Nichiren Buddhism is one of the foremost schools of Buddhist thought in the world today. It centers on one of the last teachings of the historic Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama or Shakyamuni. This teaching, called the Lotus Sutra, decares that all living beings, regardless of gender or intelligence, have the potential to attain “Buddhahood,” a state of life characterized by compassion, courage, wisdom, joy, and life force.
Nichiren (1222–1282) taught an easily accessible daily practice through which people can draw forth their powerful inherent Buddha nature. He taught that all of the benefits of the wisdom contained in the Lotus Sutra can be realized by chanting its title, (Nam)-myoho-renge-kyo. Chanting these words, along with excerpts from the Lotus Sutra, is the core of the Buddhist practice, supported by study and propagation of the teachings. These practices not only positively transform people’s daily lives, allowing them to find happiness and fulfillment from within, but also affect their surroundings as well, since all life is intimately connected.
Thus people can use Nichiren Buddhism in an everyday, practical way, to both deal with the realities of their busy daily lives and also to actively engage with others and ultimately contribute to the betterment of society and the world at large.
For more information, go the SGI-USA website: www.sgi-usa.org.
