(Photo above by Mike Chai / Pexels)
Nichiren Buddhism teaches that changing the world starts with changing our hearts. This process is called human revolution; it’s a revolution in our innermost being.
Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda writes:
There are many kinds of revolutions—political, economic, industrial, scientific and artistic; there are revolutions in the distribution of goods and services, in communications and countless other spheres. Each is significant in its own way, and sometimes necessary. But whatever changes are made, if the people implementing them are selfish and lack compassion, they won’t improve the world. Human revolution is the most fundamental revolution, and indeed the most essential revolution for humankind.
The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, pp. 6–7
To begin, here is a video explaining human revolution.
The Roots of Violence and War Lie in the Human Heart
We can find the root of the major problems troubling our world in the human heart. Buddhism describes these roots of destruction and suffering as “the three poisons,” which are greed, anger and ignorance. For example, the root of poverty is the greed within the human heart. Anger manifests itself on a global scale as war and conflict. Sadly, we see cycles of violence, discrimination and destruction continue over millennia because human nature hasn’t fundamentally changed.
The 13th-century Buddhist teacher Nichiren Daishonin writes, “If the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves” (“On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 4).
We can understand the “land” here as society and our environment. Nichiren is saying that our environment is not inherently good or bad, what makes it one way or the other depends on the minds of the people living in it. Changing society then comes down to revolutionizing our lives; it comes down to overcoming the greed, anger and ignorance in our heart and bringing out the life state of Buddhahood or our Buddhability.
Photo by Sy Chen / Unsplash
Human Revolution Takes Place in the Everyday
Buddhism teaches that compassion, wisdom and courage pervade all life and the universe. When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we are enacting a revolution in our lives.
Why? Because we are transcending our smaller self, dominated by ego, anger and shortsighted desires, and awakening to our greater self, which is filled with compassion and courage. In addition to chanting, we take compassionate action for the sake of other people. When we chant and take action to support others, our original Buddhahood emerges from our life and overcomes the greed, anger and ignorance within.
This might sound extraordinary, but human revolution can take place in small ways in our everyday life. Let’s say there’s someone who’s only concerned about themselves and their immediate family but one day decides to reach out to a co-worker or neighbor who is sick. That is that person’s human revolution. Or maybe there is someone who loves music but never takes their own music seriously then one day they decide to dedicate themselves to creating music with a feeling that it will inspire other people. This is that musician’s human revolution.
The natural process is for people to grow little by little, with the passage of time. Human revolution is a step beyond that gradual process, propelling us rapidly in a positive direction. And while it is a rapid improvement, it is also growth that continues throughout our lives. There is no end point. And our Buddhist practice is the engine, the driving force, for our human revolution.
- Daisaku Ikeda
As we change, the world changes. Working to change ourselves for the better and inspiring others to do the same, this is the surest way to change our world.
Up Next: The Ten Worlds
An essential Buddhist concept that explains how even within the depths of suffering, Buddhahood exists and can transform any suffering into joy.
Happy chanting!
—Your friends at Buddhability