Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

Yes, Nichiren is describing Buddha-nature in his essay, On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime. He writes about the mystic truth inherent in all living beings, which he calls Myoho-renge-kyo, and the importance of perceiving this truth in order to attain enlightenment. He also writes about the need to understand that all Buddhist teachings, including the Lotus Sutra, are not outside oneself and that the true nature of one’s life must be perceived in order to relieve suffering and attain Buddhahood. Chanting Myoho-renge-kyo is seen as a way to awaken to the principle of life at each moment and all phenomena, and to polish the mirror of one’s mind. The Mystic Law is described as the ultimate reality, transcending existence and non-existence and being the Middle Way.

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that aims to attain enlightenment and overcome the cycle of birth and death. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to reach a state of awareness that transcends the limitations of the human experience and provides a path towards inner peace and liberation. At the heart of this journey is the perception of the Mystic Truth that lies within all living beings. The key to unlocking this truth is through the understanding of Myoho-renge-kyo, which is considered to be the ultimate expression of the Mystic Truth. Myoho-renge-kyo represents the fusion of the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and the Lotus Sutra’s essential message that all people have the potential to become a Buddha–One enlightened to the eternal and ultimate truth that is the reality of all things, and who leads others to attain the same enlightenment. This essential message is the foundation of Buddhist practice and guides the individual on their journey towards enlightenment.

The Lotus Sutra is considered to be the ultimate teaching in Buddhism, and is revered for its true and correct representation of both word and principle. It is referred to as the king of all sutras, standing above all others as the epitome of Buddhist wisdom. The key to the Lotus Sutra is its revelation of the Mystic Law, known as Myōhō, which highlights the principle of the mutually inclusive relationship of a single moment of life and all phenomena. This concept, understood through the wisdom of all Buddhas, sheds light on the interconnectedness of all things and the path to enlightenment. The Lotus Sutra is considered to be a source of profound understanding and a guide to living a meaningful life, aligned with the ultimate goal of Buddhism.

The concept of life at each moment and the principle of mutual inclusiveness refers to the idea that every moment of life encompasses the body and mind, self and environment of all living beings. This principle is not limited to just one aspect of life, but rather permeates the entire realm of phenomena. It is crucial for an individual to perceive the true nature of life in order to attain enlightenment and break the cycle of birth and death. This perception is achieved through the understanding of the Mystic Law (Myōhō) and the principle of the mutually inclusive relationship of a single moment of life and all phenomena as revealed in the Lotus Sutra, which is considered to be the ultimate teaching and wisdom of all Buddhas.

The idea that the Mystic Law, or the path to enlightenment, is outside of oneself is considered to be an inferior teaching in Buddhism. These inferior teachings are considered to be expedient and provisional, and therefore cannot lead to true enlightenment. The direct path to enlightenment involves perceiving the true nature of life and the principle of mutual inclusiveness, as revealed in the Lotus Sutra, which is considered the ultimate teaching in Buddhism. The Lotus Sutra encompasses the wisdom of all Buddhas and reveals the correct principles for attaining enlightenment. Therefore, it is deemed important to follow the direct path to enlightenment, rather than following inferior teachings that cannot lead to true enlightenment.

The importance of perceiving the nature of one’s life is paramount in Buddhism. In order to reach the ultimate goal of enlightenment and overcome the cycle of birth and death, one must understand and internalize the Mystic Truth. The idea of seeking enlightenment outside of oneself will not bring relief from the sufferings of birth and death. It is only through perceiving the nature of one’s life that one can eradicate the grave offenses that keep them trapped in the cycle. Failure to do so leads to an endless and painful austerity. The true path to enlightenment is through a direct and deep understanding of one’s own life, rather than seeking it outside of oneself.

The act of chanting Myoho-renge-kyo, for instance, is considered to be highly beneficial and can help plant the roots of goodness in the practitioner. This connection between the purity of one’s mind and the purity of their land is crucial in Buddhism and sets apart an ordinary being from a Buddha. Through the act of chanting and other virtuous practices, one can work towards attaining enlightenment and breaking free from the cycle of birth and death.

May we focus is on “Polishing the Mirror of the Mind”. The idea behind this aspect is that in order to attain enlightenment, it is essential to arouse deep faith and diligently work on refining one’s mind. To do this, we believe one must chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo which serves as the means to polish the mind. The words “Myō” and “Renge” in the chant have great significance and when combined, they represent the mystic law which is inherent in all living beings. Arousing deep faith and working on polishing the mind will lead to a purer mind and, in turn, a purer environment. This idea highlights the connection between the purity of one’s mind and the purity of the land they inhabit. By polishing the mind through chanting, an ordinary being can differentiate themselves from a Buddha.

Again, the ultimate goal of Buddhism is to attain enlightenment and overcome the cycle of birth and death. I hope you see the key to this lies in perceiving the Mystic Truth inherent in all living beings, which is Myoho-renge-kyo. The Lotus Sutra is considered to be the ultimate teaching, being the king of all sutras and containing the wisdom of all Buddhas. The principle of life at each moment and its mutual inclusiveness encompasses the body and mind, self and environment of all beings, and is crucial to attaining enlightenment. Other teachings, which suggest that the Mystic Law lies outside of oneself, are inferior and cannot lead to enlightenment. Perceiving the nature of one’s life is necessary to eradicate grave offenses and avoid an endless and painful austerity. Chanting Myoho-renge-kyo and other virtuous acts, as well as polishing the mind through deep faith, can help lead to enlightenment. The definition of Myō, as the elusive reality that transcends existence and nonexistence, can be understood as the essence of the Lotus Sutra and the realization of the Mystic Law.

But as I pondered upon these thoughts, my mind began to shift,
and soon my words took on a rhythm, as if they had found a lift.

To reach enlightenment is the aim,
Overcoming the cycle of birth and pain.
Mystic Truth in all living things does exist,
Myoho-renge-kyo, the key to unclench the fist.

Perceiving this truth is of the essence,
To reach enlightenment, the ultimate presence.
The Lotus Sutra, the wisdom of all Buddhas,
Reveals the true nature of life, as we suffer.

Life at each moment, the principle of inclusiveness,
Every living being, one in the same likeness.
Perceiving the nature of one’s life is the key,
Erasing grave offenses, so we can break free.

Chanting Myoho-renge-kyo, planting roots of goodness,
Polishing the mirror of the mind, a way to reduce distress.
The Mystic Law is the ultimate reality,
Transcending existence, non-existence, and mortality.

No teachings outside of oneself can lead,
Only by perceiving the true nature of life, one can succeed.
Buddhism, a path towards inner peace and liberation,
A way to reach enlightenment, for every generation.