An Introduction to Nichiren Buddhism
A Faith That Encourages Inner Change for Happiness
Nichiren Buddhism is all about taking personal responsibility for one’s life and happiness. It is based on the law of cause and effect. In other words, according to Nichiren Buddhism, one present circumstances are an effect or result of one’s thoughts, words and actions in the past, and that these three would have a bearing on one’s present and future.
Therefore, everything that one experiences is a result of cause and effect. According to Nichiren Buddhists, anyone can be happy as long as they take accountability for their life and determine to bring about a positive change in themselves.
About Nichiren Daishonin
Nichiren Buddhism was the result of the earnest study of Nichiren Daishonin, a young Buddhist priest, who was born in Japan in 1222. It was he who concluded that the Lotus Sutra was the ultimate teaching of the founder of Buddhism or Shakyamuni Buddha.
Nichiren also, taught that the way to attain happiness is by chanting “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo”, which when translated means, “I devote my life to the mystic law of Cause and Effect.”
Practice of Nichiren Buddhism
The practice of Nichiren Buddhism is based on three central elements: faith, practice and study. In Nichiren Buddhism, faith comes from experiencing the benefits or “actual proofs”. Faith, also, implies believing in the power of the Gohonzon which is the object of devotion for Nichiren Buddhists and is a scroll which has Nam-myoho-renge-kyo inscribed on it.
According to Nichiren Buddhism, in order for faith to strengthen, one must practice. To practice means to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and perform the morning and evening prayers in front of the Gohonzon every day.
Nichiren Buddhism places a lot of stress on studying and applying the Buddhist teachings, in order to truly understand the validity of the faith. They also, hold regular monthly meetings in which the practicing members meet and discuss these teachings.
Emphasis on Inner Change for Happiness
One of the central concepts of Nichiren Buddhism is Human Revolution or bringing about a change in oneself in order to experience true peace and happiness. It believes in empowering people to change themselves and in turn, their environment. It emphasizes that people have the ability to bring about a difference in their lives, by overcoming the negative and building on the positive, which would eventually enable them to reach the state of Buddhahood.
Inner change, according to them, leads to real happiness. Daisaku Ikeda, the president of the Soka Gakkai International, an organization that works for the spread of Nichiren Buddhism, writes in his book The Human Revolution (World Tribune Press, 2004), “A great revolution of character in just a single man will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation, and further, will cause a change in the destiny of mankind.”
Nichiren Buddhism believes that man can create his destiny and bringing about a change in attitudes, beliefs and overall outlook, would be a step in the right direction. It also, stresses that every individual has the potential for great goodness and enlightenment within himself and therefore, everyone has the ability to experience complete happiness, peace and respect.
Related Articles: An Introduction to Buddhism and Buddhist Teachings, Use Buddhism Teachings for Better Relationships and An Introduction to Theravada Buddhism.
References:
Ikeda, Daisaku. The Human Revolution. USA: World Tribune Press, 2004.
SGI-UK. The Art of Living- An Introduction to the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. Berks : SGI-UK, 2002.
Nichiren Buddhism - A Form of the Eastern Religion
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