FEBRUARY, 2012
While we wait for the final construction and restoration work to be completed to our Temple in Silver Spring,
we will be meeting on Sundays at the Glenmont Park Activity Building in Wheaton, MD.
Please visit the Calendar page for more information. Be sure to sign up for our email updates.

Attaining Buddhahood In One’s Present Form

The state of Buddhahood can be attained without discarding one’s present form as a common mortal by practicing the Buddhism of the Three Great Secret Laws.

Nichiren Daishonin states in the “Reply to the Wife of Lord Ota:”

[Tiantai and other great teachers conclude that] attaining Buddhahood in one’s present form is only possible through the Lotus Sutra. My disciples should never forget this. (Gosho, p. 1472)

In the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings, it is expounded that one must practice over a period of countless kalpas in order to attain Buddhahood. However, the Lotus Sutra, which teaches the principle of ichinen sanzen (three thousand realms in a single life-moment), is the supreme teaching. It enables all people in each of the ten worlds to attain Buddhahood through the power of the Law without changing their present form.

Reference: Basic Terminology of Nichiren Shoshu, p.1.