Rooster Diagram of the Five Periods of the Buddha’s Lifetime Teachings

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Lotus SutraCorrect TeachingMentor DiscipleFaithWisdom

Background

Written To

Nichiren's disciples studying under him - used as a reference and teaching aid

When

Unknown date, but created during Nichiren's teaching period (13th century Japan)

Why It Was Written

Written to help disciples understand the complex landscape of Buddhist schools and teachings, and to clarify which Buddha they should rely upon for their practice and salvation

Significance

This diagrammatic work establishes Shakyamuni Buddha as the original Buddha whom all others should follow, providing crucial doctrinal foundation for Nichiren Buddhism's focus on the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni as the eternal Buddha

Key Passages

"Among the sutras I have preached, now preach, and will preach, this Lotus Sutra is the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand."

This passage from the Lotus Sutra itself declares that among all of Buddha's teachings - past, present, and future - the Lotus Sutra stands supreme. It's called the most difficult to believe because it reveals that all people can become Buddhas, which challenges our limited thinking about human potential. It's the most difficult to understand because it reveals the eternal nature of Buddhahood and the profound interconnectedness of all life.

"But now this threefold world is all my domain, and the living beings in it are all my children."

Here Shakyamuni Buddha reveals his relationship to all living beings as a loving parent to children. The 'threefold world' refers to all realms of existence, and Buddha is saying that every person, regardless of their circumstances, is his child with inherent Buddha nature. This establishes the intimate, caring relationship between the Buddha and all people, showing that no one is abandoned or beyond hope.

"Originally one followed this Buddha and for the first time conceived the desire to seek the way. And by following this Buddha again, one will reach the stage where there is no retrogression."

This passage explains the eternal bond between each person and Shakyamuni Buddha. It suggests that our spiritual journey began long ago when we first encountered this Buddha and decided to seek enlightenment. The relationship continues across lifetimes, and by maintaining our connection with this same Buddha, we can achieve irreversible spiritual progress.

"The Thus Come One Shakyamuni as the Buddha who actually carried out practice and achieved enlightenment in the inconceivably remote past."

This reveals Shakyamuni not as someone who became enlightened 2,500 years ago in India, but as the eternal Buddha who achieved enlightenment in the infinite past. This means Buddha's enlightenment is timeless and universal, not limited to one historical moment. It establishes Shakyamuni as the fundamental Buddha from whom all other Buddhas derive their enlightenment.

What This Writing Is Really Saying

This writing is essentially a comprehensive map of Buddhist teachings designed to answer a crucial question: 'Which Buddha should I follow?' In Nichiren's time, Japan was flooded with different Buddhist schools, each claiming their particular Buddha or sutra was supreme. People were confused about where to place their faith.

Nichiren methodically diagrams how Buddha's teachings unfolded over five periods of his life, showing that the first four periods were 'expedient means' - helpful but incomplete teachings suited to people's limited capacity at the time. Only in the fifth period did Buddha reveal his true teaching in the Lotus Sutra, which declares that all people can achieve enlightenment and that Shakyamuni is the eternal Buddha who has been guiding humanity since the infinite past.

The writing refutes the popular Pure Land school's claim that Amida Buddha is superior to Shakyamuni. Nichiren argues that Amida has no direct relationship with people in this world, while Shakyamuni is like a father to all beings here. Just as children naturally turn to their own parent rather than someone else's parent, we should rely on Shakyamuni Buddha, who has been nurturing our spiritual growth since beginningless time.

The deeper message is about the importance of finding the correct teaching and the right relationship with the Buddha. Nichiren shows that Shakyamuni Buddha revealed in the Lotus Sutra is not just a historical figure, but the eternal life force of the universe itself - the fundamental Buddha nature that exists within every person. By connecting with this eternal Buddha through the Lotus Sutra, we can awaken our own Buddhahood.

How This Applies to Your Life Today

In today's world, we face a similar confusion to what people experienced in Nichiren's time - we're overwhelmed by countless spiritual teachings, self-help philosophies, and religious options, each claiming to offer the path to happiness. This writing teaches us the importance of finding a practice rooted in something eternal and universal rather than following temporary trends or teachings that only address surface-level problems.

Practically, this means developing a consistent, daily spiritual practice connected to fundamental life principles rather than jumping from one approach to another. Just as Nichiren emphasized the importance of maintaining our relationship with Shakyamuni Buddha across lifetimes, we can build continuity in our spiritual growth by committing deeply to one practice rather than constantly seeking something new. In relationships, career challenges, or health struggles, this translates to trusting in the fundamental Buddha nature within ourselves and others, rather than looking for external saviors or quick fixes. The parent-child relationship described here reminds us that we have an inherent connection to the life force of the universe - we're not alone in our struggles, and we have unlimited potential for growth and transformation.

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This is a simplified explanation. For the complete text, visit the Nichiren Library.

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