On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime

by Daisaku Ikeda

This booklet contains the lecture by SGI President Ikeda on Nichiren Daishonin's letter "On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime." This lecture was serialized in Living Buddhism
Sept–Oct 2006 to Mar–Apr 2007.

Genres: Buddhism

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Daisaku Ikeda was a Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder, educator, author and poet. He was the third president of the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist organization and the founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), which is today one of the world's largest and most diverse lay Buddhist organizations, promoting a philosophy of character development and social engagement for peace.

Ikeda was the founder of the Soka (value-creation) schools, a nondenominational school system based on an ideal of fostering each student's unique creative potential and cultivating an ethic of peace, social contribution and global consciousness. The school system runs from kindergarten through graduate study and includes a university in Tokyo, Japan, and another in California, U.S.A.

Ikeda was a staunch proponent of dialogue as the foundation of peace. Since the 1970s he has pursued dialogue with a wide range of individuals around the world in political, cultural, educational and academic fields. Over 50 of these have been published in book form, with people such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Elise Boulding, Joseph Rotblat and André Malraux. In furtherance of his vision of fostering dialogue and solidarity for peace, Ikeda has founded a number of independent, nonprofit research institutes that develop cross-cultural, interdisciplinary collaboration on diverse issues: the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research and the Institute of Oriental Philosophy. The Min-On Concert Association and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum promote mutual understanding and friendship between different national cultures through the arts.

Ikeda was a prolific writer who has published more than 100 works, ranging from Buddhist philosophy to biographical essays, poetry, children's stories and photographic collections.

Reviews

[Melissa Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellence!!!!!

Excellence!!!!! This commentary deeply encouraged and further helped me understand the significance of one’s life in relation to all lives.

[Dandy Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read the Chinese version of it.
It has all the clear explanations about the fundamental philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism.

It’s the best for beginner to understand about Nichiren Buddhism.

[Joel Groomer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basically SGI nonsense. All you have to do is chant? That’s not Buddhism. I guess I’m glad I read it so that I know to stay away from SGI, and maybe Nichiren Buddhism altogether.

[Raina Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book!

This is an awesome book. If you'd like to know more about Nichiren Buddhism, this book will enlighten you. Purchase it...You'lo be glad that you did.

[Karan Behl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master the practice of Chanting by Mastering this in depth yet a small book if you are in the practice of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

[Kylie Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very intense book. There is a lot of waffle and repetition explaining what a line means and just repeating it in another order. Some of the more in-depth theory isn't explained too well, so i have mixed feelings about it. Being new to the practice it is a confusing book - go with the "Buddha Geoff and Me" - far better

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

don't get me wrong . . . i love ikeda. he's awesome. and i admire everything about him.

this book, though, was a little dry. maybe a little too straightforward. it seemed like a good review, or primer for sgi buddhism. i think it would have read better if i remembered that it was a lecture series and not a "book" per se.

[Jamie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and reread my dog-eared book constantly and have given it to many friends. I read the Malaysian Press one. I haven't been able to find it in a while. It describes the real battle we fight to win over our negativity and the tool of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo that makes this a battle we can WIN

[Mike Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Nichiren's early writings empowering people to bring out their inherent Buddha nature or absolute happiness. Ikeda's essay helps us apply this 700 + year old treatise to the present time and vastly deepen our understanding of the mystic law, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

[Jamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically interesting book.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this about 20 times and with each read it reveals more to me. I love this book

[Telly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very insightful book that is worth many more reads.