The meaning of Sokushin Jobutsu is to attain Buddhahood in this life as a common mortal. Jobutsu is the realization of the Buddhahood dormant within every person. Sokushin means as one is in this life, not beyond or after death. This concept is directly opposed to the Buddhism of Shakyamuni. Ancients practising as he taught had to undergo numerous severe austerities, renouncing the desires of this world for a spiritual bliss to follow.

In Nichiren Daishonin’s philosophy, a person practises to the Gohonzon and discovers his own enlightenment and the essence of his own life. As a common man he can bring out the condition of enlightenment from within himself, using it in his daily existence. Sokushin Jobutsu encompasses the principle of changing a person’s karma or destiny. With the Gohonzon a person is headed in the direction of absolute happiness or enlightenment. He develops a happy condition which grows continually stronger as he struggles to improve himself. The key to this is faith in the Gohonzon, because it is the source of Sokushin Jobutsu.

Nichiren Daishonin wrote in the Gosho, A Reply to Shijo Kingo:
“Be enlightened to the fact that joys and sorrows are manifestations of the potential experiences of human life. As such, whether in joy or in sorrow, continue to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Is this not Jiju Horaku (happiness with the Gohonzon)? Further strengthen your faith.”

President Ikeda, again talking about the superiority of a religion, said:
“Inferior philosophies and religions seek their ideals in some region remote from reality. The superior and powerful philosophy and religion reveals that the ultimate entity or our ideal is contained in the realities of the lives which we lead day by day and month after month. As the passage from the Gosho states,…

the hand which clasps the Lotus Sutra immediately becomes a Buddha and the mouth which recites it attains Buddhahood at once.

“A supreme philosophy does not seek vain ideological ends. It does not deny or sacrifice reality. Such a philosophy does not lose itself in the rapture of sweet, dreamy illusion. It is the philosophy of wisdom which bears a clear insight into the actual situation of life; it is the religion of man himself.”

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This page was last modified on Sunday, August 20, 2006.