There are several views as to when this was written, but the de facto date accepted is 1261. The recipient of the letter is unknown. This is the fifth Gosho in Vol 1 WND, and is the second time the Daishonin cites the Lotus Sutra as being the only way to achieve enlightenment. In A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering Nichiren previously made it clear that all other teachings were provisional. Only the ship of Myoho-renge-kyo enables one [...]
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Ichinen Sanzen Pt4
The picture I have chosen to introduce this article is a three dimensional fractal. Hopefully it can demonstrate how a simple universal truth (in this case, a mathematical construct) can give rise to all the beauty and complexity we perceive as reality. Ichinen Sanzen is the Buddhist theory that describes that reality. Despite having written at length regarding the Ten Worlds, the Ten Factors and Three Realms, it is almost inevitable that my words alone will only have provided the [...]
The Three Realms – Ichinen Sanzen Pt 3
In Part 1 of this series of essays on the Buddhist concept of Ichinen Sanzen we looked at the Ten Worlds, and in Part 2 we studied the concept of the Ten Factors. So, in this penultimate study of Ichinen Sanzen, we are going to turn our attention to the concept of the Three Realms. As covered previously, the Ten Worlds do not relate to places in the three dimensional sense, but to life states that constantly change from moment [...]
The Ten Factors – Ichinen Sanzen Pt 2
Ichinen Sanzen – Part 2 Previously, in the Ten Worlds article, we introduced the concept of Ichinen Sanzen (3000 realms in a single moment of life), and how it is comprised of the Ten Worlds, the Ten Factors, and the Three Realms. In this article I’m going to tackle the Ten Factors, which collectively describe: our interface with the universe, in terms of our spiritual and physical aspects. our power and influence . how the laws of causality affect us, [...]
The Ten Worlds and their mutual possession – Ichinen Sanzen Pt 1
Ichinen Sanzen – Part 1 The mutual possession of the Ten Worlds is one of the foundations in understanding the broader concept of Ichinen Sanzen. So what is Ichinen Sanzen? What does mutual possession mean, and what are the Ten Worlds that Nichiren Buddhists so often speak about? Ichinen Sanzen was a system of thought put forth by the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai in 6th century China. It teaches the interconnectedness of all phenomena (including us). The name itself derives from Ichi, meaning [...]
Ichinen Sanzen Study Aid
This is just a short post to provide a copy of an “Ichinen Sanzen Explained” graphic I produced to explain how we arrive at the 3000 realms in a single moment of life, as revealed by T’ien-t’ai and later embodied by Nichiren Daishonin in Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. The Ichinen Sanzen diagram shows how the ten worlds, the mutual possession of the ten worlds, the ten factors, and the three realms all combine to provide insight into the incredible beauty [...]
Two kinds of faith
In February 1278, The Daishonin wrote a short letter to Nanjo Tokimitsu entitled Two Kinds of Faith. Nanjo Tokimitsu was the steward of Ueno village in Suruga Province. The Daishonin’s relationship with Nanjo Tokimitsu began in 1265 when, upon the death of Nanjo’s father, Nanjo Hyoe Shichiro, the Daishonin had dropped everything to travel from Kamakura to Ueno in the Fuji area so that he could pray over Hyoe Shichiro’s grave. Nanjo Tokimitsu, at the time aged just 7, was [...]
The Nichikan SGI Gohonzon Map
In October 2011 I finally received my Gohonzon from the SGI-UK (Soka Gakkai International) – a lay Buddhist organisation dedicated to peace and the creation of value in people’s lives. It took me twenty years for reasons too long to go into here, suffice to say it was a great day. As a little aid to memory, and to help in my study, I have created a printable Gohonzon Diagram of the Nichikan Gohonzon the SGI confers upon members -This [...]
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