TheRealaspect oftheGohonzon Fr om t heWr i t i ngs ofNi chi r enDai shoni n
SGI USA
Sept ember2012 St udyMat er i al
September 2012
1. CONTENTS 2. FAITH IS THE SOURCE OF VICTORY 3. BACKGROUND KEY POINTS 4. THE MUTUAL POSSESSION OF THE TEN WORLDS
The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
5. FROM THE EXTERNAL TO THE INTERNAL 6. THE LAW PERMEATING ALL PHENOMENA 7. THE NINTH CONSCIOUSNESS 8. OBJECT OF DEVOTION OF FAITH 9. TAPPING INTO THE UNDERLYING LIFE FORCE
10. NOTHING IS MORE WONDROUS THAN FAITH 11. THE ESSENCE OF THE LIFE OF THE UNIVERSE 12. THERE IS NO POWER STRONGER OR GREATER THAN FAITH
This presentation was assembled by Joseph de Melo on behalf of the Florida Zone. Any comments or recommendations are welcomed and appreciated. (demelojo@gmail.com) (561-603-0039)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
“FAITH IS THE SOURCE OF VICTORY for everything. It is the foundation of our Buddhist practice for the happiness of ourselves and others. It is the key to carrying out our human revolution and transforming our karma. It is the sharp sword for cutting through obstacles and negativity. It is the driving force for kosen-rufu, and for realizing lasting peace and prosperity based on the humanistic principles of Nichiren Buddhism. This will never change in any age—indeed, we must ensure that it never does. It is the fundamental spirit of the SGI, which we must never lose. As such, our present efforts to develop an even more youthful SGI also begin with strong, ever-vibrant faith.” (LB, 24)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
BACKGROUND “In this reply to Nichinyo, Nichiren Daishonin expresses his gratitude for her offerings to the Gohonzon and explains the significance of the object of devotion. The exact identity of Nichinyo is unclear. She is thought to have been either the wife of Ikegami Munenaka, the older of the Ikegami brothers, or a daughter of the lay priest Matsuno Rokuro Saemon, an earnest believer in Suruga Province. Judging from two letters the Daishonin sent her, she seems to have been a woman of good education and considerable affluence. Moreover, as the recipient of a Gohonzon, or object of devotion, she was evidently a sincere believer. This letter contains a description of the Gohonzon that details the figures represented therein and their significance.” (WND 1, 833) KEY POINTS “The Daishonin points out the rarity and importance of the Gohonzon. He cites the Lotus Sutra and other works to show that the Gohonzon is the embodiment of “the true aspect of all phenomena” and “the three thousand realms in a single moment of life.” In the second half, describing the great benefit of faith in the Gohonzon, the Daishonin declares, “Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself,” adding that the Gohonzon is also found only in faith. Sharing two examples from secular tradition, the Daishonin reminds Nichinyo that faith is by far the most important element in manifesting “the Gohonzon” in one’s life. He concludes by stressing that chanting Nam-myoho-rengekyo with faith is the most complete form of Buddhist practice.” (WND 1, 833-834)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
This Gosho To be endowed with the Ten Worlds means that all ten, without a single exception, exist in one world. Because of this it is called a mandala. Mandala is a Sanskrit word that is translated as "perfectly endowed" or "a cluster of blessings."
THE MUTUAL POSSESSION OF THE TEN WORLDS “Every person's life is an entity that inherently embodies the principles of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds and the three thousand realms in a single moment of life. In essence, it is perfect and complete—there is nothing extraneous to be subtracted and nothing lacking that needs to be added… The mutual possession of the Ten Worlds is the true aspect of life, and each of the mutually inclusive Ten Worlds is a manifestation of the Mystic Law. The Gohonzon and faith in the Mystic Law enable us to draw out the supreme life state of Buddhahood and firmly establish it in our being. The layout of the Gohonzon is based on the true aspect of all phenomena elucidated in the Lotus Sutra, clarifying that we as ordinary people can manifest the boundless life state of Buddhahood in our present form.” (LB, 28-29)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
This Gosho Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
FROM THE EXTERNAL TO THE INTERNAL “He is saying that the Gohonzon does not exist outside us, but within our own lives. Shifting the focus of faith and practice from the external to the internal was a dramatic change. In Nichiren's day—and, in many cases, even today—we find a deeply rooted view that we are but small, insignificant beings and the ultimate reality and eternal value lies somewhere outside of us, somewhere far away. Such a way of thinking is inextricably connected with belief in some other-worldly, supernatural power. Nichiren Buddhism, however, rejects this idea completely. It teaches the true reality of life in which the eternal and ultimate Law is manifested in the physical beings of the ordinary people, living right here and now.” (LB, 29-30)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
THE LAW PERMEATING ALL PHENOMENA “The term Buddha, after all, means "enlightened one." To what did the Buddha become enlightened? To that which should form the true basis of our life—namely, the Law and the true essence of our being. He awoke to the universal Law permeating all phenomena, which had previously been obscured by fundamental darkness, and to the greatness of each individual's life that is one and indivisible with that Law. "The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people"—the real significance of this statement is that the Gohonzon inscribed by Nichiren functions as the means by which we can awaken to and call forth the Gohonzon (the Buddhahood) within us. When we chant before the physical Gohonzon, the very same Gohonzon is in our heart; it clearly manifests itself there when we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the happiness of ourselves and others.” (LB, 30)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
This Gosho The body is the palace of the ninth consciousness, the unchanging reality that reigns over all of life's functions. THE NINTH CONSCIOUSNESS “Still another way Nichiren describes our inner being is "the palace of the ninth consciousness, the unchanging reality that reigns over all of life's functions" The ninth consciousness—also the amala-consciousness, or pure consciousness— is often referred to in Buddhist texts as the "mind king" or "ruler of the mind," indicating the fundamental entity of the mind itself. "The unchanging reality" means the ultimate truth, free from all delusion. Since the "mind king" dwells in this unchanging reality, our mortal bodies are called its "palace." (LB, 30) The Ninth Consciousness “can be thought of as the life of the cosmos itself; it is also referred to as the fundamentally pure consciousness. Unstained by the workings of karma, this consciousness represents our true, eternal self. The revolutionary aspect of Nichiren Buddhism is that it seeks to directly bring forth the energy of this consciousness--the enlightened nature of the Buddha--thus purifying the other, more superficial layers of consciousness.” (April 2004 SGI Quarterly)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
This Gosho This Gohonzon also is found only in the two characters for faith. This is what the sutra means when it states that one can "gain entrance through faith alone.
OBJECT OF DEVOTION OF FAITH “When we ordinary people of the Latter Day face the Gohonzon, the embodiment of the bound-less life state of Buddhahood, and chant Nammyoho-renge-kyo with deep and strong faith, we can gain entrance to the shining realm of time without beginning manifested in the Gohonzon. The Daishonin refers to the Gohonzon as the "object of devotion for observing the mind." The purpose of the Gohonzon is to enable us to "observe our mind," that is, to see and awaken to the Buddhahood within our own life. But being able to see the true nature of our mind, or attain enlightenment, is not something achieved through conceptual thought or meditative practice; faith is the foundation. That is why Nichiren writes, "This Gohonzon also is found only in the two characters for faith." The "object of devotion for observing the mind" is the "object of devotion of faith." (LB, 31)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
This Gosho Because the Han emperor believed completely in his retainer's words, the river froze over. And Li Kuang was able to pierce a rock with his arrow because he fully believed it to be the tiger that had killed his father. How much more so is this true in Buddhism!
TAPPING INTO THE UNDERLYING LIFE FORCE “The power of our faith and practice activates the power of the Buddha and the Law embodied in the Gohonzon, bringing forth benefit in our lives. Faith is the foundation. Strong, vibrant faith is the powerful engine for action and practice. Nichikan, a great restorer of Nichiren Buddhism, wrote, "If you have faith in this Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo even for a short while, no prayer will go unanswered, no offense unexpiated, no good fortune unbestowed and no righteousness unproven.“ Since the early days of our organization, this passage has helped many members rouse strong faith in the Gohonzon. They awakened to the Gohonzon within their own being and tapped the underlying life force they needed to overcome hardship and adversity. No prayer based on faith in the Gohonzon will go unanswered. It is an incontrovertible fact that we of the Soka Gakkai have won through faith.” (LB, 33)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
NOTHING IS MORE WONDROUS THAN FAITH “The American journalist Norman Cousins, with whom I engaged in a dialogue, was extremely interested in the power of faith or belief. Beginning with his own experience of overcoming serious illness, he offers many documented examples demonstrating the power of positive belief in the healing process. As he wrote: "Nothing is more wondrous about the fifteen billion neurons in the human brain than their ability to convert thoughts, hopes, ideas and attitudes into chemical substances. Everything begins, therefore, with belief. What we believe is the most powerful option of all." The great Russian author Leo Tolstoy also stressed the wondrous power of faith. A character in one of his novels declares: "A battle is won by the side that has firmly resolved to win" and "One must believe in the possibility of happiness in order to be happy." Faith is the indispensable foundation of human existence, and the path of our lives is decided by how strong or weak our faith is.� (LB, 33)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
THE ESSENCE OF THE LIFE OF THE UNIVERSE “Mr. Makiguchi declared that our belief in the Gohonzon can enable any person to attain Buddha-hood in their present form. He also wrote: When we align our lives with the vast and powerful underlying rhythm of the universe, even this one tiny individual life can manifest a pulsing of limitless life force, a profound and vast wisdom. This is called the fusion of reality and wisdom. But idle contemplation of the Law governing the universe will get one nowhere. That is why Nichiren Daishonin established a method of practice that all people could employ. In the form of the Gohonzon of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, he distilled and manifested the entity of all phenomena, which is the essence of the life of the universe. When we practice the Daishonin's Buddhism based on faith in the Gohonzon, we harmonize our lives with the rhythm of the universe. By establishing solid faith in the Gohonzon, we connect ourselves to the reality and wisdom of Buddhahood that is enlightened to the essence of the life of the universe. Through faith, we can enter the vast and expansive realm of Buddha wisdom.� (LB, 34)
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September 2012 The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
THERE IS NO POWER STRONGER OR GREATER THAN FAITH “On November 17 [1950], one day before the 20th anniversary of the Soka Gakkai's founding, I wrote in my diary: "Deeply realized the necessity of courageous faith… In the end, our powers of faith and practice determine everything. The Gohonzon possesses the powers of the Buddha and the Law. Only by our own faith can we prove, test and acquire the great power of the supreme Law embodied in the Gohonzon." I was 22 years old when I penned that entry. In the more than six decades since then, I have demonstrated the validity of faith based on the Gohonzon for all the world to see. Under my leadership, the Soka Gakkai has won through the power of youth, through the power of the shared commitment of mentor and disciple, and through the power of faith.
Mr. Toda always said, "There is no power stronger or greater than faith." Let's make fresh strides forward through powerful, dynamic faith. With vibrant, youthful energy, let's expand our state of life and the sphere of victory, happiness and justice. Join with me in proudly raising high the banner of kosen-rufu once again and continuing to build a youthful SGI toward a new age of humanism.” (LB, 34)
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