Glossary

BODHISATTVA One who aspires to enlightenment, or Buddha-hood, and carries out altruistic practices. It also indicates a state of life characterized by compassion. The bodhisattva ideal is central to the Mahayana Buddhist tradition as the individual who seeks happiness both for him-or herself and for others.

BODHISATTVAS OF THE EARTH An innumerable host of bodhisattvas who emerge from beneath the earth as described in the fifteenth chapter of the Lotus Sutra. The Buddha, Shakyamuni, entrusts to them the task of propagation of the essence of the Lotus Sutra in the time after his death. Nichiren regarded those who embrace and propagate the teaching of the Mystic Law as Bod hisattvas of the Earth.

BUDDHA Literally Awakened One; one who perceives the true nature of all life and who leads others to attain the same enlightenment. The Buddha nature or condition of Buddhahood exists within all beings and is characterized by the qualities of wisdom, courage, compassion and life force. Historically this indicates Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism.

BUDDHIST GODS The heavenly gods or benevolent deities that protect the correct Buddhist teaching and its practitioners. Forces in life that function to protect the people and their land and bring good fortune to both.

DAIMOKU The practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with belief in the fundamental law of the universe expounded by Nichi-ren. See Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

DAISHONIN see NICHIREN.

DHARMA The teachings or universal law of enlightenment taught by the Buddha.

GOHONZON The scroll that serves as the object of devotion in Nichiren Buddhism. SGI members chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to a Gohonzon enshrined in their own homes in order to bring forth the life state of Buddhahood from within.

GONGYO One of the basic elements of the practice of Nichiren Buddhism. It consists of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and reciting portions of the Lotus Sutra (from the “Expedient Means” and “Life Span” chapters). Gongyo literally means to “exert [oneself in] practice,” and is performed twice a day by members of the SGI.

HUMAN REVOLUTION The term used by Josei Toda to describe a fundamental process of inner transformation whereby each individual can unleash the full potential of their lives and take control over their own destiny.

JIYU Literally, “to emerge from the earth,” see Bodhisattvas of the Earth

KOSEN-RUFU A Japanese phrase literally meaning “to declare and spread widely.” It refers to the process of securing lasting peace and happiness for all humankind by establishing the humanistic ideals of Nichiren Buddhism in society. Kosen-rufu is often used synonymously with world peace, and more broadly could be understood as a vision of social peace brought about by the widespread acceptance of core values such as unfailing respect for the dignity of human life.

LOTUS SUTRA Widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of Buddhism, forming the core of the Mahayana school. In the sutra, Shakyamuni reveals that all people can attain enlightenment and that Buddhahood—a condition of absolute happiness, freedom from fear and from all illusions—is inherent in all life.

MAKIGUCHI, TSUNESABURO (1871–1944) A reformist educator, school principal and author of works on geography and educational theory. He started to practice Nichiren Buddhism in 1928, and in 1930 founded the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (the forerunner of the Soka Gakkai). He was detained and incarcerated from July 1943 until his death in prison in November 1944 as a result of his opposition to Japan’s wartime militarist government.

MYSTIC LAW The ultimate law, principle or truth of life and the universe in Nichiren’s teachings; the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

NAM-MYOHO-RENGE-KYO An invocation established by Nichiren on April 28, 1253. The title of the Lotus Sutra in its Japanese translation is Myoho-renge-kyo. To Nichiren, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo was the expression, in words, of the law of life which all Buddhist teachings seek to clarify. Practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as their core Buddhist practice. This is sometimes described as chanting daimoku.

NICHIREN (1222–82) A Buddhist reforner who lived in thirteenth-century Japan, often referred to by the honorific title “Daishonin” or “great sage.” His intensive study of the Buddhist sutras convinced him that the Lotus Sutra contained the essence of the Buddha’s enlightenment and that it held the key to transforming people’s suffering and enabling the peaceful flourishing of society. Nichiren established the invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in 1253. His claims invited an onslaught of often violent persecutions from the military government and the established Buddhist schools. Throughout, he refused to compromise his principles to appease those in authority.

SOKA GAKKAI Literally, “Society for the Creation of Value,” a Japanese lay Buddhist movement based on the practice of Nichiren Buddhism, founded in 1930 by Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda. Originally called Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating Education Society), it expanded rapidly in postwar Japan to become one of the world’s largest lay Buddhist movements.

SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL (SGI) Founded by Daisaku Ikeda in 1975, a worldwide network of lay Buddhists dedicated to a shared vision of a better world through the empowerment of the individual and the promotion of peace, culture and education based upon the teachings of Nichiren.

SHAKYAMUNI (GAUTAMA SIDDHARTHA) Also known as the Buddha or Awakened One. The historical founder of Buddhism. Born in what is now Nepal some 2,500 years ago, he renounced his royal upbringing to embark on a spiritual quest to understand how human suffering could be ended. While in deep meditation, he experienced a profound awakening, or enlightenment. He then traveled throughout the Indian subcontinent sharing his enlightened wisdom, promoting peace and teaching people how to unleash the great potential of their lives. The Lotus Sutra is said to contain his ultimate teaching: the universal possibility of enlightenment.

THREE EXISTENCES Past existence, present existence and future existence. Used to indicate all of time from the eternal past, through the present and into the eternal future. In Buddhism, the three existences represent the three aspects of the eternity of life, linked inseparably by the inner law of cause and effect.

TODA, Josei (1900–58) An educator, publisher and entrepreneur who became the second president of the Soka Gakkai and the mentor of Daisaku Ikeda. Along with Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Toda was incarcerated during World War II for his criticism of the government’s wartime policies. After the war, he rebuilt the Soka Gakkai into a dynamic popular movement with members throughout Japan.

TREASURE TOWER A massive tower or stupa adorned with treasures or jewels described in the eleventh chapter of the Lotus Sutra. It indicates the enormity, profundity and dignity of both the universal law of life, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and individuals who inherently possess the law within their lives.