Experiments in religion: Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism

The 13th century Buddhist monk, Nichiren Daishonin, believed that everyone has the ability to achieve enlightenment in his or her current state and life.

Buddha is thought of as the first to become enlightened and to know the true meaning of life. The word “Buddha” itself means “one who is fully awake.”

“We believe that everyone has the ability to become enlightened and to overcome all their problems — to not be defeated by life,” said freshman Brandon Quesada, World Peace Buddhists officer. “Through becoming happy and how this causes you to lead your life, you can create a ripple effect toward world peace.”

Enlightenment can be thought of as a profound sense of joy in that you can overcome anything life throws at you. Nichiren Buddhists believe that through happiness, you can become stronger spiritually.

While there are various sects of Buddhism, they all share the common belief in reincarnation and karma.

For every action and every thought, there is an effect, Quesada said. It may be immediate or in the future. These causes are not just from this life, but also from past and future lives. You hold onto your karma and this basically dictates how you will be reborn in your next life.

“You are reborn many times in the past and many times in the future,” Quesada said. “There is no end to life.”

When you do something you know is bad, it will eventually come back to you, Quesada said. “You reap what you sow.”

The three qualities of a Buddha everyone aspires to have are to have compassion towards others, the wisdom to overcome problems and having the courage to do the right thing when no one is looking, Quesada said.

Nichiren Buddhists use prayer as a form of meditation to reflect upon their own lives and as a step towards enlightenment. “We use prayer beads to chant with every morning and night and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for an extended period of time,” Quesada said.

Nichiren Daishonin describes this phrase as “not only the core of the Buddha's lifetime teachings, but also the heart, essence and ultimate principle of the Lotus Sutra.”

The Lotus Sutra is one of the main teachings Nichiren Buddhism is based on.

The beads represent a person depending on how you hold it. Tassels on opposite sides represent the head, arms and legs. By twisting the beads, this can symbolize the joining of the spirit and body. During prayer, you rub this together and hold it in a heart position and chant.

Soka Gakkai International-USA (SGI-USA), states that, “Though chanting, studying Buddhist philosophy and taking action daily for the well being of others, we can establish a state of profound happiness and make each moment of our lives joyful and meaningful while contributing to peace in our families and communities.”

SGI-USA is a layer organization we practice under, Quesada said. “Through SGI-USA, we promote culture education and world peace through sharing Buddhism and promoting dialogue.”

A large part of Buddhism is not following blind faith or what people tell you to believe, Quesada said. “You need to see it happen in your own life and to study the teachings. We don't pressure people into it. If you're interested, ask questions. I wouldn't be following this path if it didn't work for me.”

“You have total control over your life,” Quesada said. “It's what you make of it.”

[Reach reporter Doris Wu at features@thedaily.washington.edu.]