The Heart of the Lotus Sutra

The doctrine of Ichinen Sanzen (Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life) represents the pinnacle of Buddhist philosophy as systematized by the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai and emphasized by Nichiren Shonin. This principle clarifies the profound interconnectedness between the individual mind and the entire universe.

• Ichinen: Refers to the single “thought-moment” of life.
• Sanzen: Refers to the “three thousand” realms, a symbolic number representing the totality of all cosmic phenomena.

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The Components of the Three Thousand Realms

The number 3,000 is derived from a meticulous integration of Buddhist concepts found in the Lotus Sutra. It serves to illustrate that no aspect of existence is excluded from a single moment of life:

1. The Ten Realms (Jukkai): These are the ten subjective states of life that a person experiences:
   • 1. Hell
   • 2. Hungry Ghosts
   • 3. Animals
   • 4. Ashura
   • 5. Humans
   • 6. Heavenly Beings
   • 7. Sravakas
   • 8. Pratyekabuddhas
   • 9. Bodhisattvas
   • 10. Buddhahood.
2. Mutual Possession (Jukkai Gogu): The principle that each of the Ten Realms contains the other nine within it, meaning Buddhahood is inherently present even in the lowest states (10 Realms x 10 Reams = 100 Worlds).
3. The Ten Factors (Junyoze): The qualities through which life is expressed, such as appearance, nature, entity, power, activity, primary causes, environmental causes, effects, rewards and retributions, and equality (100 Worlds x 10 Factors = 1,000 Factors).
4. The Three Realms of Existence (San-seken): The realm of the individual (physical and mental aspects), the realm of living beings (the social context and interactions with others), and the environment (the physical world) (1,000 Factors x 3 Realms = 3,000 Realms).

The Philosophical Implications

The Oneness of Life and Environment (Esho Funi)

Because the “Three Realms of Existence” are included in the calculation, Ichinen Sanzen proves that our environment is not separate from us. It is an extension of our internal life-state. If the Ichinen (the single moment of life) changes, the Sanzen (the three thousand realms/the environment) must also change.

The Reality of Buddhahood

Before this doctrine, Buddhahood was often seen as a distant state or a different location. Ichinen Sanzen teaches that Buddhahood is a physical and mental reality present in this world, in this body, and in this moment.