Here in his excerpt from a writing in the SGI Branch of Nichiren Buddhism, Buddha is referred to as Life. The Buddha is Life! Pure Life, and we can learn from both Mr. Toda and Daisaku Ikeda on how this is so.
-From The Teachings of Daisaku Ikeda and Mr. Toda.BUDDHA MEANS LIFE!
From The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra (Opening Sutra to The Lotus Sutra,) Chapter 1, Entitled "Virtuous Practices":
Then the bodhisattvas, advancing, kneeling on one knee, and pressing their palms together, single-mindedly joined their voices together in speaking these verses of praise:
Great indeed, great sage lord of great enlightenment,
without defilement, without stain, without attachment,
trainer of heavenly and human beings, elephants and horses,
scenting all with the wind of the way, the incense of virtue,
calm in wisdom, vast in feeling, still and concentrated in thought,
will extinguished, consciousness gone, mind tranquil,
eternally cut off from dreamlike deluded thoughts and ponderings,
no more elements, components, sense fields, or realms,
his [Buddha] body neither existing nor not existing,
neither caused nor conditioned, neither self nor other,
neither square nor round, neither short nor long,
neither appearing nor disappearing, neither born nor extinguished,
neither created nor arising, neither acted nor made,
neither sitting nor lying down, neither walking nor standing,
neither moving nor turning, neither idle nor still,
neither advancing nor retreating, neither in safety nor danger,
neither right nor wrong, neither gaining nor losing,
neither that nor this, neither departing nor coming,
neither blue nor yellow, neither red nor white,
neither crimson nor purple nor any other sort of color…
Daisaku Ikeda's Interpretation:
"The Lotus Sutra teaches that all people can attain Buddhahood. What, then, is a Buddha? What does it mean attaining Buddhahood? These questions are vital to all Buddhist teachings. Mr Toda deeply contemplated these questions and sought to resolve them. It was then that the word "Life" suddenly flashed through his mind. He finally perceived that the Buddha is Life itself!
"Life is neither existing nor non existing...... neither crimson nor purple nor any other sort of colour"
"Life is a simple straight forward word we use everyday. But at the same time it can express the most profound essence of the Buddhist Law, "a single word that expresses infinite meaning". All humans are endowed with life, so this word has "practical, concrete meaning to everyone". In this way Toda's realisation "made Buddhism comprehensible to all".
Life has enormous diversity. It is rich and filled with energy. At the same time it operated according to certain laws, and has a definite rhythm. The doctrine of "Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life" (Ichinen Sanzen), "describes this harmony of diversity", and one who has perceived the essence of this principle is a Buddha.
Life is also free and unfettered. It is an open entity, constantly in contact with the external world, always "exchanging matter and energy and information". Life is characterized by this harmonious freedom and an openness to the entire universe.
The infinite life state of Buddhahood can be described as a state in which the freedom, openness and harmony of life are maximally realised. Nichiren Daishonin says "Myo (Mystic Law)", has three meanings, "to open", "to be endowed and perfect", and "to revive".
These are attributes of life and the attributes of the Buddha as well. In one sense, we can regard all Buddhist scriptures as presenting a philosophy of "Life".
The Daishonin says, "The sacred teachings of the Buddha's lifetime are devoted to explaining this "one principle" (Life). This is what is known as the storehouse of the 84000 teachings. All these teachings are "encompassed in the single entity of an individual". Hence, the storehouse of the 84000 teachings, represents a "day to day record" of one's own existence".
--Daisaku Ikeda
More From Ikeda:
"Life contains the capacity, like flames that reach toward heaven, to transform suffering and pain into the energy of value-creation, the light that illuminates the dark. Like the wind traversing vast spaces unhindered, life has the power to uproot and overturn all obstacles and difficulties. Like clear flowing water, it can wash away all stains and impurities."
ॐ∞Nam Myoho Renge Kyo∞ॐ
Mr. Toda and Nichiren clearly point out the truth here. Life is the essence of Buddhism, and it is actually what we are seeking after in Enlightenment. But what kind of life? The Lotus Sutra states that it is by it’s Teachings that all come to Enlightenment. That once someone is Enlightened it is because they have come to Supreme Perfect Enlightenment by the Way of the Lotus Sutra. I think that that is the kind of Life we are living as Buddhists, all of us, when we are truly Advancing, we are going by forward by the principles of the Lotus Sutra. Because Life is the subject matter of everyone who is on the Bodhisattva Path. We are either making the lives of others better, or pondering on how to do so, even if these thoughts are just an Expedient Means such as mentioned in the Diamond Sutra it is well understood that Buddhism is here to make our lives better, by the Standard of Shakyamuni.
So to profess our nature is to profess Buddha-Nature. The rest is going to fade away into the past. To be forgotten. The impermanent Self fades, but what we want to remember is the good and the pure Consciousness we have, and that we can attribute to our True-Nature, to Life, to a Buddha we want to become and want to be.
Daisaku Ikeda and Mr. Toda both have done great work to progress Nichiren Buddhism. I believe anyone who chants Nam Myoho Renge Kyo helps Buddhism. I see both Mr. Todo and Daisaku Ikeda as Buddhas.
Though, to be fair, Nichiren had such a strong faith in the chanting of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo I believe it would be fair to say that even if one were to commit a great many offenses, it would still be good for them to chant, because the chanting in itself of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo helps one’s Life. It helps Shakyamuni who wants us all to become Buddhas.
There is a great deal of kindness in this world. But so much pain! I believe it is because a large amount of people have closed their eyes to Life. Understanding the Four Noble Truths and following the Noble Eightfold Path is the beginning of Wisdom in Buddhism, and I personally, according to the Nichiren Tradition, believe that the pinnacle of Buddhist Wisdom is in being a Votary of the Lotus Sutra. It is a Way to honor the Buddha as He asked us to. So I hope that it is always possible for those who believe in the Lotus Sutra, wherever they travel, physically or Spiritually, to expound the Sutra and hold steadfast to it’s Teachings, as well as reveal it’s Dharma and Mystic Law to those earnestly seeking Enlightenment, because Enlightenment, Life, is the Goal of every individual whether they are ready to head there or not, so we have to respect people’s needs, just like we have to respect people’s need for water, and have it amply ready for when they ask. One just may achieve Nirvana.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo will help us all achieve our goals. It will show us the True Path in Life. The Way of the Bodhisattva is by this method, and Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is a powerful Bodhisattva Vow according to Nichiren. A strong sense of Maitri builds up in those who truly take the Mantra to heart, and once they chant it it becomes second nature when it penetrates into the inner Buddha-Wisdom of the Gohonzon that they have found within themselves. That is where the Lotus Sutra’s Wisdom can be awakened.
By earnest reading of the Lotus Sutra and practicing according to our Tradition’s Teachings, we can quickly attain the Buddha Wisdom. Of this there is no doubt. Nichiren was a living Buddha, and the Buddhist Movement He started was planned Spiritually by the unstoppable force of the Mystic Law. The Lotus Sutra is the Truest Matiri towards the Life of Buddhism, and in order for Shakyamuni to be at peace from His long journey, it is important to respect the Lotus Sutra and it’s followers. We must all work together between Schools, Traditions, and perspectives to share and propound this magnificent Sutra to those who are aptly ready to receive it’s Wisdom. Ultimately the entire world of Buddhism is benefitting greatly from it. It is how Gautama Buddha, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging, gained Enlightenment in a distant past life, many many asamkhyas of kalpas ago.
Life is the most important practice we can have. And that practice is deemed “Buddha” by Mr. Toda, therefore we should live life to the fullest in pursuit of Enlightenment. May we have firm faith in the Lotus Sutra.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Om.
