Buddhism Materials

Buddhism is the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The word “Buddha” means “The Enlightened One.”

The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path.

The Four Noble Truths are;

• Life is full of suffering.
• The cause of suffering is ignorance and selfish desire.

• Suffering may be ended by overcoming ignorance and selfish desire.

• The way to overcome ignorance and selfish desire is by following the Eight-fold Path.

• Right Understanding
• Right Thought

• Right Speech
• Right Conduct
• Right Livelihood
• Right Endeavor
• Right Purpose
• Right Meditation

Right Understanding means that we should try to learn and understand the Teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Right Thought means that we should guard our thoughts carefully because our words and our actions rise from our thoughts.

Right Speech means that we should always be truthful and kind in what we say.

Right Conduct means that we should be on our best behavior always.

Right Livelihood means that we should always make our living honestly and in a way which will harm no one.

Right Endeavor means that we should always try to become a better person that what we are.

Right Purpose means that we should try to do what is right at all times.

Right Meditation means that we should think often of the Buddha and chant “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.”

The Buddha teaches that, through love, we can be led from suffering to peace.

The Three Treasures of Buddhism are The Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha.

• The Buddha is the Great Teacher
• The Dharma is the Teaching

• The Sangha is the Brotherhood

The Three Signs of Buddhism are

• Change (anicca)
• Suffering (dukkha)

• Non-self (anatta)

The Six Paramitas are:

• DANA (generosity) To give of our time and our love to all; to share; to be helpful in every way, without expecting any return.
• SILA (morality) To think, speak, and act in the kindest way so that we do not offend anyone.

• KSANTI (patience) To be patient and to be thankful for every lesson learned; to be forgiving; to be free of bearing grudges or finding fault; to have the will-power to carry out our daily tasks.

• VIRYA (perseverance) To try hard, at all times, to follow the Teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha; to practice those rules taught in the Six Paramitas.
• DHYANA (meditation) To think about our goal in life; to take time each day to chant “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.”
• PRAJNA (wisdom) To remember that the light and the love of Sakyamuni Buddha’s Teachings take away the darkness of ignorance.

“Buddha-nature” means that all living beings have the seed of Buddhahood within them; therefore, all living beings have the potential for attaining enlightenment.

“Karma” (or action and thought) is a deed which results from our thinking. It means that what we are today is a result of what we have thought and done in the past, and that what we shall be in the future is a result of what we think and do in the present.

Nirvana, in literal terms, means “extinction”; however, it refers to that real and eternal realm which all living beings may attain by overcoming all illusions and selfish desires.

Nichiren Daishonin is the founder of Nichiren Shu Buddhism.

Nichiren Daishonin was born in Kominato, Chiba-ken, on February 16, 1222. He dies at Ikegami, near Tokyo, on October 13, 1282.

“Nichi” is a Japanese word meaning “sun”, “ren” is a Japanese word meaning “lotus.”

Nichiren Daishonin took these words as the basis for his name because of two references in The Lotus Sutra:

• “Just as the light of the sun and moon expels all dimness and darkness, so this man, living and working in the world, drives out the darkness (illusion) of all living beings;”

and

• “Be not influenced by environment. Lo, the lotus blossoms, never to be soiled by the muddy waters from whence it grows.”

Nichiren Daishonin base his teachings on The Lotus of the Wonderful Law, which is also known as The Lotus Sutra.

In his many years of study, Nichiren Daishonin found that The Lotus Sutra contained the final, and only complete teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The Lotus Sutra teaches that there is only one path – The One-Vehicle – to the Truth; that Sakyamuni Buddha and the Buddha Dharma are eternal; and that, because all living beings contain the Buddha-seed or Buddha-nature, they may all attain Buddhahood.

The lotus symbolizes the life of both the Buddha and the righteous Buddhist. Although its roots lie in muddy water, the lotus lifts a pure white blossom above that pollution. In the same way, the righteous Buddhist rises above the polluted environment of society to live a pure life.

The Sacred Title consists of the words “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo”

The words of the Sacred Title are usually translated as “Adoration to the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law”.

We chant the Sacred Title because it reminds us that we have taken refuge with Sakyamuni Buddha whose True Spirit is shown in the The Lotus Sutra. The chanting of the Sacred Title also develops Buddha-nature of the reciter by bringing him/her into harmony with The Lotus Sutra and Sakyamuni Buddha.

The main object of worship of Nichiren Shu Buddhists is the The Great Mandala (Gohonzon).

The Great Mandala (Gohonzon) represents the Supreme Truth, and illustrates the Ten Worlds of Existence in which all living beings will attain Buddhahood.

We worship The Great Mandala (Gohonzon) because, by gazing upon it and chanting the Sacred Title, the heart and soul become one; and we come to know that, through Sakyamuni Buddha, life is eternal, and one’s value is without limit.

The basic reason for worshipping is that it helps us to remove illusion. It helps us to gain true self-identity in relation to all living beings, in relation to the True Law of Sakyamuni Buddha; and in relation to the Buddha, himself.

The Nichiren Shu Juzu has 108 beads in a loop with 5 tassels, 3 on one side and 2 on the other. Besides the 108 beads, there are several special beads. 2 larger beads represent Sakyamuni Buddha and Taho Buddha. 4 smaller beads in the main loop represents the 4 Bodhisattvas from under the earth. The Juzu also represents ourselves. The tassels represents our head, arms and legs. This reminds us that we are made up of the 108 desires.

The three essential articles in the altar arrangement are:

• Incense for purity
• Candle-light for wisdom

• Flowers for compassion

The Four Great Vows of a Bodhisattva are as follows:

• Sentient beings are innumerable; I vow to save them all
• Our evil desires are inexhaustible; I vow to extinguish them all

• The Buddha’s teachings are immeasurable; I vow to study them all

• The way of the Buddha is unexcelled; I vow to attain the Path Sublime