Glossary
Buddha nature – the highest and enlightened state of life in existing within each person
Daimoku – This is the primary practice, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo over and over to activate your Buddha Nature in everyday life.
Daisaku Ikeda– Third president of the Nichiren Buddhist organization , the SGI.
Fundamental darkness – the inability to see the true nature of one’s life
Gohonzon – Nichiren Buddhists do twice a twice daily ritual called gongyo in front of this mandala, which acts as a mirror for their lives.
Gongyo – A fifteen minute ritual done twice daily which includes chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the recitation of two books from the Lotus Sutra.
Karma – Potentials in the inner, unconscious realm of life created through one’s actions in the past or present that manifest themselves as various results in the present or future
Kosen-rufu – the movement to communicate the ultimate way to happiness and to world peace as taught by Nichiren Daishonin
Lotus Sutra – The final and highest teaching of Shakamuni Buddha in which he taught that everyone has a Buddha nature.
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo – Nam means devotion. Myoho the wonderful or mystic law, myo indicating eternal life and ho it’s temporary manifestations in the universe. Renge represents the Lotus Flower which seeds and flowers simultaneously thus representing the law of cause and effect in our lives. Kyo means through sound.
Nichiren Daishonin– A reformist Buddhist monk in 13th century who developed the chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo so each person can tap their Buddha nature and bring out it’s wisdom and compassion into everyday activity.
Ninety Day Challenge – This is a prove-it-to-yourself practice. To prove it to yourself, chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with a positive goal in mind for ninety days.
Shakyamuni also called Gautama and Sidhartha – lived 2500 years ago. He became enlightened, founded Buddhism and taught his followers for 50 years.
Sponsor – the person who introduces you to your Buddhist practice. A sponsor may end up being a life-long friend or just may only introduce you to the practice.
Soka Gakkai International, SGI for short. – Now in 192 countries, the SGI is based on the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism.
Sutra -A sutra is an exposition of a subject that constitutes part of the basic text of Buddhist scripture. Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism 2500 yeas ago, verbally taught over 80,000 sutras. Nichiren Daishonin’s writings are based on these. A sutra can be one teaching, or many can be complied into a larger work such as the Lotus Sutra which has 28 books.