ten Worlds are:
Hell
Hungry Spirits / Hunger
Animals / Animality
Asuras / Anger
Human Beings / Humanity
Heavenly Beings / Heaven
Voice-Hearers / Learning
Cause-Awakened Ones / Realization
Bodhisattva
Buddhahood
The Lotus Sutra overturns the idea that these worlds are fixed and separate.
Instead:
Each of the nine worlds possesses the potential for Buddhahood .
Buddhahood also possesses the other nine worlds .
Therefore, every person possesses the potential to manifest Buddhahood.
This is called Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds .
“The doctrine of Three thousand realms in a single moment of life begins with the concept of the mutual possession of the ten worlds.”
— The Opening of the Eyes , WND-1, 224
Exam Point
Mutual Possession of Ten Worlds = Every life state contains the potential for all ten worlds, including Buddhahood.
Therefore, regardless of our current life state, we can manifest Buddhahood in this lifetime when the appropriate conditions arise.
2. The Ten Factors of Life
The Ten Factors describe the workings of life and the law of causality operating within each of the Ten Worlds .
They are described in the “Expedient Means,” Chapter 2 of the Lotus Sutra :
Appearance
Nature
Entity
Power
Influence
Internal Cause
Relation
Latent Effect
Manifest Effect
Consistency from Beginning to End
Understanding the Ten Factors
Appearance — the outward form or aspect of life.
Nature — the innate and consistent character or attributes of life.
Entity — the life itself possessing Appearance and Nature.
Power — the internal energy or potential within life.
Influence — the outward expression of that internal power and its influence on other life or phenomena.
Internal Cause — the primary cause inherent in life.
Relation — an external condition that stimulates the internal cause.
Latent Effect — the imperceptible result arising from the interaction of cause and relation.
Manifest Effect — the evident result that emerges when the appropriate conditions arise.
Consistency from Beginning to End — all nine preceding factors are consistent with one another from Appearance through Manifest Effect.
Exam Point
Ten Factors = The ten aspects through which the law of causality operates in life.
Every one of the Ten Worlds possesses all Ten Factors .
3. Three Realms of Existence
The Three Realms of Existence are:
Realm of the Five Components
Realm of Living Beings
Realm of the Environment
Realm of the Five Components
Buddhism regards a living being as a temporary union of five components:
Form — physical aspects of life
Perception — receiving and sensing information through the six sense organs
Conception — forming impressions and ideas about what is perceived
Volition — will, desires and the function that connects perception and conception to action
Consciousness — the discerning function that recognizes and distinguishes things
The five components change according to the life state being manifested.
Realm of Living Beings
This refers to living beings and the different life states they manifest .
The Ten Worlds can therefore be observed through differences in the life states of people.
Realm of the Environment
This refers to the land and environment in which living beings exist .
A change in one's life state can affect one's environment.
Thus, when the state of one's heart and mind changes, it can bring about changes in one's life and surroundings.
Putting It All Together
The three components combine to form Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life :
Mutual Possession of Ten Worlds
10 Worlds × 10 Worlds = 100 Worlds
↓
Ten Factors
100 Worlds × 10 Factors = 1,000
↓
Three Realms
1,000 × 3 Realms = 3,000
Therefore:
10 × 10 × 10 × 3 = 3,000
The principle provides a comprehensive view of life, causality and the relationship between one's life and environment .
Most importantly, it clarifies that all people possess the potential to attain Buddhahood .
Key Points to Remember
Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life was formulated by T'ien-t'ai in Great Concentration and Insight .
It is based on the Lotus Sutra's teaching that all people can attain Buddhahood .
“A single moment of life” = life as it exists at any given moment.
“Three thousand realms” = all phenomena, things and their varied functions.
The principle consists of:
Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds
Ten Factors
Three Realms of Existence
10 Worlds × 10 Worlds = 100 Worlds
100 × 10 Factors = 1,000
1,000 × 3 Realms = 3,000
Mutual Possession means every one of the Ten Worlds contains the potential for all Ten Worlds, including Buddhahood.
Ten Factors explain the aspects of life and the workings of causality.
Three Realms are:
Five Components
Living Beings
Environment
The Five Components are:
Form
Perception
Conception
Volition
Consciousness
Chapter 2, Expedient Means contains the passage on the Ten Factors.
The Opening of the Eyes states that Three Thousand Realms begins with the Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds .
Core exam takeaway: Every moment of life contains limitless potential. Because Buddhahood exists within the Ten Worlds, every ordinary person has the potential to manifest Buddhahood .