Guruji on Buddhahood
Enlightenment of Community
Buddhahood of Ichinen-Sanzen
(One Thought, Three Thousand States of Existence)
April 25, 1974
Message of the Most Venerable Nichidatsu Fujii for the
Ground-breaking Ceremony of the Tagonoura Peace Pagoda, Japan
As one of the tenets of Maha Bodhisattva Nichiren's teachings, he preached
attainment of Buddhahood of "ichinen-sanzen". Instead of a single person
becoming a Buddha in complete isolation from others, the entire sphere of
domain, the country must be transformed into a Pure Land when enlightenment
is achieved. This is known as the "the enlightenment of the domains". Human
beings create a sphere of existence. One is not to seek Buddhahood only for
oneself by entering deep into a mountain, but must become Buddha together
with the people of one's community who one sees everyday. This is called
"enlightenment of community". At the same time, our hearts and minds must
become Buddha. Our hearts and minds can follow the path that leads to
Buddhahood if we are intent and right-minded. How are we to achieve
enlightenment of our domain?
Our domain is being destroyed. The term used is environmental destruction.
It is the destruction of the sphere of countries. Just because we live here
does not give us the right to destroy it. We should simply live in nature.
Birds do not destroy the trees they live in. Fish do not pollute the water
they live in. Human beings are the only ones who live on the earth who cuts
trees, clear the land and do bad things. In recent years, pursuit of profit
under the pretext of industrial development has made people completely
indifferent to any ill effects or sacrifices they cause. In a world filled
with such people, one should not be concerned about one's own enlightenment
alone. The three thousand state of existence, all forms of existence, need
to attain Buddhahood, and the land, the country needs to become the Pure
Land. What is the first step to make Japan the Pure Land? We tend to think
that the sphere of the country does not talk. However, just as a person has
a soul, there is a soul in even a single speck of dust. Everything, and
every one must become Buddha in life. The domain, the country thus realized
is the Pure Land. Each and every one of us; every child, woman and man, must
become Buddha. This is what is referred to as "the Buddhahood of
communities". From days bygone people considered Mount Fuji to be the
center of this country. Mount Fuji has been the inspirational center in
formulating the peaceful and noble outlook of Japanese towards life.
(Translation by Yumiko Miyazaki on 10/31/03)
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How to make the dream of global peace come true