The life of Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, was defined by his profound compassion and unwavering vow to eradicate the suffering of all people. Living in a time of social unrest and spiritual confusion, he sought a teaching that could offer hope, courage, and a practical path to happiness for all people.
On April 28, 1253, Nichiren Daishonin fulfilled this vow with the invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This proclamation of the Mystic Law marked the establishment of a teaching that empowers individuals to manifest their inherent potential capable of transforming their lives. By chanting the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, people could tap the power of the universal law governing all existences and reveal their innate Buddhahood.
Ikeda Sensei states: “Nichiren Daishonin had attained the wisdom of the Mystic Law. Armed with the great desire to fundamentally lead all people to enlightenment, he fervently sought the way and thus awakened to this wisdom… The key is that he didn’t regard this gift as his final destination; he took it as his departure point to further seek the way….
“His vow was to become the wisest person in Japan so that he could enable those to whom he was indebted to realise true happiness. As he studied, his vow deepened into the desire to bring happiness to all people of the Latter Day. This became his great wish for kosen-rufu, which led him to declare the establishment of his teaching.” (Nichiren Daishonin: A Great Compassionate Vow for the Happiness of Humanity, Instalment 1)
After establishing his teaching, Nichiren Daishonin continued to live in accord with his vow resolutely till the last moment of his life. Despite multiple storms of persecution, he did not retreat a single step, and fearlessly challenged the forces that obstructed people’s happiness, enduring and overcoming one hardship after another.
He was convinced that encountering such hardships accorded exactly with what the sutras had predicted would happen to a votary of the Lotus Sutra, and were thus a source of honour. This enabled him to deepen his enlightenment and ultimately revealed his true identity as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.
Nichiren Daishonin proved through his life that an ordinary human being can open and reveal the magnificent life state of Buddhahood. The three founding presidents of the Soka Gakkai, and the human revolution movement carried out by Soka Gakkai International members worldwide, have demonstrated to the modern world the belief that all people possess this wonderful state of life.
We are truly fortunate to encounter Nichiren Buddhism in this lifetime. Practising within the Soka Gakkai community enables us to transform our lives and those of our families, allowing us to lead lives filled with purpose and fulfilment.
Let us therefore dedicate ourselves to the practice for oneself and others, striving to connect more people to this transformative teaching for the sake of their happiness. In doing so, we repay our profound debt of gratitude to Nichiren Daishonin. Moreover, this effort embodies his decree – the realisation of kosen-rufu with the establishment of the correct teaching for the peace of the land. By spreading the Mystic Law, we can illuminate today’s world – often overshadowed by chaos, confusion, and division – with hope, courage, and compassion.
