Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings provide the philosophical foundation of SGI members’ religious faith and practice.
In Search of the Cause of Human Suffering
Nichiren Daishonin was born in 1222 in Japan, a time rife with social conflicts and natural calamities, which took a heavy toll, particularly on the ordinary populace. Nichiren Daishonin, as a young priest, began an intensive study of Buddhist teachings, or sutras, in search of an answer to the suffering and chaos that surrounded him. His studies convinced him that the Lotus Sutra holds the key to transforming people’s suffering and enabling society to flourish. Nichiren Daishonin saw it as a vehicle for people’s empowerment in that it focused on an inner transformation based on the equality of all people--stressing that everyone can attain enlightenment and enjoy happiness while they are alive. He established the invocation of the sutra’s title, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, as the practice to enable people to manifest the Buddhahood inherent in their lives and gain the strength and wisdom to challenge and overcome any adverse circumstances.
Nichiren Daishonin was critical of the established schools of Buddhism that relied on state patronage and merely served the interests of the powerful while encouraging passivity in the suffering masses.
In 1260, Nichiren Daishonin submitted a petition entitled, "On establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land", to the most powerful figure in the government. In it he called the government to task, insisting that the leaders bear responsibility for the suffering of the population and act to remedy it. Nichiren’s stance, that the state exists for the sake of the people, was revolutionary for its time.
Facing Opposition
Nichiren Daishonin’s claims invited an onslaught of often-violent persecutions from the military government and the established Buddhist schools. A number of his disciples were executed and Nichiren Daishonin himself narrowly escaped assassination on a number of occasions. He was also sent into exile on two occasions but later pardoned. Throughout, Nichiren Daishonin refused to compromise his principles to appease those in authority.
In 1271 Nichiren Daishonin was arrested and taken in the early hours of the morning to a beach named Tatsunokuchi to be beheaded. The execution was abandoned, however, when a bright object appeared in the night sky, terrifying the executioners. He was subsequently exiled to the island of Sado, where conditions were especially harsh. Nichiren Daishonin survived freezing conditions with little food or shelter, coming close to starvation on several occasions. Despite the severity of his situation he continued to write prolifically, sending letters of encouragement and instruction to his disciples, among which are counted some of his most important works.
Nichiren Daishonin’s legacy lies in his unrelenting struggle for people’s happiness and the desire to transform society into one which respects the dignity and potential of each individual life.
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