Fundamental darkness:
Buddhism
Enlightenment Dictionary on Fundamental darkness
Fundamental darkness
(Jpn.: gampon-no-mumyo)
Also, fundamental ignorance or primal ignorance. The most deeply rooted illusion inherent in life, said to give rise to all other illusions. Darkness in this sense means inability to see or recognize the truth, particularly, the true nature of one's life.
The term fundamental darkness is contrasted with the fundamental nature of enlightenment, which is the Buddha nature inherent in life.
According to the Shrimala Sutra, fundamental darkness is the most difficult illusion to surmount and can be eradicated only by the wisdom of the Buddha. T'ien-t'ai (538-597) interprets darkness as illusion that prevents one from realizing the truth of the Middle Way, and divides such illusion into forty-two types, the last of which is fundamental darkness. This illusion is only extirpated when one attains the stage of perfect enlightenment, the last of the fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice.
Nichiren (1222-1282) interprets fundamental darkness as ignorance of the ultimate Law, or ignorance of the fact that one's life is essentially a manifestation of that Law, which he identifies as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. In The Treatment of Illness, Nichiren states: "The heart of the Lotus school is the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life, which reveals that both good and evil are inherent even in those at the highest stage of perfect enlightenment.
The fundamental nature of enlightenment manifests itself as Brahma and Shakra, whereas the fundamental darkness manifests itself as the devil king of the sixth heaven". Nichiren thus regards fundamental darkness as latent even in the enlightened life of the Buddha, and the devil king of the sixth heaven as a manifestation or personification of life's fundamental darkness. The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings reads, "Belief is a sharp sword that cuts off fundamental darkness or ignorance."
(See
also: Fundamental darkness ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
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Fundamental darkness:
Buddhism
Enlightenment Dictionary on Fundamental darkness
Fundamental darkness
(Jpn.: gampon-no-mumyo)
Also, fundamental ignorance or primal ignorance. The most deeply rooted illusion inherent in life, said to give rise to all other illusions. Darkness in this sense means inability to see or recognize the truth, particularly, the true nature of one's life.
The term fundamental darkness is contrasted with the fundamental nature of enlightenment, which is the Buddha nature inherent in life.
According to the Shrimala Sutra, fundamental darkness is the most difficult illusion to surmount and can be eradicated only by the wisdom of the Buddha. T'ien-t'ai (538-597) interprets darkness as illusion that prevents one from realizing the truth of the Middle Way, and divides such illusion into forty-two types, the last of which is fundamental darkness. This illusion is only extirpated when one attains the stage of perfect enlightenment, the last of the fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice.
Nichiren (1222-1282) interprets fundamental darkness as ignorance of the ultimate Law, or ignorance of the fact that one's life is essentially a manifestation of that Law, which he identifies as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. In The Treatment of Illness, Nichiren states: "The heart of the Lotus school is the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life, which reveals that both good and evil are inherent even in those at the highest stage of perfect enlightenment.
The fundamental nature of enlightenment manifests itself as Brahma and Shakra, whereas the fundamental darkness manifests itself as the devil king of the sixth heaven". Nichiren thus regards fundamental darkness as latent even in the enlightened life of the Buddha, and the devil king of the sixth heaven as a manifestation or personification of life's fundamental darkness. The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings reads, "Belief is a sharp sword that cuts off fundamental darkness or ignorance."
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Courtesy
to Soka Gakkai International:
"Soka
Gakkai International (SGI)-USA is an American Buddhist association that
promotes world peace and individual happiness based on the teachings of the
Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism. Our members reflect a cross section of
our diverse American society, representing a broad range of ethnic and social
backgrounds." For more information about Fundamental darkness please visit http://www.sgi-usa.org/
The
text about Fundamental darkness
is extracted from
"The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism", Seikyo Press
With
more than 2,600 entries, this new dictionary provides comprehensive definitions
for a vast array of terms, concepts, historical incidents, scriptures,
commentaries and other references related to Nichiren Buddhism and the Lotus
Sutra. An invaluable aid in the study and understanding of Buddhism.
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