HISTORY OF NICHIREN BUDDHISM SGI-UK Study Department

Introductory Study Programme

FROM SHAKYAMUNI TO TODAY
transforming people's suffering and
enabling society to flourish lay in the
Shakyamuni Buddha After Shakyamuni Lotus Sutra, and particularly its title,
and the Lotus Sutra Myoho-Renge-Kyo. On 28th April
1253 he declared that the correct
Shakymuni taught many
Shakyamuni, also known as Buddhist practice in this age is to
teachings on the way to teaching the
Siddartha Gautama, was the founder of chant the phrase Nam-myoho-renge-
Lotus Sutra. After he died Buddhism
Buddhism. He lived in the fourth or kyo, which enables everyone to attain
took different forms as it spread.
fifth century BCE in a small kingdom enlightenment and true happiness
It spread in two main forms,
in the foothills of the Himalayas south throughout their lives, manifesting
the Theravada (or Hinayana – 'lesser
of what is now central Nepal. inherent Buddhahood and gaining the
vehicle') and the Mahayana ('greater
He was a prince of the strength and wisdom to challenge any
vehicle'), and travelled into China
Shakya clan, and was destined to adverse circumstances.
along the commercial Silk Route. The
succeed his father, King Shuddhodana, Nichiren Daishonin
sutras were translated into different
but as a young challenged the established schools of
languages and the teachings were
man he became aware of, and was Buddhism which served the interests
adopted and merged into different
deeply troubled by the problem of of the powerful and encouraged
cultures in Asia. This is the origin of
human suffering. He longed to leave passivity in the suffering masses.
the great variety and diversity of the
his comfortable life in the royal palace After this a series of persecutions
Buddhist teachings which currently
and to seek a solution to the four began, which served to confirm that
exist across Asia today.
sufferings common to all people: birth the Daishonin was acting in
When these diverse
into this troubled world, sickness, old accordance with the teachings of the
teachings reached China, people were
age and death. He renounced his Lotus Sutra, which include a warning
uncertain which among them was the
wealth and titles and, after years of of the difficulty of spreading its
true teaching of the Buddha. Great
teaching of fundamental respect in
thinkers, such as T'ien-t'ai and Chang-
effort, near the town of Gaya, he future ages. In 1260 he submitted his
an studied the Lotus Sutra and
experienced a profound enlightenment treatise 'On Establishing the Correct
confirmed its status as the greatest of
to the essential nature of life and all Teaching for the Peace of the Land,' to
the Buddha's teachings, because of its
things; to the cause of suffering and the most powerful figure in the
teaching that everyone can reveal the
how to resolve it. government, urging the government to
Buddha state in their daily lives.
He then spent the next fifty or take responsibility for the suffering of
Nevertheless Buddhism later
so years travelling through India, the people, and to use his philosophy
reached Japan in many different
sharing his insight with others. After to remedy the situation.
schools each declaring the supremacy
he died at the age of eighty, his Nichiren Daishonin was
of their own teaching.
disciples continued to spread his exiled twice by the government
teachings through Asia. People tend to suffered violent attacks, and a number
associate Buddhism solely with the of his disciples were executed. He
teachings of Shakyamuni, but this
Nichiren Daishonin- life refused to compromise his principles
neglects developments which occurred and spirit to appease those in authority. During
in later periods. his second exile on Sado Island he
Shakyamuni`s key message is Nichiren Daishonin was born continued to write letters of inspiration
contained in his highest teaching, the in Japan on 16th February 1222 in a and encouragement to his followers,
Lotus Sutra. This states that country that was rife with conflicts and among which are counted some of his
Buddhahood, a condition of absolute calamities which took a heavy toll on most important works. In 1274 the
happiness and freedom from all fear the ordinary people. He entered the government freed him, stating that he
and illusions, is inherent in all life, and priesthood as a boy, and it is said that was not guilty of any wrongdoing, and
is eternal. This means that 'the Buddha' while he was studying at Seicho-ji he retired to Mount Minobu where he
is nothing other than an ordinary Temple he prayed to become the continued to train his disciples, and
person who is aware of this state in his wisest person in all Japan, so that he write letters of encouragement to those
or her life. `The Buddha` is not a could make sense of the Buddhist who practiced his teachings. He
special or divine being. The teachings, and lead his parents, and inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon on 12th
development of this inner life state can indeed all people, to enlightenment. October 1279 so that all people could
enable all people to overcome For 14 years he travelled have the means to reveal their inherent
their problems and live a fulfilled and around the main temples of Japan to Buddha nature. He died surrounded by
active life, engaging fully with others conduct his research and became his closest disciples on 13th October
and with society. convinced that the key to 1282.
 establishment of Buddhahood as the means that it is even more applicable
The Kosen-rufu core life state, based on Nichiren in today's difficult times. The
movement-Soka Gakkai Daishonin's teachings. Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin, as
spread through the SGI movement,
International
teaches individual empowerment and
Buddhism for today inner transformation which at the
same time contributes to global
Nichiren Daishonin's peace, enabling people to develop
Buddhism was passed from generation In the Lotus Sutra, the themselves and take responsibility for
to generation, in Japan, for some 700 goal of those who were to spread its their lives, no matter what their
years until a lay society which became teachings throughout the world is circumstances or background.
known as the Soka Gakkai (Value encapsulated in the phrase 'kosen-
Creating Society) started to spread its rufu'. This means 'to teach and spread
teachings in 1930. Soka Gakkai widely' the Buddhist law. This is also
was founded by the educators the goal of the SGI, to teach the
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei universal law of Nam-myoho-
Toda, who found parallels in the renge-kyo around the world.
Daishonin's teaching with their The following are quotations
philosophy of education. They taken from recent articles by Daisaku
challenged the militaristic government Ikeda, where he explains the meaning
during the Second World War, and of 'kosen-rufu':
were imprisoned; the society's first
president, Makiguchi, died in 'To become happy not only
jail on 18th November 1944. ourselves, but to enable others
Toda realised during his imprisonment to become happy as well. To
that this modern age is the very period bring harmony to our local
of conflict that the Lotus Sutra was communities. And to help our
taught to resolve. nations flourish and bring
After the war, the Japanese peace to the whole world. The
constitution allowed for the freedom lives of those who pray and
of religion, for the first time, and Toda work to achieve these goals
reconstructed the Soka Gakkai as a pulse with faith that is
movement for people in all aspects of dedicated to realizing kosen-
socety, not just in education. By the rufu.' (NL 4584)
time he died on 2nd April 1958 the
organization had grown beyond his 'Kosen-rufu is an undertaking
target of 750,000 households and even that we must pursue in society,
had members elected to the Japanese in the real world. Kosen-rufu is
Parliament. an indomitable struggle for
Daisaku Ikeda became the peace and justice in which we
third President on 3rd May 1960 must fight unceasingly against
when he was 32. Under his leadership the negative and destructive
the organization grew rapidly and forces found in the real world.'
expanded abroad. In 1975 Soka (NL 4744)
Gakkai International was established
and he became its first president. 'If we're going to live this life,
There are now more than 12 million we must not waste it on trivial,
members in 188 countries and self-centered pursuits, but
territories, and Daisaku Ikeda has instead live for a lofty ideal.
conducted dialogues with scholars, And the most lofty ideal is
cultural and political leaders around worldwide kosen-rufu. Those
who continue to uphold a great Introductory study
the world. He also founded the Soka
University and the Soka Schools, the philosophy, a great ideal, and a programme materials
great religion are unsurpassed
Min-On Concert Association, the Version 2.0 for use from
Tokyo Fuji Art Museum and the victors as human beings.' (NL
5226) July 2004
Institute of Oriental Philosophy. The
SGI continues its development as the Buddhism is a religion that SGI-UK, Study Department,
organization of 'human revolution,' the dates back almost three thousand Taplow Court, Taplow, SL6 0ER,
years, yet its practical philosophy UK
individual's inner reformation, and