Glossary of Buddhist words/Glossary of devotional words

Nyorai Jinriki Hon (The Supernatural Power of the Tathagata) is Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra. The Buddha as the Primordial Eternal Buddha had perceived the law called Ichinen Sanzen and was expounded in the previous chapter ‘The Life-span of the Tathagata’. The Buddha then wrapped up the holy merits of Ichinen Sanzen in the Odaimoku and entrusted it to Bodhisattva Jogyo in the teaching of Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra for the people of the Mappo period. The Bodhisattva Jogyo appeared in this world of the Mappo period as Nichiren Shonin who propagated the teaching as the messenger of the Primordial Buddha.

Nyorai Juryo Hon is Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra. This chapter is entitled ‘The Life-span of the Tathagata’ (Nyorai Juryo Hon), because it shows how immeasurable the life-span of the Buddha is. This chapter as well as Chapter 21, ‘The Supernatural Power of the Tathagata’ (Nyorai Jinriki Hon) are the most important teachings of the 28 chapters of the Lotus Sutra. It is only in ‘Nyorai Juryo Hon’ that Shakamuni Buddha revealed himself to be the Primordial Eternal Buddha (Kuon Honbutsu) in the remote past whose span of life is eternal and immeasurable, and that he was able to attain the state of enlightenment (Hon Myo), Nirvana, through the practice. Nichiren Shonin considered, based on the teaching of the Primordial Eight Chapters of the Lotus Sutra (Honmon Happon), that the practice of the Buddha in the remote past was chanting the Odaimoku, NamuMyohoRengeKyo as Honin Myo. There is no doubt that Chapter 16 is an important teaching among the 28 chapters of the Lotus Sutra because Chapter 16 elucidates the Primordial Buddha’s enlightenment, so called ‘Ichinen Sanzen’, as his virtue of the effect (Honga Myo). However, common people of the Mappo period are unable to grasp even a small portion of the enlightenment through their own ability. Therefore, the Buddha taught the way of his practice for the people in the Primordial Eight Chapters of the Lotus Sutra and entrusted this to Bodhisattva Jogyo. Chapter 16 on its own is not always a beneficial teaching for the people of the Mappo period. If it is not included together with the Primordial Eight Chapters, it is not a beneficial teaching for the people of the Mappo period.