The Basic Difference between


Nichiren Buddhism and Other Schools of Buddhism



Buddhism is generally classified into two main branches: Hinayana and Mahayana. The name “Theravada” - the “Teachings of the Elders” - is also used to describe Hinayana Buddhism, which is based on the early teachings of the Pali Canon. Mahayana schools share many similar beliefs with Hinayana Buddhism, but differ in particular by their adoption of the concept of “Bodhisattva”. This feature of Mahayana Buddhism is considered to be the main difference between the two branches.


The goal of Hinayana teachings is to lead practitioners to become an Arhat (or sage, who can escape the cycle of rebirth). On the other hand, the goal of Mahayana teachings is to lead practitioners to become Buddhas (through practicing the "Bodhisattva" way). Examples of Mahayana schools of Buddhism are Zen, Amida, and Nichiren Buddhism. These schools vary in their practice and doctrine (sutra) leading to Buddhahood:


  1. -     Zen aims for gradual cultivation of insight through silent meditation and mind-puzzles. 

  2. -     Amida Buddhism teaches about the attainment of Buddhahood after death.

  3. -     Nichiren Buddhism is about the attainment of Buddhahood in the reality of daily life.

  4. -    Tibetan (Vajrayana) Buddhism incorporates Mahayana teachings with secretive rituals of pre-Buddhist Bon tradition – employed by a guru - to aid in the process of awakening.


The reason for the diversity of Buddhist schools lies in the diversity of the Sutras they follow, and which differ markedly in their depth and capacity to lead people to enlightenment. This fact posed a question for scholars:


                 how to compare and classify the diverse teachings of the Buddha?


Nichiren’s Classification of Buddhism


After studying and comparing the teachings of various Buddhist sutras,

Nichiren (13th century, Japan) came to the conclusion - confirming the views of the Tientai school of Buddhism - that the Lotus Sutra ranks supreme in its depth of teachings and principles leading to Buddhahood: “In Buddhism, that teaching is judged supreme that enables all people, whether good or evil, to become Buddhas. Surely anyone can grasp so reasonable a standard. By means of this principle, we can compare the various sutras and ascertain which is superior”. WND1 p 156   As a result, Nichiren regarded all sutras prior to the Lotus Sutra as provisional or preparatory teachings - and the Lotus Sutra as final and complete. From this perspective, Nichiren classified Buddhism into two categories:


-    Pre-Lotus Sutra teachings (of Hinayana and Mahayana) and,

-    Lotus Sutra’s teachings - the final teaching of Buddhism.


Traditional Buddhism as “provisional teachings”: Nichiren’s classification of Buddhism (as provisional / final) is - in essence - in agreement with all Hinayana and Mahayana traditions. All schools of Traditional Buddhism acknowledge that their current teachings are in the phase of decline (and that their form of Buddhism will disappear). This means that the schools of Buddhism - based on pre-Lotus Sutra teachings – agree that their teachings are provisional, not final, exactly as Nichiren explained.

Consequently, a popular belief developed in Traditional Buddhism about an assumed “Future Buddha” who would emerge in order to reveal the final and eternal teachings of Buddhism. Nichiren Buddhism, however, regards the concept of “Future Buddha” as redundant: because the final teachings of the eternal Dharma have been already revealed in the Lotus Sutra.


The Revolutionary Concepts of the Lotus Sutra


The Lotus Sutra describes its principles as being “difficult to believe”, another expression for referring to the depth of its teachings - predicting also opposition to its revolutionary doctrines. Some Mahayana schools find its principles challenging.

The main principles of the Lotus Sutra are: 

  1. - “Attaining Buddhahood in this life time”, differently from previous sutras which required lifetimes of practice, 

  2. -“Equality of all People”, eradicating limitations on attaining Buddhahood, which were set in previous sutras (the three categories of people: women, those who focus only on intellect and not on compassion, and evil doers).

  3. -“The Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds”, which teaches that the lower worlds of sufferings contain the potential of Buddhahood and that the Buddha is an ordinary person who possesses the lower worlds - transformed into enlightenment.


The Sutra offers other essential principles, such as the Oneness of Cause (Bodhisattva) and Effect (Buddha), dissolving the distinction and the many stages between Bodhisattva practice and Buddhahood, found in pre-Lotus teachings. One of the most outstanding distinctions of the Lotus Sutra is its prediction of enlightenment of the Buddha’s enemy, Devadatta, identified with Evil. It is perhaps the only document in the history of humanity which found a solution to the problem of evil (or the devil).  In pre-Lotus Sutras, the devil was excluded from enlightenment and in other non-Buddhist teachings no solution is given for the devilish functions (except promising to relocate the devil to a future Hell). The Lotus Sutra offers the possibility of converting the devil to become enlightened and to act to correct the karmic burden: “In Buddhism, that teaching is judged supreme that enables all people, whether good or evil, to become Buddhas”. WND1 p 156


What is common between Traditional Buddhism and Nichiren Buddhism


Despite differences, it is equally important to recognise the common goal of all Buddhist schools. What unifies all Buddhist groups is the goal of attaining the state of Buddhahood, as means of achieving inner peace and world peace.

Another uniting belief is that Buddhism cannot be practiced in isolation but through a network of Sangha (the Community of Buddha followers).


All Buddhist schools also agree on the teaching of the Three Dharma Seals, which are the basic doctrines of “Impermanence”, “Non-Ego” and “Enlightenment”.  Additionally, Nichiren teachings share with traditional Buddhism the concept of Dependent Origination and the Three Truths: Sunyatta (or non-substantiality), Temporary Existence, and the Middle Way.  Buddhist doctrines of non-duality, Inseparability (body and mind) and Interconnectedness (self and environment) are also common.


As for revealing the Dharma:  while pre-Lotus Sutra teachings mention the Dharma (the Universal Law) - the Lotus Sutra alone gives the Universal Law its name (Myoho-Renge-Kyo) and declares it as the “most wonderful unsurpassed Law”: Chapter 3. It also teaches that following this Law, to which Shakyamuni was enlightened, will enable ordinary people attain the Buddha-state in this lifetime.


A Quick Comparison between Nichiren Buddhism and Traditional Buddhism


Nichiren Buddhism:                                                                    Traditional Buddhism:

SUTRA:

The Lotus Sutra                                                                               Pre-Lotus teachings

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PRACTICE:

Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo,                                          Meditation and gradual         

  (direct path to Enlightenment)                                      attainment of spiritual development

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OBJECT OF DEVOTION:

“Gohonzon”, (Life of Buddha)                                                 Statue of Shakyamuni,

embodying the Person and Dharma                                       embodying the Person    

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THE TEN WORLDS:

The Ten Worlds are mutually inclusive.                                The Ten Worlds are separate.

(“Bodhisattva-Buddha” is inseparable state)                      (Bodhisattva distinct from Buddha)

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DESIRES:         

Controlling desires assists in enlightenment                             (Various views on desires)

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KARMA:         

Focus on the “cause” of actions:                                       Focus on the “effect” of actions:

Karma is created through present actions                        Karma was created in past lives

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THE BASIC TEACHING IN BUDDHISM

The Universal Law of the Life                                                       The Four Noble Truths

    Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo                                                               & the Eightfold path

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     Author: Safwan Zabalawi                           pdf/print                            Homepage