Gohonzon - The Essence of The Gohonzon

The Essence of The Gohonzon

Nichiren explained that attaining enlightenment is achieved through awakening to the fact that one’s own life embodies the Dhrama. This principle of attaining enlightenment is expressed in the centre of the Gohonzon in bold characters as the Oneness of the Universal Dharma (Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō) and the Human Being (or Person represented by Nichiren, as a factual example). From this perspective, the Gohonzon is an embodiment of the life of the Buddha. In essence, the Gohonzon is a reflection of the enlightened state of life, called also the life of the Buddha, or the Buddha nature. Just as a mirror can reveal one’s physical appearance, the spiritual essence of the Gohonzon triggers the Buddha nature within one’s life. Nichiren explains, however, that only belief in one’s inner Buddha nature can validate the benefit of the Gohonzon.