Buddhism begins with individuals deciding to take responsibility for their own lives, reforming first themselves, overcoming their negative tendencies, then through the example of their own lives, their immediate surroundings and relations. Buddhism places the responsibility of change, in a person’s life, squarely on the individual himself.
Nichiren’s Buddhism
SGI members follow the teachings of Nichiren , a Buddhist monk who lived in 13th century Japan. Nichiren asserted that every individual has the potential to become enlightened in his or her present lifetime. Buddhist practice is a vehicle of individual empowerment. Each person has within the power to overcome life's inevitable challenges, to live a life of value and become a positive influence in one's community, society and the world.
Origins in India
Nichiren's philosophy is rooted in the teachings of Shakyamuni (Gautam Buddha), the historical founder of Buddhism who lived in India some 2,500 years ago. His teachings were recorded as sutras and spread throughout Asia, giving rise to a number of distinct schools of Buddhism.
Accessible to All
Nichiren lived in Japan, during a tumultuous time of social unrest and natural disasters. The common people, especially, suffered enormously in this harsh feudal society. Appalled by this state of affairs, Nichiren, while a young priest, set out to find the solution to the suffering that surrounded him. After intensive study of the Buddhist sutras, he realized that the essence of the Buddha's enlightenment, and the means to bring an end to suffering and social turmoil, was found in the Lotus Sutra. This sutra affirms that all people, regardless of gender, capacity or social standing, inherently possess the qualities of a Buddha, and are therefore equally worthy of utmost respect.
Based on his study of the sutra, he established the invocation of
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as a universal practice for tapping and manifesting the life-condition of Buddhahood latent in one's own life. SGI members believe, that exerting oneself in both faith and practice--including taking action in reality based on wisdom and compassion--is the means by which one is able to realize one's
Buddhahood.
Nichiren strongly believed that the true aim of Buddhism is to enable people living in the real world and facing real problems to become empowered and change their lives and society for the better. Nichiren Buddhism is a philosophy that respects the fundamental dignity of all life and stresses the profound connection between one's own happiness and the happiness of others.
Human Revolution
Buddhist thought outlines a practical method for not only helping individuals overcome various sufferings, but changing society as a whole. Human revolution is the name Josei Toda, Second President of Soka Gakkai, used to describe this process--the liberation of the spirit from within. It is a continual process of renewal and invigoration, the development of one person's boundless inner capacity to lead a creative and contributive life through his or her own effort.
Inner Change in a Single Person
There have been a number of different revolutions in recent centuries: political, economic, industrial, scientific, etc. Toda's view was that, regardless of how external factors are changed, society will not fundamentally improve as long as people--the foundation of everything--fail to transform the inherent negative and destructive tendencies of their own lives.
An inner change for the better in a single person is the essential first turn of the wheel in the process of making the human race stronger and wiser. Human revolution is the most fundamental and most vital of all revolutions. This revolution--an inner process of self-reformation--is completely bloodless and peaceful.
Process of Growth and Self-Realization
Every single person has tremendous potential which is largely untapped. Through one's human revolution, this potential can be revealed and we can establish an independent, unconquerable self; enabling one to deal creatively with any situation that life has to offer. This process enables one to keep growing and developing indefinitely.
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