Humanistic Teaching in Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism is based on the Lotus Sutra, one of the major Mahayana sources, in which the Buddha declared equality of all human beings and introduced the teaching of Buddha Nature as common to all people. Nichiren viewed that the essence of the Lotus Sutra as expression of humanism: “the Lotus Sutra that leads all people to Buddhahood, and we ordinary human beings are in no way different or separate from one another. and viewed the Buddha as a role model for all humanity: “The purpose of the appearance in this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behaviour as a human being”.
According to modern Buddhist movement of Nichiren Buddhism, the essence of Buddhist humanism lies in treasuring diversity: “The humanism of the Lotus Sutra comes down to the tenet of treasuring the individual” and in valuing the individual human being: “To place supreme value on the human being is the teaching of the Lotus. Sutra. It is the humanism of the Buddhist Law”. which coincide with the belief that each person has the potential for Buddhahood
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