Amida -   (Skt. Amitayus or Amitabha) The Buddha worshipped by Nembutsu,   or Pure Land believers. He is said to abide in the Pure Land   of Perfect Bliss in the western part of the universe. He appreared   in the Sutra of the Buddha of Infinite Life and made 48 false   vows.
Bodhisattva - a state of being deeply compassionate;   also one who aspires to attain Buddhahood or enlightenment but   postpones it to dedicate his or her life to saving others. One   of the 10 worlds.
Bodhisattva Jogyo - "Superior Conduct" One   of the four bodhisattvas and the leader of the Bodhisattvas of   the Earth. In the 21st chapter of the Lotus Sutra Shakyamuni   Buddha transfers all his teachings to this bodhisattva.
Bodhisattva Monjushiri - (Jap. Monju) - one the bodhisattvas   attending Shakyamuni.
Bonten -   ( Skt. Brahma) - In Buddhism he is one of the two major  tutelary gods, together with Taishaku.
Buddha -   enlightened one. One who has awakened to the ultimate reality,  the eternal truth of all things.
Buddhahood - the state of enlightenment. The higest  state of realization and absolute freedom. The highest of the 10 worlds (q.v.).
Daimoku   - 1) Chanting of Namu-myoho-renge-kyo. 2) The title of a sutra;   most specifically the title of the Lotus Sutra, Myoho-renge-kyo.
Dainichi - (Skt. Mahavairochana) the Buddha worshipped   in the Shingon, or True Word sect. In the teachings of this sect  Dainichi is a Buddha in the property-of-the Law aspect which  is one of the three aspects (or bodies) of a Buddha.
DaiGohonzon - the supreme object of worship (see Gohonzon).
Daishonin - Great Sage. A title given to Nichiren,  indicating his status as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the  Law.
Dengyo - (767-822 A.D.) a Buddhist sage and founder  of the Tendai sect (a Lotus Sutra sect) of Buddhism in Japan.
The five desires - the desires that arise from contact of the  five sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body).
The Four Great Bodhisattvas   - Jogyo, Muhengyo, Jyogyo   and Anryugyo. These are the leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the   Earth who are mentioned in the 15th chapter of the Lotus Sutra.   They represent respectively the four virtues of the Buddha's   life: true self, eternity, purity and happiness.
Four Heavenly Kings - In the 26th chapter of the Lotus Sutra  they vowed to protect the Lotus Sutra. In ancient Indian cosmology   these four were regarded as the protectors of the four continents.
Gohonzon - the object of worship in Nichiren Shoshu   Buddhism. Representing Buddhahood or perfection in all conditions   of life, it is the physical manifestation of the ultimate Law   which is enshrined in every believer's home.
Gohonzon of the high sanctuary   - the Dai-Gohozon; the   great object of worship in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, enshrined   at Taiseki-ji, in was inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin with the   help of Second High priest Byakuren Ajari Nikko Shonin on October   12, 1279.
Gongyo - morning and evening prayer. The morning  and evening recitation of the second and sixteenth chapters of  the Lotus Sutra and the chanting of Namu-myoho-renge-kyo.
Gosho - the sacred writings of Nichiren Daishonin.
Hoben Chapter - "Expedient Means." This is   the second chapter of the Lotus Sutra. In this chapter of Shakyamuni   explains that the sole purpose for all Buddha to appear in the   world is to enable all living beings to attain Buddhahood.
Honzon-Mondo-Sho - "Questions  and Anwers on the True Object of Worship," a sacared writing by Nichiren Dishonin  which  has not been published in English.
Ichinen Sanzen - A single thought (a single being)  contains everything.   A theoretical system based on the Lotus Sutra put forth by T'ien-t'ai   that clarifies the relationship between the phenomenal world   and the ultimate reality.
Jodo -   a Pure Land sect of Buddhism in which adherents aspire to reborn   in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha. Pure Land sects believe that   the Buddha Amida resides in a remote part of the universe. Whereas,   Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism teachees that the Buddha exists   only within our 5 or 6 foot bodies, and the Buddha land is to   be found all around us, if only we could see it.
Jodo-Shin - True Sect of the Pure Land focussing   on the compassion of Amida.
Juzu   - prayer beads.
Kanji   - Japanese writing system employing Chinese characters.
Kegon Sect - see Shingon.
Ku -a state of latency or potential, the qualitative or spiritual  realm of life which cannot be defined in terms of either existence  or nonexistence.
Ku, ke, chu - the three truths, or the three perceptions  of existence. Ke represents temporary form, ku represents nature or potential, and chu represents entity.   Temporary form indicates the physical or material aspect of life,  nature indicates spiritual or qualitiative aspects, and entity   indicates the eternal and unchanging life-essence which is neither  physical nor spiritual but manifests itself as both.
Kumarajiva - (344-413 A.D.) an Indian scholar noted  for his clarity and excellence in translation, he translated  a number of Buddhist scriptures into Chinese, including the Lotus  Sutra  (Suddharma-pundirika-sutra), which is the most famous of his translations.
The Latter Day of the Law   - (Mappo) - The   age beginning 2,000 after Shakyamuni's death in which the true   Buddha will make his advent to open the door for all living beings   to attain enlightenment.
The Law - Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, the ultimate Law of life.
Lotus Sutra - (Jap. Hokkeko; Skt. Saddharma-pundirika-sutra)   "The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law," Shakyamuni's highest teaching, expounded in the last 8 years  of his life. The translation known in China and Japan is Myoho-renge-kyo   translated by Kumarajiva.
Mahayana - The Great Vehicle. One of the major  schools of Buddhism active in Central Asia, China, Korea and   Japan that teaches not only individual salvation, but also the  importance of leading others to enlightenment as well.
Maka Shikan - "Great Concentration and Insight"  - a work by T'ien-t'ai of China which reveals his theory of ichinen  sanzen.(q.v.)
Mara -   Devil of the Sixth Heaven (Jap. Dairokuten no ma-o) -   The most powerful devil who dwells in the highest of the six   realms of desire, and he works to prevent believers from practicing   Buddhism.
Middle Way - the ultimate reality of all phenomena,  which, in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is the Law of Namu-myoho-renge-kyo   (q.v.).
Minobu - an area near Mt. Fuji in Japan in which   Nichiren Daishonin settled after his release from exile on Sado   Island.
Mount Kiyosumi - this is where Seichoji Temple, the first   temple the Daishonin entered as a child to study Buddhism, was   located.
Mount Sumeru - In ancient Indian cosomology this is the central mountain of every world.
Myoho-renge-kyo- 1) Japanese transliteration of the   title of a Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra. 2) The Mystic  Law, the Buddha nataure of all things. Myoho signifies mystic   law, the mysterious nature and manifestation of life. Renge indicates   the exiquisite aspect of the Law, the subtle, simulanteity of   cause and effect. Kyo is the teaching or the sutra, and the realization   that one's life and all life contain Myoho-renge-kyo.
Mystic Law - (Jap. myoho) - the ultimate  reality of life and the universe, the Law of Namu-myoho-renge-kyo.
Namu-myoho-renge-kyo - pronounced nah - moo - myo - ho   - ren - gay - key - oh. The universal truth of life and death,  the ultimate reality permeating all life in the universe. The name of the Buddha-nature in all things. This  is the cause of enlightenment and it is enlightenment itself.   In another words, by chanting it one calls forth enlightenment  from within.
Nembutsu - A Pure Land Buddhist sect in China  and Japan that worships Amida Buddha (q.v.).
Nichiren Daishonin - The true Buddha; the founder of our faith,  born on February 16, 1222, 170 years after the beginning of the  Latter Day of the Law (q.v.).
Nichiren Shoshu - 1)the Fuji sect of Nichiren Buddhism,  believing that Nichiren Daishonin is the eternal Buddha; worshipping  the Gohonzon and the Law of Myoho-renge-kyo as the means  to attain enlightenment. 2) the division of Nichiren Shoshu headed  by Nikken Abe (q.v.).
Nikken Abe - current high priest of Nichiren Shoshu.
Ninth consciousness - the eternal Buddha nature. There are   nine classifications of the spiritual functions of perception   which are called the nine consciousnesses. The first five are   the five sensory perceptions" touch, taste, sight, hearing   and smell. The sixth is integrating and forming a judgment about   the five senses. The seventh consciousness is reason, abstract   thought and self awareness. The eighth is an unconsious realm   that is the karmic respository of good and evil effects and new   mental actions. The ninth consciousness is pure and undefiled.   It is the Buddha consciousness, the essential self.
Nittatsu Shonin - the 66th High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu  Buddhism who suddenly passed away July 22, 1979.
Rebirth in the six worlds   - the souls of living   beings transmigrate from one world to another: hell, hunger,   animality, anger, tranquility (or humanity) and rapture (or heaven).
Reverse relationship - or "poison-drum relationship"  is a bond formed with Myoho-renge-kyo by opposing it or   slandering it. Even though one should suffer the consequences   of slandering this Buddhsim, that he or she had a relationship  at all, albeit negative or reversed, he or she will eventually   attain Buddhahood.
Rissho-Ankoku-Ron - "On Securing the Peace of the   Land through the Propagation of True Buddhism," a treatise   written by Nichiren Daishonin in 1260. It explains that misleading   beliefs create suffering, while faith in the Mystic Law will   enable society to become stable and secure.
Sanron sect - Sanron means three treatises   and it is a sect based two works by Nagarjuna's (c. 3rd Century   India) -- Chu Ron and Junimon Ron -- and one work   by Aryadeva -- Hyaku Ron
Shakyamuni Buddha - sage of the Shakyas. The historical   founder of Buddhism. He is also known by his family name as Gautama  Buddha.
Shingon - an estoteric Buddhism which, as a means  to attain Buddhahood, chants the secret words said to have been   uttered by Dainichi Buddha.
Shoshin-kai - (Shohshin Shokaku Unduo) -   the movement for awakening true faith. An organization of Nichiren   Shoshu priests dedicated to protecting and preseving the purity   of the true teaching of Nichiren Daishonin and correcting erroneous   beliefs within the priesthood - including those of the high priest   - and laity.
Six lower worlds - first six of the Ten Worlds -- Hell,  Hunger, Animality, Anger, Tranquility (or Humanity) and Heaven  (or Rapture). These are the worlds of delusion and suffering.
Snow Mountains - Himalaya Mountains
Soka Gakkai - SGI - a powerful worldwide lay organization  that practices its own unorthodox , secular vesion of Nichiren  Shoshu Buddhism.
Sutra -   teaching; scripture.
Taho   - "Many Treasures Buddha" - He appears in the 11th   chapter of the Lotus Sutra to validate the truth of the sutra.   This was his vow as a bodhisattva, to appear wherever the Lotus  Sutra was being expounded to verify its authenticity and veracity.
Taisekiji - 1)the temple grounds at the foot of   Mt. Fuji in Japan where the head temple of Nichiren Shoshu is   situated. 2) Also refers to Nikken Abe and his followers.
Taishaku -(Skt. Sakra Devanam Indra) One of the main tutelary gods of Buddhism, together with   Bonten.
Ten worlds - ten potential conditions inherent in  every life form that manifests in the continuum of time. They   are, hell, hunger, animality, anger, tranquility, rapture, learning,   realization, bodhisattva, and Buddhahood. These conditions are   inherent in a single entity of life.
T'ien-t'ai - (538 - 597 A.D.) Also known as Chih-i, a Buddhist  scholar and priest, the founder of the T'ien-t'ai school of Buddhism   in China.
Wheel-turning King - In Buddhism those kings who rule with  justice and reason rather than by force.
GLOSSARY
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Three Treasures - The Buddha, the Law and the Priest are the three treasures of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, and what all believers should revere.
The Latter Day - see The Latter Day of the Law below.
Karma- the storehouse of all thoughts, words and deeds that are the latent influences deep within the inner realm of each individual life. Karma is of two broad types: mutable karma, the result of which is not absolute or fixed, but is changeable; and immutable karma, always produces a fixed result.
Four Lower Worlds (also the four evil paths)- the first four of the ten worlds (q.v.). They are Hell, Hunger, Animailty and Anger. Rage is the world of Hell; greed is the world of Hunger; having no sense of reason or morality is the state of Animality; and pervesity is the world of Anger.
Bodhisattva Jofukyo (also Fukyo) - Bodhisattva Never Despising, a bodhisattva described in the 20th chapter of the Lotus Sutra who revered everyone he met as a potential Buddhas.