For today’s lesson we’ll give a brief history of Buddhism. To begin, here is a video the outlines Buddhist history from the time of Shakyamuni to the present day.
The Life of Shakyamuni Buddha
Buddhism originates in the teachings of Shakyamuni (Siddhārtha Gautama), who was born in what is now Nepal some 2,500 years ago. Shakyamuni was born a prince, but from a young age was profoundly troubled by the problem of human suffering, namely what he saw were the universal sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death. He decided to renounce his life as a prince in order to find a fundamental solution to these problems.
Shakyamuni devoted his life to various yogic meditation and austere practices, but abandoned them after realizing they did not lead him to enlightenment. With nothing to turn to, Shakyamuni crossed the Nairanjana River and sat under a peepul tree (now Bodhi tree) where he was lost in deep inner contemplation. At this time, he was tormented by worldly desires, hunger, craving for sleep, and fear and doubt. But he triumphed over these internal demons and continued his inner quest.
Then, like a limitless, penetrating beam of light, Shakyamuni experienced a moment of clarity in which he gained profound insight that life is eternal and one with the vast cosmos. He became a Buddha—a person awakened to the supreme truth of the Law of life. He then resolved to dedicate his life to sharing this truth with others.
Shakyamuni traveled far and wide to teach and encourage others to transform their lives and help others do the same. His disciples included people from all walks of life: from kings, warriors and merchants, to members of the lowest, untouchable class. Shakyamuni welcomed women into the Buddhist Order, treating monks, nuns, and lay men and women as equals. In the context of India’s rigid caste system, Shakyamuni’s indifference to social standing was unique. His sincere dedication sparked a people’s movement, centered on valuing and promoting the dignity of all life.
Shakyamuni taught for many years before revealing his ultimate teaching, the Lotus Sutra.
Photo by Ithalu Dominguez / Pexels
The Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra is widely regarded as the most important text of Mahayana Buddhism. In it, Shakyamuni expounds the ultimate truth of life to which he was enlightened. The sutra’s key message is that Buddhahood, the supreme state of life characterized by boundless compassion, wisdom and courage, is inherent within every person without distinction of gender, ethnicity or social standing.
The Lotus Sutra teaches that all people can attain Buddhahood, just as they are, in this lifetime. A person only needs to follow the bodhisattva path—taking compassionate action for others, based on the recognition that true happiness for yourself is impossible while others suffer.
Photo by Marco Giannavola
Nichiren Daishonin revives the Lotus Sutra into an accessible practice for all
Some 1,500 years after Shakyamuni’s passing, Nichiren (1222–82), a Buddhist monk in Japan, crystallized in universally accessible form the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. He defined this as “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,” the fundamental law that all life and phenomena is endowed with Buddhahood.
Born in a small fishing village in Japan, Nichiren witnessed firsthand the suffering of ordinary people in a country plagued by violence and disasters. His deep concern led him, as a young boy, to pray “to become the wisest person in Japan” in order to discover a solution (“The Tripitaka Master Shan-wu-wei,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 175).
On April 28, 1253, after embarking on a period of intense study at major centers of Buddhist learning, Nichiren, at age 32, declared that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo was the teaching capable of leading all people to genuine happiness.
In 1260, after a series of natural disasters devastated Japan, the Daishonin composed one of his major writings, “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land.” In this treatise presented to the highest political authorities of Japan, he urged that they discard erroneous teachings and revive the spirit of reverence for the sanctity of human life through faith in the correct teaching of the Lotus Sutra.
Nichiren’s persistent resolve to stand for justice and the happiness of the people brought a series of persecutions from the other Buddhist schools and government authorities. He was attacked by swords, ambushed at home, labeled as a criminal and was nearly executed at Tatsunokuchi beach.
Photo courtesy of Buddhability
Despite these persecutions, Nichiren’s spirit remained undaunted. He emerged from the persecution at Tatsunokuchi with the conviction that it had enabled him to reveal his true identity as a Buddha—an enlightened ordinary person dedicated to spreading the teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. With this, Nichiren began inscribing the Gohonzon, a scroll that graphically embodies the life condition of Buddhahood, to enable all people to reveal the same state of life themselves.
Nichiren continued to share his teachings and poured his life into writing letters of encouragement to his followers until he passed away peacefully at age 61.
Through the practice of chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in front of the Gohonzon, the Daishonin left behind an accessible practice that enables each person to bring forth their greatest potential.
Up Next: Buddhist Mythbusters
Test your knowledge of Buddhism in our next lesson, see you soon!
Happy chanting!
—Your friends at Buddhability