仏教用語・信行用語
Shaba soku Jakko
娑婆即寂光
The phrase ‘Shaba soku Jakko’ means Shaba is identical to Jakko.
Shaba means the land of endurance (Saha) where people must endure afflictions and sufferings.
Jakko means the Pure Buddha Land where Buddha lives in a peaceful atmosphere.
The world we live in is not a place where we can live in peace. On the contrary, it is a place full of suffering, with no place to escape no matter how desperately we try to leave. This is the Saha world (Kudo – painful land, Nindo – endurance land). If there is no place to run to, we have no choice but to remain in the world. As far as we remain we should endure our suffering and accept the challenge of the hardships in our lives.
However, when we engage in the religious practice of chanting the Odaimoku, we gain the eyes of the faith that the Saha world full of suffering will become a pure land of pleasure (Sahba soku Jakko).
It depends on our outlook and way of life whether this world is replete with suffering or filled with pleasure.
Nichiren Shonin taught us that this Shaba world (Shaba Sekai) where we live is identical to the Pure Buddha World in essence. When we chant the Odaimoku faithfully in front of the Gohonzon our faith communicates with the soul of the Buddha and bodhisattvas in the Gohonzon. At such a moment, our souls are invited to the Pure Buddha Land in the Gohonzon. At this point, we come to realize that the Saha world where we live is not merely the Saha world but the Pure Buddha Land itself. Even though this world is full of pain and suffering, it is also a place for us to realize the bodhisattva path (Bosatsu Do). How fortunate we are!
Nissen Shonin stated in his Gokyoka
Shinjin no manako hirakeba kono Shaba ga
Soku Jakko to mie wataru kana
When you open the eyes of pure faith in your mind, you will realize that this Saha world where you live is identical in essence with the Pure Buddha Land of Tranquil Light.
Shaba means the land of endurance (Saha) where people must endure afflictions and sufferings.
Jakko means the Pure Buddha Land where Buddha lives in a peaceful atmosphere.
The world we live in is not a place where we can live in peace. On the contrary, it is a place full of suffering, with no place to escape no matter how desperately we try to leave. This is the Saha world (Kudo – painful land, Nindo – endurance land). If there is no place to run to, we have no choice but to remain in the world. As far as we remain we should endure our suffering and accept the challenge of the hardships in our lives.
However, when we engage in the religious practice of chanting the Odaimoku, we gain the eyes of the faith that the Saha world full of suffering will become a pure land of pleasure (Sahba soku Jakko).
It depends on our outlook and way of life whether this world is replete with suffering or filled with pleasure.
Nichiren Shonin taught us that this Shaba world (Shaba Sekai) where we live is identical to the Pure Buddha World in essence. When we chant the Odaimoku faithfully in front of the Gohonzon our faith communicates with the soul of the Buddha and bodhisattvas in the Gohonzon. At such a moment, our souls are invited to the Pure Buddha Land in the Gohonzon. At this point, we come to realize that the Saha world where we live is not merely the Saha world but the Pure Buddha Land itself. Even though this world is full of pain and suffering, it is also a place for us to realize the bodhisattva path (Bosatsu Do). How fortunate we are!
Nissen Shonin stated in his Gokyoka
Shinjin no manako hirakeba kono Shaba ga
Soku Jakko to mie wataru kana
When you open the eyes of pure faith in your mind, you will realize that this Saha world where you live is identical in essence with the Pure Buddha Land of Tranquil Light.