Glossary

Bodhisattva: A being aspiring to enlightenment or a future Buddha. The Bodhisattva seeks salvation for others and therefore concentrates on altruistic aims.

Dai-Gohonzon: The fundamental and supreme object of worship enshrined in the Sho-Hondo, Grand Main Temple, of the Nichiren Soshu head temple. It was inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin on October 12, 1279, to save all mankind from distress and unhappiness. The Dai-Gohonzon is the embodiment both of the profound theory of the Three Great Secret Laws and of the life of the Daishonin himself.

Daimoku: The invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which Nichiren Shoshu believers chant in their worship of the Gohonzon. Only by means of this invocation is it possible for a person to draw on the life force inherent in him and thus enjoy life fully.

Gohonzon: The object of worship in Nichiren Shoshu, first inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin in 1279. At present it is inscribed only by the high priest of Nichiren Soshu and bestowed upon followers. "Go" is an honorific prefix; "honzon" means object of worship.

Gongyo: The prayer service performed by believers before the Gohonzon every morning and evening. During Gongyo, they recite the Hoben and Juryo chapters of the Lotus Sutra and chat the Daimoku.

Gosho: The complete works of Nichiren Daishonin, consisting of religious theses and letters to his disciples. For the followers of Nichiren Soshu, it serves a function similar to that of the Bible in Christianity.


Kosen Rufu: The attainment of world peace and happiness through the propagation of the spirit and teachings of true Buddhism.

Lotus Sutra: The next to last sutra expounded by Sakyamuni, it is his highest teaching, though the term also refers to the highest teaching of any Buddha, and its implications may vary with time. For instance, the Lotus Sutra of the Zoho, or Middle Day of the Law, is the Mo-ho-chih-kuan of T'ien-t'ai; and that of the Mappo, or Latter Day of the Law, is Nichiren Daishonin's Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, or the Gohonzon.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo: Literally, "Devotion to the Wonderful Law Lotus Sutra." Initiated by Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha in the Latter Day of the Law, this invocation is the basis of universal life - the most fundamental law of all phenomena in the universe.

Nichiren Daishonin (1222-82): The founder of Nichiren Soshu, whose teachings are the basis of Soka Gakkai. A fisherman's son, he inherited the doctrine of Sakyamuni and in 1253, at the age of 31, distilled the essence of the Lotus Sutra into Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. In 1279 he exalted it to the position of the supreme guide for people living in the Latter Dat of Sakyamuni's law and embodied it in the form of the Dai-Gohonzon, the ultimate object of worship of Nichiren Soshu. Daishonin is an honorific suffix that is interpreted to mean "the True Buddha in the Latter Day of the Law."

The Ten States of Life: The states of life that are manifest in both pysical and spiritual aspects of all human activities. These ten states are hell, hunger, animality, anger, tranquillity, rapture, learning, absorption (realization), Bodhisattva nature and Buddha nature.