Part 1: Happiness; Chapter 3: The Practice for Transforming Our State of Life [3.7]

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the ultimate Law that gives rise to, or is the source of, all Buddhas. To put it another way, the fundamental cause for the enlightenment of all Buddhas is not countless kalpas of practice,1 but rather awakening to the fundamental Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. The Buddhist practice for the Latter Day of the Law is to directly embrace Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is why practice over countless kalpas is not necessary in Nichiren Buddhism.

In his writing “The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind,” Nichiren Daishonin states: “Shakyamuni’s practices and the virtues he consequently attained are all contained within the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo.2 If we believe in these five characters, we will naturally be granted the same benefits as he was” (WND-1, 365).

The practices of Shakyamuni and the Buddhas of the ten directions and three existences to attain enlightenment and the virtues resulting from those practices are all included in Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. For that reason, by embracing the “five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo,” we naturally obtain the full benefits enjoyed by Shakyamuni and all Buddhas, and are able to attain Buddhahood.

This is the principle that “embracing the Gohonzon is in itself observing one’s own mind, or attaining enlightenment.”3 It is also articulated as “attainment of Buddhahood in one’s present form”4 and “immediate attainment of enlightenment.”5

The Daishonin says that those who embrace the Mystic Law “can readily become as noble a Buddha as Shakyamuni” (WND-1, 1030). The Daishonin’s teaching opens the way for all people to reach the same great state of Buddhahood as Shakyamuni. Buddhahood is not a fiction or a metaphor, nor is it restricted to the inconceivably distant future. Nichiren Buddhism enables all people to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime.

The principle of “embracing the Gohonzon is in itself observing one’s own mind” represents a revolution in the concept of attaining Buddhahood. As Mr. Toda explained:

“Just by chanting the single phrase of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with faith in the Gohonzon, we can carry out the practice for attaining Buddhahood far more easily than the Buddhas described in the “Expedient Means” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, who practiced for tens of millions of years [over countless lifetimes before attaining Buddhahood].”6

While the widely accepted view of attaining Buddhahood is that it is a long, strenuous uphill climb to reach the summit of enlightenment, Nichiren Buddhism teaches that all people can reach that summit instantly. We can immediately and directly attain the expansive state of Buddhahood here and now, as though suddenly gazing from on high over the mountain peaks below and enjoying a magnificent, 360-degree panorama of the world. We can then go out among the challenging realities of living and share with others the joy of attaining this lofty state of being. This is what is so wonderful and exciting about the practice of Nichiren Buddhism.

From Lectures on the “Expedient Means” and “Life Span” Chapters of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 1, published in Japanese in September 1995.