Buddhism Site : The Path of Nichiren Buddhism

Buddhism, to those not familiar with its tenants, can seem quite confusing. There are many different steps and prayers that are used throughout the different branches of Buddhism. All of the branches do have the Buddha in common but it is his mantras, or teachings, that differ. The Tibetan Buddhist follows a different set of teachings than those found in Nichiren Buddhism. Buddha taught that there was a path to enlightenment. The Buddhism Nichiren taught is still based on that mantra but the journey is slightly different.

Just as there are different variations of the same religion found in the United States, i.e. the Baptist faith versus the First Baptist etc., there are different branches of Buddhism. What the Zen Buddhist studies differs from what the Tibetan Buddhist studies. The Buddhism Nichiren taught was based on a different set of mantras handed down from Buddha in his later years. These teachings were known as the Lotus Sutra. These Buddhist teachings allow for people to find their own way to enlightenment through following his studies but Nichiren felt differently about the other branches of Buddhism. He thought that they had become splintered and fractured due to not following the correct path to enlightenment.

Nichiren Daishonen was a 13th century Buddhist monk. He believed that it was Buddha's later mantras, the Lotus Sutra, that would lead to true enlightenment and universal knowledge. He was unhappy with the direction that many of the Buddhist leaders were leading their students and so began a movement to follow the path that he considered the true path to enlightenment. Nichiren Buddhism came to be a leading Buddhist movement thanks to Nichiren's observations of Buddha's Lotus Sutra.

Nichiren believed that the Buddhist teachings of others were wrong. It was not about just abdicating earthly possessions. It was about reaching out to your fellow man to overcome trials and adversity together. His Buddhist studies allowed him to show that everyone, regardless of age, gender or status, could reach enlightenment. This opened up Buddhism to many new people and showed them that there was a possibility of overcoming problems to attain peace.

So is Nichiren Buddhism the right path to follow to reach enlightenment. Well, it comes down to what you believe in. All followers of Buddhism do have the great man himself in common. It is just which mantras to follow where the split comes. Buddhism is a world-wide religion and philosophy that have many seeking higher goals within their lives. You may be interested in discovering this path for yourself.

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