TagBuddhist Concept

Every aspect of our Buddhist practice—faith, practice and study—creates causes that give rise to happiness, benefit and fortune in our lives. In Nichiren Buddhism, any positive outcome or gain that results from our practice is called a benefit (kudoku in Japanese), which can also be translated as “blessing,” “merit” or “virtue.” Fundamentally, benefits in Buddhism

Great evil portends the arrival of great good. If all of Jambudvipa [the entire world] were to be thrown into chaos, there could be no doubt that [this sutra would] “be widely propagated throughout Jambudvipa.” (“The Kalpa of Decrease,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1122) People’s ideals and philosophies determine a society’s

This article is adapted from the booklet An Introduction to Buddhism, which serves as the study material for the SGI-USA Introductory Exam being administered throughout the nation on Sept. 29. A famous passage from the writings of Nichiren Daishonin states, “I, Nichiren, have inscribed my life in sumi ink, so believe in the Gohonzon with

When obstacles and hardships arise in our lives, how do we respond? Some people may try to avoid struggles. Others get stopped in their tracks, not knowing how to proceed. There are various responses, of course. As Buddhists, we strive to courageously face hardships head-on. Nichiren Daishonin teaches that in the course of revealing our

An essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra is that anyone at any time can become a Buddha. Buddhas are not deities who dwell in faraway places or special people who have dedicated a certain number of years to Buddhist practice. Rather, a Buddha is an ordinary individual who has awakened to the reality that they

As discussed in last month’s study article “The Dynamic Practice of Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” (see May 10, 2019, World Tribune, p. 9), there are many ways to explain the meaning and significance of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. And although we may not fully understand its meaning, we can still accumulate great benefit and fortune from establishing a daily practice

Nichiren Daishonin lived during a tumultuous time in 13th-century Japan when people suffered almost year to year from some form of natural disaster, extreme weather event, famine, epidemic or political instability. Searching for a way to relieve people’s suffering, he delved into Buddhist scriptures and revealed the truth found in the depths of the Lotus

Research shows that expressing gratitude enriches your life both mentally and physically. A study by professors Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough revealed the positive impact of gratitude based on observations of three groups that kept weekly journals. The first group focused on recording things they were grateful for, the second noted events (good or bad)

Nichiren Buddhism encourages a dynamic balance of faith, practice and study. Nichiren Daishonin writes: “Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith” (“The True Aspect of

“Having good friends and advancing together with them is not half the Buddha way but all the Buddha way.”—Shakyamuni Buddhism is referred to as the “inner way,” finding both the causes and solutions to human problems within the hearts and minds of human beings themselves. However, it also acknowledges the power of external influences in

Gratitude means feeling thankful or returning the kindness or generosity received from others. As we practice Nichiren Buddhism, we come to understand the principle that all life and phenomena in the universe are eternal and interconnected. Nichiren Daishonin teaches that throughout our many past existences, we have formed connections with, and thus owe gratitude to,

Nichiren Buddhism teaches that Buddhahood—a truly free, unfettered state of life overflowing with boundless joy and compassion for all people—is gained by deepening our commitment to the happiness of self and others. The SGI is an organization made up of individuals striving to establish this state of life and united in creating a harmonious community

Today, more than ever, people are seeking a way to become genuinely happy, to live with boundless courage, hope and confidence, and to be unswayed by external circumstances. Nichiren Daishonin established a Buddhist practice rooted in daily life that enables us to build a solid self and attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. But based on