Ruchira describes her journey from skepticism to spiritual awakening, her experience with Nichiren Buddhism and its transformative power, exclusively for Different Truths.
For me, ‘religion’ is neither the pivot point of life per se nor sine qua non of existence on this planet. Having said that, I confess I never advocated any blasphemy or sacrilege towards any sect. To me, religion or Faith is a private matter. Hence there ought to be zero tolerance towards influencing. brainwashing, or giving it a political tinge. It would be relevant to mention here that owing to my unconventional attitude towards faith and religious practices, especially rites and rituals, I have more often than not been branded as an atheist. My most formidable opponent and critic was my late father-in-law (PBUH), who was a hardcore ritualist. Sadly, he never forgave me for thinking differently.
Lest I be accused of proselytising or pontificating, let me stress that the sole purpose behind my writing is to share a major life-changing experience I had more than a decade ago. Following this experience, my thoughts, ideas, and views veered towards spirituality like never before.
On one occasion, I had been hauled over the coals for a not-so-grave error in full public view of a newsroom. Humiliated, I retreated to a corner of the hall and burst into tears. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Vinu, a junior colleague, whose desk was next to mine. To help me overcome stress and tension, she taught me a Buddhist mantra, which I was to chant, sitting in a quiet nook and facing a blank wall. The mantra was short and sonorous: Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo (in Japanese: I pay my obeisance to the wisdom encrusted in the Lotus Sutra). Initially, I adopted a cynical attitude regarding this.
However, nearly a year later my partner had a bad attack by dengue and typhoid and needed to be hospitalised. Even though my family, friends and colleagues rallied around me, yet during those cataclysmic moments I resorted to chanting in a desperate bid to surmount the challenge. Hypocritical wasn’t it? Perhaps, but I had no other option. Whatever it was, it turned out to be a blessing for me. My spouse recovered steadily and came back to normal life. Once the clouds of gloom dispersed and sunshine pervaded all, I determined to join this ‘cult’ as I would like to term it.
This philosophy is an offshoot of Mahayana Buddhism. Enunciated by a 12th-century Japanese Buddhist Monk Nichiren “Daishonin” (Lit: Brahmarshi in Sanskrit), it is now familiarly hailed as Nichiren Buddhism worldwide.
Nichiren Buddhism is based on the Lotus Sutra (Sanskrit: Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram ), one of the most prominent treatises of Mahayana Buddhism. It focuses on the mundane world and urges humans to assume responsibility for overcoming sufferings and obstacles, besides upgrading their personalities and ultimately, quality of life.
Followers of Nichiren Buddhism believe that individual empowerment and inner transformation contribute to a better and more peaceful world. Secondly, enlightenment is accessible to everybody. It signifies the flowering of ‘Buddha’ nature and Buddha’s wisdom lies dormant in each individual.
The concept of Triple Refuge i.e. Buddha, Dharma (law), and Sangha (community). In Nichiren Buddhism, Nichiren himself is regarded as the Buddha; dharma encompasses regular dedicated chanting, besides venerating the “Gohonzon”. Sangha is denoted by the community of fellow practitioners.
For the uninitiated, The Gohonzon is a scroll inscribed in Classical Chinese with a smattering of Sanskrit characters. Its objective is to help the followers understand and discover the state of Buddhahood from within their lives.
Nichiren Daishon inscribed the Gohonzon to depict this sublime life condition, using a scene from the Lotus Sutra. In this excerpt (aka the Ceremony in the Air) a colossal tower decorated with precious gems and other treasures is depicted as emerging from the earth; Shakyamuni Buddha, and other Buddhas (his avatars)not forgetting humble creatures from the entire universe gather to hear the ”Buddha’ ‘preach the law.
Another salient point is the ‘Law of Karma’ (aka cause and effect). What a person does invariably comes back to him or her. The onus is on the individual to create good causes (thought word action) and thereby expiate all negative elements from his life.
Our gaze shifts to the lotus flower—an iconic symbol in Nichiren Buddhism, the lotus blooms and produces seeds simultaneously, representing the simultaneous nature of cause and effect. Lotus growing and blooming in murky waters symbolizes purity of speech, body, and mind. In other words, it heralds spiritual awakening and faithfulness, adverse circumstances notwithstanding.
There are the “Ten life states” that humans experience during their earthly sojourn. Elemental virtues, vices and traits figure on this list They are:
- Hell – a condition when someone is steeped in despair.
- Hunger – an insatiable desire for worldly, material acquisitions
- Animality – when negative passions e.g., cruelty, hatred, jealousy, impulsive behaviour have a free reign
- Anger – selfishness, rivalry, and arrogance.
- Humanity – calmness, good sense prevailing
- Rapture – a pleasurable state of mind when all desires are fulfilled.
- Learning – a stage when an individual seeks new skills.
- Realisation – a condition based on knowledge and wisdom.
- Bodhisattva(lit: ‘disciple of the Buddha’) In this state, one expresses concern for others, helping them overcome their challenges.
- Buddhahood – the highest echelon where ultimate, supreme virtues, e.g., equanimity, compassion, and wisdom pervade all.
The crowning glory of Nichiren Buddhism is the “Gosho,” or anthology of letters of encouragement, which Daishonin wrote to his followers during his lifetime. Gosho is the fundamental “scripture” upon which believers base their faith and practice. Based on Nichiren’s real-life experiences, trials and tribulations mingled with his basic teachings, the letters are indeed pearls of wisdom.
On a personal note: diligent practice of his philosophy (chanting and reading) has widened my vision and perspective of life. I succeeded in wiping away my unassertiveness and low self-esteem which plagued me for decades. During crises, this ideology inspired me to muster courage and forge ahead undaunted. Day in and day out in, amidst the daily grind of life, I endeavour to help my suffering and struggling kindred, so that together we may achieve supreme tranquility and goodness i.e., the Buddha.
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