The “Great Compassion and Mercy of the Buddha” 仏大慈悲 in Nichiren’s Kanjin honzon-shō 観心本尊抄

Abstract

This paper studies the Buddha’s compassion （jihi 慈悲） in Nichiren’s teachings through examinations of Chapter 3 and 16 of the Lotus Sūtra that are the bases of the doctrines of the Three Virtues （santoku 三徳） and Three Bodies （sanshin 三身） in Nichiren’s view of the Buddha.

In Chapter 3, it is indicated that the Buddha possesses both karuṇā （hi 悲）,” understood as relieving the sufferings of beings by means of expedient means （hōben 方便）, and maitrī （ji 慈）,” understood as providing them happiness through wisdom.

In Chapter 16, the parable in which a father’s death is conveyed by messenger to his children, thereby saving them, is an expedient means which reveals the eternity of the original Buddha and His duty to enable beings to enter into the supreme wisdom with His various teachings as expedient means.

Following these examinations, Buddha’s compassion in Nichiren’s Kanjin honzon-shō is defined as saving beings who, in the Latter Days of the Teaching （mappō 末法）, cannot independently perceive the doctrine of “3000 existences contained in one thought” （ichinen sanzen 一念三千） or the five marvelous characters of myō, hō, ren, ge, and kyō 妙法蓮華経, the title of the Lotus Sūtra, this salvation carried out through the expedient means of the messenger on whom the five marvelous characters are bestowed.

Based on the above, “Honzon” 本尊 in Nichiren’s usage is the aspect visualizing the five marvelous characters as Buddha’s wisdom, and bestowal is expedient means representing the Buddha’s compassion.