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GLOSSARY
BODHISATTVA - One who devotes himself to practicing true
Buddhism for enlightenment and the happiness of others.
BUDDHAHOOD - Signifies the state of enlightenment or absolute
happiness which is possible only through the chanting of
Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.
Chudo- Chu literally means middle, while do means way or direction.
The term is generally translated as "Golden Mean. " As a basic principle of true Buddhism, Chudo is a guideline for daily living.
Dai-Gohonzon - The supreme object of worship inscribed by Nichiren
Daishonin on October 12, 1279, to save all mankind from the fetters of unhappiness. The Dai-Gohonzon is the materialization of the life- philosophy of the Three Great Secret Laws.
DAIMOKU - The invocation of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo which one
chants in worshipping the Gohonzon.
Daisekiji-The Head Temple of Nichiren Shoshu located at the base of
Mt. Fuji in Japan. Established by the second high priest, Nikko Shonin, Taisekiji is the place where the Dai-Gohonzon is kept.
DENGYO - (767-822) A follower of Tien-t'ai who propagated the Lotus
Sutra in Japan in Zoho. Established the transient sanctuary on Mt. Hiei in Kyoto.
Enlightenment - The state of absolute happiness or Buddhahood, in
which one perceives the true aspect of life. This is the highest life- condition one can experience.
Esho Funi - Oneness of man (Shoho) and his environment (Eho). This is
the ultimate principle of true Buddhism. For instance, when one gets angry, everything around him appears unpleasant. In this way, one's mind reflects his circumstances and vice versa.
Gohonzon - The supreme object of worship of true Buddhism.
GONGYO - Literally, assiduous practice. It is a prayer service offered
before the Gohonzon every morning and evening. This is the basic practice of true Buddhism.
Gosho - The writings of Nichiren Daishonin. They comprise religious
treatises and messages to disciples.
HONMON - The true teachings, representing tire latter half of the
Lotus Sutra where the eternity of life is expounded. It also means Nichiren Daishonin's true Buddhism as compared to Shakyamuni's Buddhism.
Hon'in-myo - The supreme cause which signifies that everybody can
develop, regardless of his past causes, if he makes a determination to develop himself through chanting. Hon' in-Myo is also known as the spirit to "start from now."
ICHINEN - Life of this moment. This goes far beyond the conscious
levels of life and pervades all 3,000 worlds in a momentary state of existence. Therefore, the only way to fully develop one's Ichinen is through the chanting of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.
Ichinen SANZEN - Literally, 3,000 worlds in a momentary state of
existence. This is the fundamental theory of life revealed in the Lotus Sutra, which was systematized by Tien-t'ai and materialized in the form of the Gohonzon by Nichiren Daishonin.
INGA Guji - Simultaneity of cause (In) and effect (Ga). In Buddhism,
there are two views on causality - Inga Iji and Inga Guji. The former is the superficial view of surface phenomena changing with the times. The later is the more profound view of the potential changes inherent in the nature of things. If we observe cause and effect superficially as phenomena, there is an interval between the two (Inga Iji), but when we pursue them essentially, they prove to be simultaneous (Inga Guji).
ITAI DOSHIN - Itai means different persons and Doshin, the same
mind of faith. Together, Itai Doshin signifies unity based upon the same faith. Nichiren Daishonin's disciples should join together with their faith in the Gohonzon as a basis.
Jihi - Translated as mercy, Jihi is an absolute concept, differing from
love which is relative. It means the powerful will to protect others by giving them happiness and uprooting their suffering.
Jikkai GoGu - Literally, the mutual possession of the ten worlds. The
life of a man in tranquility, for example, has the moment-by-moment potential either to remain there or shift to any of the other nine worlds. First set forth in Shakyamuni's Lotus Sutra, Jikkai Gogu explains that every human being is capable of attaining enlightenment. Each individual as well as the Gohonzon itself is the entity of Jikkai Gogu.
JI-Ri - Ji means practical, actual and concrete, as opposed to Ri which
means theoretical, ideological and abstract. They correspond to the practice and theory of Buddhism, respectively.
JIYU-NO BOSATSU - Bodhisattvas of the Earth. They appeared in
the 15th chapter of the Lotus Sutra and vowed to risk their lives to spread true Buddhism in Mappo. We, Hokkeko members, are all Jiyu-no Bosatsu because we are practicing to the Gohonzon to achieve world peace.
JO-RAKU-GA-JO - The four virtues signified by the four leaders of
Jiyu-no Bosatsu. That is, eternity (Jo) is signified by Muhengyo, happiness (Raku) by Anryugyo, self-identity (Ga) by Jogyo and purity (Jo) by another Jogyo. Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism revealed that everyone innately possesses all of these four virtues and can tap them through chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.
JURASETSUNYO - Ten daughters of the demon Kishimojin who
appear in the 26th chapter of the Lotus Sutra. They all vowed to protect those who practice true Buddhism in Mappo.
KAIMOKU SHO - On the Opening of the Eyes, written by Nichiren
Daishonin in 1272 while in exile on Sado Island. In it he revealed that he himself is the True Buddha who saves all mankind.
KAMAKURA - The ancient capital of Japan. Although the emperor was
in Kyoto, the government that actually held power maintained its offices in Kamakura. It was here that Nichiren Daishonin launched his initial propagation campaign to convince the government of the truth of his philosophy. It was also here that he met his heaviest persecution and was almost executed at Tatsunokuchi, on the outskirts of the city.
KARMA - Totality of a person's actions throughout many existences
which determines his destiny in his current and future existences. Karma is the phenomenon of cause and effect. The life philosophy of Nichiren Daishonin has the great power to alleviate the negative influence of our past bad causes and change them into good causes or good karma.
KISHIMOJIN Kishimojin is a female demon who is said to have
brought up her daughters by feeding them others' children. Kishimojin and her daughters represent evil-minded women of furious character in the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings. However; they vowed to protect those who practice true Buddhism, according to the 26th chapter of the Lotus Sutra.
KOSEN-RUFU -The establishment of peace and
happiness in society through the world-wide propagation of Nichiren
Daishonin's true Buddhism. Compared to the current of a stream,
Kosen-rufu is not an end but the current itself - an ongoing pulsation in
society of the living Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin.
KUON GANJO- The remotest past, when Nichiren Daishonin, the True
Buddha, attained
Enlightenment. From the viewpoint of the Daishonin's life-philosophy, it
means eternal life which has neither beginning nor end. Kuon Ganjo, therefore, means "right now" in the most fundamental sense of the word.
KYOCHI MYOGO-- - Harmonious fusion of the objective world (Kyo)
and subjective wisdom (Chi). It primarily means the state of absolute happiness or Buddhahood which believers experience in the fusion of their lives with the Gohonzon. In this case, the Gohonzon is Kyo and the believers are Chi.
LOTUS SUTRA - Hokkeko. Highest teaching of Shakyamuni. Its
implications vary with the times. In Shoho, it refers to Shakyamuni's sutra of the same name. The Lotus Sutra in the period of Zoho indicates the Maka Shikan expounded by T'ien-t'ai of China; in the time of Mappo, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo or the Gohonzon.
MAKA SHIKAN - One of the three great works of T'ien-t'ai the Great
of China. It theoretically reveals the basic universal principle of Ichinen Sanzen, which is the essence of the Lotus Sutra of Shakyamuni. For this reason it is called the "Lotus Sutra of Zoho."
MAPPO - The age of strife and conflict which begins 2,000 years after
the death of Shakyamuni, when his Buddhism loses its power and influence, and many heretical religions are rampant. This is the time when only Nichiren Daishonin's true Buddhism can achieve a restoration of society, as well as the human revolution of each individual.
MIA-LO - (711-782) He enhanced
T'ien-tai's Buddhism in China through
his interpretations. Nichiren Daishonin often quoted his works to show the validity of true Buddhism.
MYO-HO-REN-GE-KYO - Means Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo when used by
Nichiren Daishonin in referring to the essence of true Buddhism in
comparison with other teachings.
NAM-MYOHO-RENGE-KYO - The invocation initiated by Nichiren
Daishonin, the True Buddha in the time of Mappo. This is the basis of universal life - the supreme Law which underlies all universal phenomena. Chanting Nan-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is the only way an individual can revitalize himself.
Nichiren Shoshu - Founded by the Daishonin's immediate successor,
Nikko Shonin, Nichiren Shoshu (true teaching) has protected the Dai- Gohonzon for nearly 700 years through its lineage of high priests. Its head temple is Taisekiji, at the foot of ML Fuji.
NIKKAN SHONIN - (1665-1726) the 26th high priest of Nichiren
Shoshu, who secured the foundation of the study of true Buddhism.
NIKKO SHONIN - (1246-1333) The immediate successor of Nichiren
Daishonin. He founded the Head Temple of Nichiren Shoshu, Taisekiji, at the foothill of Mt. Fuji.
NINE WORLDS - The ten worlds with the exclusion of the highest, that
of Buddhahood. They are hell, hunger, animality, anger, tranquility, rapture, learning, absorption and aspiration for enlightenment. This term denotes everyday life. See ten worlds.
NINPO IKKA - The oneness of Person and Law. In true Buddhism, the
Person means Nichiren Daishonin and the Law is Nam-Myoho-Renge- Kyo. The entity of this principle is the Gohonzon.
ONGI KUDEN - The record of Nichiren Daishonin's oral teachings on
the Lotus Sutra, clarified in the light of true Buddhism.
Rissho ANKOKU RON - On Securing the Peace of the Land through
the Establishment of True Buddhism. Nichiren Daishonin wrote this treatise in 1260 at the age of 39, remonstrating with the Kamakura regime. It reveals the root cause of disasters and unhappiness, ascribing them to the proliferation of misleading religions and philosophies.
SADO ISLAND - Located in the Sea of Japan, this desolate island was
a natural prison for exiles in Nichiren Daishonin's days. It was believed impossible for anyone to return from exile there.
SHAKYAMUNI - Born about 3,000 years ago in India, he left a
multitude of sutras in which he prophesied the appearance of the True Buddha 2,000 years after his death, under whom he himself practiced Buddhism in the remotest past.
SANDAI-HIHo - See Three Great Secret Laws.
SANSHO - The three proofs or criteria
of a religion- literal proof
(Monsho); theoretical proof (Risho); and actual proof (Gensho). Of these three, the actual proof of any religion is the most important criterion for judging its validity.
SANSHO SHIMA - Three Obstacles and Four Devils which emerge
without fail in the course of Buddhist practice to prevent one from attaining enlightenment.
SHAKUBUKU-The merciful action of introducing the greatness of the
Gohonzon to another person.
SHAKUMON - The transient teachings of the first half of the Lotus
Sutra. Compared to Nichiren Daishonin's life-philosophy, all Shakyamuni's teachings fall into the category of Shakumon.
SHIKI-SHIN FUNI - The inseparability of body and mind. Shiki means
matter, form and physical aspects of life which are visible, and Shin signifies quality, nature, spirit and innate power which are invisible. Funi means the inseparable combination of the two. Shiki-shin Funi is the ultimate principle of Nichiren Daishonin's life-philosophy which reveals the true nature of life.
SHITEI FUNI - Oneness of master and disciple. This principle
constitutes the core of the Buddhist practice.
SHOHO- First millennium after Shakyamuni's death. In this period,.
Shakyamuni's Buddhism had the maximum power to benefit its believers. In the first half of Shoho, Hinayana Buddhism was spread by Kasho, Anan, etc., and in the latter half, people could attain enlightenment with belief in the provisional Mahayana teachings which were propagated by Ryuju, Tenjin and others.
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SUPREME LAW - Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo which underlies one's life as
well as all other phenomena in the universe. It was materialized in the form of the Gohonzon by Nichiren Daishonin, who, as the True Buddha, originally perceived it in the remotest past.
TAHO BUDDHA - The Buddha who appeared in the 15th chapter of
the Lotus Sutra to testify to the validity of Shakyamuni's teachings.
TEN WORLDS - The foundation of the ultimate Buddhist life-
philosophy of Ichinen Sanzen. See the nine worlds.
THREE GREAT SECRET LAWS - The basis of Nichiren Daishonin's
true Buddhism. They are the Dai-Gohonzon, the Place, where it is enshrined, and Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, which we chant.
T'IEN-T'AI - (538-597) The Buddha of the Zoho period, the second
1,000-year span following Shakyamuni's death. He formulated the theory of Ichinen Sanzen from the Lotus Sutra and taught it in China. His principal work was the Maka Shikan.
TRUE BUDDHA - Nichiren Daishonin. Shakyamuni prophesied in the
Lotus Sutra that the votary of the Lotus Sutra in Mappo would be the True Buddha who would meet unbelievable slanders in order to propagate it. Nichiren Daishonin asserted that he himself was the True Buddha and established the Dai-Gohonzon for all humanity.
TRUE BUDDHISM - Nichiren Daishonin's life philosophy which
clarifies the true nature of life
and provides a means to change the destiny of all mankind.
ZOHO - One thousand years following the period of Shoho (the first
millennium after Shakyamuni's death). In this period, T'ien-t'ai, Dengyo and others taught the Shakumon (transient) teachings of the Lotus Sutra. Shakyamuni's Buddhism, however, gradually lost its power to benefit the people, remaining only in the form of sutras, statues and temples.
ZUIHO BINI - Zuiho means to follow the customs and traditions of a
particular area, while Bini means precepts or commandments. True Buddhism, rooted in man himself, will never be restricted or limited by national boundaries, local customs or changes of generation. A basic change in the life of a person through his practice of this life-philosophy makes him a more creative, happy individual. This is what Buddhism makes adaptable to any society. Again, true Buddhism never forces outmoded commandments and formalities upon its believers. Rather, it revitalizes manners and customs prevalent in any society.
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