Welcome

Welcome to our website, and thank you for taking the time to look at some of the teachings, history and traditions of Nichiren Shu.

Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy dedicated exclusively to the peace and welfare of the individual and the world. It has approximately 3,000 years of history. In the span of three millennia, it expanded throughout Asia, and then all over the world. Each country and tradition has given a valuable contribution to Buddhism in the form of art, architecture, music, literature, cuisine, gardens, and other additions of rich culture, philosophy and approaches in observing the Buddhist faith and practice.

Over the centuries, history has developed two major and important currents or trends in Buddhism which became the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. They are both very active and present throughout the world today, and often work very closely together. Mahayana is currently the largest of the two traditions.

Nichiren Shu is a Mahayana school born in Japan with 750 years of tradition, and based on the teachings of the Buddha Sakyamuni with special emphasis on the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of our founder, Nichiren Shonin. The spirit or the heart of our religious practice and philosophy is the equal of all humanity, respect for all religions and cultures around the world, harmony, peace and tranquility, wisdom and intuition, profound respect for others, gratitude, compassion and love for all beings, understanding, forgiveness in times of conflict and tragedy, the liberation of all suffering from the world, stability, happiness, wisdom andspiritual prosperity for all.

All the various traditions of Buddhism place importance on the Three Treasures, also referred to as the the Three Jewels or Triple Gem, of Buddhism. These are three pillars of religious observance and devotion, as well as study and research. These Three Treasures are the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) and Sangha (the Buddhist community of monks and nuns, and laity). While all real Buddhist schools venerate the Buddha Sakyamuni as the founder and Grandest Master of Buddhism, each tradition may interpret the detail of these Three Treasures of Buddhism in different manners. This has contributed in the creation of a rich and varied array of Buddhist schools and traditions

For example, some schools devote themselves to other Buddhas, other than or in addition to Sakyamuni, some traditions place more importance on one or more of the Buddha's teachings that emphasize compassion, emptiness, wisdom, precept observance or monastic discipline.

Some schools dedicate themselves, therefore, place more importance on other Buddhas or in addition to Sakyamuni Buddha. Some traditions emphasize one or more of the teachings or various aspects of Buddhism, underlining compassion, emptiness, wisdom, respect, meditation, precepts and monastic discipline. Nichiren Shu, according to the teachings of the founder of our school, Nichiren Shonin, places importance on all these qualities with emphasis on the enlightenment of the Buddha and his various qualities and virtues. For this reason, Nichiren Shu observes the Three Treasures in the following manner:

The Treasure of all the Buddha: Eternal Buddha Sakyamuni
The Treasure of all the Dharma: The Lotus Sutra
The Treasure of the Sangha: The Great Bodhisattva Nichiren Shonin

Our website will explain in more detail all of these aspects, together with our philosophy, religious practice and observation. If you wish to deepen the interest in Buddhism, we kindly invite you to contact us and visit our temple of Renkoji.

Thank you once again for visiting our modest website. We bow deeply to you with hands in Gassho (in prayer form) with profound respect and veneration to the Buddha within you,