Entrance study mini quiz

Please fill in the blanks.

The Gohonzon exists only within ________________ embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

• the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who

• the monks and priests who

• the statues of the Buddha who

Answer explanation

Buddhahood exists within each and every person, even if they don't realise it themselves!

“The protection of the gods depends on the strength of one’s faith” (WND-1, 953). [Gosho]

Please fill in the blanks.

Heavenly gods and benevolent deities refers to the various workings or functions ______

• such as unknown forces of the heavens

• that are magical powers of the sky and the earth

• which are protective forces in one’s environment

Answer explanation

If we practice the correct Buddhist teaching and do good to others, then our environment and the people around us will begin to work to protect and support us.

Protective forces are personified in Buddhist literature as gods or deities that protect and support those who uphold and practice the teaching. Back in the day, the image of gods was used to help people readily understand and accept.

The Daishonin says,

"To illustrate, when a caged bird sings, birds who are flying in the sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out.” (WND-1, 887).

Our chanting of daimoku is likened to like the bird's singing to call out to other birds.

Which persecution is this?

In 1279, twenty farmers who were followers of the Daishonin in Atsuhara, a village in Suruga Province, were arrested on trumped-up charges and taken to Kamakura. At the residence of Hei no Saemon-no-jo, they were subjected to harsh interrogation equivalent to torture. Though they were pressed to abandon their faith in the Lotus Sutra, they all remained true to their beliefs. Three of the twenty followers arrested were ultimately executed, while the remaining seventeen were banished from their places of residence.

• Atsuhara

• Matsubagayatsu

• Sado Exile

The teaching that all of the Ten Worlds are inherent within one another is called the _ _ _ _ .

Clue: There are 6 words.

Answer explanation

The Daishonin writes "the nine worlds have the potential for Buddhahood and that Buddhahood retains the nine worlds”.

The sutras other than the Lotus Sutra teach that each of the Ten Worlds is a distinct and separate realm, or a fixed condition of life, and that one cannot move from any one of the Ten Worlds to another until after one dies, at which time one can be reborn into another of the Ten Worlds. But the Lotus Sutra fundamentally overturns this idea, revealing that all people in any of the nine worlds other than Buddhahood also possess the world of Buddhahood. Conversely, the world of Buddhahood is endowed with all the other nine worlds.

Please fill in the blanks.

By embracing faith in the Gohonzon and striving sincerely in Buddhist practice, ____ anyone can realise the state of Buddhahood in this existence. This is the principle of "attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime."

• for oneself and others

• to offer alms to temples

• by not having desires at all

Answer explanation

Buddhism teaches the principle that “earthly desires lead to enlightenment.” To explain this very simply, “earthly desires” refers to suffering and the desires and cravings that cause suffering, while “enlightenment” refers to happiness and an enlightened state of life.

When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, our problems and sufferings all turn into energy for our happiness, into fuel that enables us to keep moving forward in our lives. The wonderful thing about faith in Nichiren Buddhism is that it enables those who suffer the most to attain the greatest happiness and those who experience the most daunting problems to lead the most wonderful, meaningful lives.

“The oneness of mentor and disciple and the spirit of many in body, one in mind are essentially inseparable principles; they are like the two wheels of a cart. If we do not share our mentor’s heart or spirit to realize kosen-rufu, there will be no genuine unity of purpose among our diverse membership.

"Many in body, one in mind" is an essential for unity based on faith for the purpose of advancing kosen-rufu.

Please answer both questions.

What is (i) many in body, and (ii) one in mind?

• (i) means to allow each individual to give full play to their individuality and distinctive qualities, displaying their unique potential

  (ii) everyone works together based on faith, sharing the same goal and purpose.

• (i) think, look and act the same

  (ii) each person possesses a different intent or goal

• (i) each person is different—that people differ in their appearances, standing in society, circumstances

  (ii) each person possesses a different intent or goal

Answer explanation

The Daishonin says “If the spirit of many in body but one in mind prevails among the people, they will achieve all their goals, whereas if one in body but different in mind, they can achieve nothing remarkable. . ."

Each person is different, but their hearts—their hearts should be one; each person should be one in mind, united in faith.

“One in mind”—also “same mind” or “same heart”—means sharing a noble purpose, a common wish to realize a lofty goal. In the realm of Nichiren Buddhism, this means the wish to accomplish kosen-rufu, the wide dissemination of the Law for the happiness of all.

Let's advance while challenging and overcoming various problems and hardships through unity in faith.

If we compare our faith to the roots of a tree, our daily lives can be compared to the tree’s trunk and its branches that bear flowers and fruit. Nichiren Buddhism teaches that the deeper our roots of faith, the more stable and secure our personal lives.

What is "Faith Equals Daily Life"?

• When we face issues and problems in the course of our lives, we continue making earnest efforts to deal with them based on chanting daimoku with faith in the Gohonzon.

• Religion and daily life are different things. Soka Gakkai activities are separate from my work or studies.

• Our attitude and actions each day are unrelated to expressions of our faith.

Answer explanation

Our daily life is the exact place for carrying out our Buddhist practice, and our attitude and actions each day are expressions of our faith.

Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon and bringing forth our Buddhahood help us rise to the challenge that each day brings. As we continue to do so, we come to understand our personal strengths. We learn how to transform difficulties with others and create respectful, harmonious relationships.

During the Daishonin's time, Japan had been experiencing a series of natural disasters and calamities, including extreme weather, severe earthquakes, famine, fires, and epidemics. The Daishonin wrote the treatise “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land” to clarify the fundamental cause of people’s suffering and set forth the means by which people could eradicate such suffering.

What did he declare as the cause of the series of calamities?

• Climate change

• The people’s slander of the correct teaching of Buddhism and their reliance on erroneous doctrines

• They did not chant enough daimoku to prevent the disasters.

• Natural disasters are part and parcel of life and there is no specific reason.

Answer explanation

On July 16, 1260, he submitted this treatise to Hojo Tokiyori, the retired regent of the Kamakura military government who was still effectively the country’s most powerful leader. It was the first time that the Daishonin remonstrated with the authorities. This is known as his first remonstration with the government authorities.

In his treatise “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land”, the Daishonin predicted that the two calamities of the three calamities and seven disasters had yet to occur. Which are these?

Clue: Both are related to fighting.

Answer explanation

Foreign invasion

In 1268, 8 years after the Daishonin published his treatise, the Mongol Empire sent an official letter threatening to attack Japan. With this development, the danger of the calamity of foreign invasion became very real.

The Daishonin wrote more letters to the authorities and stated that the danger of an invasion was what he had predicted.

Internal strife

In February 1272, a faction of the ruling Hojo clan rose up in rebellion, and fighting broke out in Kamakura and Kyoto, the seat of the military government and imperial capital, respectively. The Daishonin’s prediction of internal strife came true.

In October 1274 , the first Mongol invasion took place when a large Mongol fleet attacked Kyushu, one of Japan’s four main islands.

"Renge" of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo means "lotus flower".

What is the significance of that lotus plant contains a seed pod (the lotus fruit) within its buds, and that the flower and fruit grow and appear at the same time?

• Blooming in muddy water.

  Though the lotus grows in muddy water, the flower remains unsullied by its environment, producing pure and fragrant blooms.

• Simultaneity of Cause and Effect

  The flower (the cause) and the fruit (the effect) exist together, simultaneously.

Answer explanation

The principle of the simultaneity of cause and effect

We do not have to wait to become someone perfect in the future, we can bring forth the power of the Mystic Law from within our lives at any time.

By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo each day, we remember that we are originally Buddhas. We don’t have to become something we are not but simply shine as we are.

On muddy water:

Human life is like the “lotus flower” and the “muddy water” the harsh realities of daily life.

How can we apply this concept in our daily lives?

Nothing, no matter what happens, can change your inherent worth. Please have courage. Please tell yourself that you are not going to let this ordeal defeat you. Those who have suffered the most, those who have experienced the greatest sadness, have a right to become the happiest of all. What would the purpose of our Buddhist practice be if the most miserable could not become happy?