About The Soka Gakkai International

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The Ten World or Ten Potential Life States

Hi my name is John Hayden from CT and today I would like to continue on with my discussion of Nichiren Buddhism and the phrase Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Literally translated NMRK means Devotion to the Mystical or Wonderful law of cause and effect through sound or vibration and the Buddha’s teachings. Through chanting NMRK you can get in rhythm with the natural law of the universe and thereby unlock or reveal your highest self your highest potential. You can read this text in my blog on www.IntroToBuddhism.org.

Today I would like to cover a very important Buddhist Concept called the ten worlds or ten potential life states. These ten life states have a potential to change from moment to moment.     

From www.WorldTribune.org  

An essential teaching of Buddhism’s highest teaching, the Lotus Sutra is that anyone at any time can become a Buddha. Buddhas are not deities who dwell in faraway places or special people who have dedicated a certain number of years to Buddhist practice. Rather, a Buddha is an ordinary individual who has awakened to the reality that they inherently possess the universal power of the Mystic Law. We can freely tap this power by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon (which I will cover at a later date).

A Buddhist concept that gives insight into this idea is the “mutual possession of the Ten Worlds.”

The Ten Worlds are 10 conditions of life that we have the potential to experience in our lives from moment to moment. Our lives are in a constant state of flux based on internal and external circumstances.

They are described as the worlds of: 1) hell, 2) hunger, 3) animality, 4) anger, 5) humanity, 6) heaven, 7) learning, 8) realization, 9) bodhisattvas and 10) Buddhahood.

Understanding the nature of these worlds can help us recognize our life tendencies and begin to transform them.

In addition, the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds is a revolutionary concept explaining that each of the Ten Worlds possesses the potential for the other nine within itself. In other words, because the potential for Buddhahood exists within each of these worlds, we can bring forth this highest state of life no matter our circumstances.

For example, though we may be suffering in the world of hell due to the loss of a loved one, we can summon profound compassion and empathy when we try to help others who are suffering in the same way. Regardless of our current life state, we can summon Buddhahood and create value in every situation.

Buddhist teachings prior to the Lotus Sutra explained that people were confined to one world for as long as several lifetimes before they could ascend to a higher world. The Lotus Sutra refutes this view, teaching that, just as they are, people can immediately reveal the state of Buddhahood by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo on a consistent basis.

3rdSGI President Daiskau Ikeda explains:

Our lives are eternal entities endowed with the Ten Worlds. Because Buddhahood exists in our lives from the beginningless past through the infinite future, so long as we can encounter the right external factors, then we can open up and manifest the world of Buddhahood at any time and in any place.

Therefore, it is unnecessary for us to practice for countless eons to attain Buddhahood. We can become Buddhas in the course of this existence; we do not have to practice lifetime after lifetime without reaching our goal. Again, no matter how heavy our burden of karma through tapping our inner life force or irrepressible will to thrive, we can revolutionize our existence.

The mutual possession of the Ten Worlds teaches that we can immediately awaken to our greatest wisdom, courage and compassion. The more people awaken to their Buddha nature, the more empowered and capable they will become to create a society based on humanism and the respect for the inherent dignity of all life.

The Ten Worlds Explained

The Ten Worlds in Buddhism are a concept that teaches that people can awaken to their greatest wisdom, courage, and compassion. The Ten Worlds are: 

• Hell: The lowest and most      terrifying world, where life is suffering and devoid of freedom 
• Hunger: A world of endless craving      and suffering from unfulfilled desires 
• Animality: A world driven by instinct      rather than reason, morality, or wisdom 
• Anger: A world of comparing oneself      to others, preoccupied with surpassing others, and harboring jealousy and      resentment 
• Humanity: A world where people can      control desires with reason and act in harmony with others 
• Heaven: A world of feeling      short-lived joy in having various desires fulfilled
• Learning: Dedicated to self-improvement      based on others’ ideas, knowledge and experiences.
• Realization - Understanding Buddhist truths      through one’s own direct perception and experience.
• Bodhisattva - Fueled by compassion for      others, understanding that self-perfection lies in working for the      enlightenment of others. 
• Buddhahood: The highest world, where      people attain absolute happiness by realizing the ultimate reality of      their own life 

Our goal in Buddhism is to attain Buddhahood, the highest state of life in this lifetime. To achieve all of our dreams and goals, overcome obstacles and suffering and change our negative karma while helping others do the same. If each person can become truly happy by elevating their state of life, we can create a peaceful world of compassion and respect for the dignity of human life. 

For more information on local meetings and links to our official websites please visit my personal website at IntroToBuddhism.org. You can contact me anytime via call or text to 860-205-3995 or utilize the contact form on the website. Have a great week! 

Thanks and have a great day!