SGI-USA Intro to Buddhism Trivia

Nichiren Buddhist practice consists of practice for oneself and practice for others. Practice for oneself refers to chanting and reciting the sutra on a daily basis. Practice for others constitutes:

In the phrase Nam-myoho-rengekyo, renge literally means “lotus flower.” In Nichiren Buddhism, what Buddhist concept is symbolized by the lotus flower?

Within the Ten Worlds, in which state(s) of life is a person easily influenced by external circumstances?

Regarding attaining Buddhahood, Nichiren Daishonin says that “attain” means to:

In his writing “The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” Nichiren Daishonin writes: “Never seek this Gohonzon _____________.” Please correctly fill in the blank.

In “The Three Kinds of Treasure,” Nichiren instructs Shijo Kingo to “live so that all the people of Kamakura will say in your praise that Nakatsukasa Saburo Saemonno-jo [Shijo Kingo] is diligent in the service of his lord, in the service of Buddhism, and in his concern for other people.” In essence, Nichiren was instructing Kingo to:

The principle of “lessening karmic retribution” means that through the benefit of devoting ourselves and leading others to the Mystic Law:

Nichiren writes, “The three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear, and the wise will ___________ while the foolish will retreat.” Please correctly fill in the blank.

On April 28, 1253, Nichiren lectured publicly, refuting the teachings of the major Buddhist schools. He chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and asserted it to be the one and only correct teaching capable of saving all people of the Latter Day of the Law. This event is known as his:

After observing the recurrence of natural disasters, epidemics, poverty and hunger, on July 16, 1260, Nichiren wrote and submitted to Hojo Tokiyori, the highest authority in Japan, the treatise titled:

For several years leading up to the autumn of 1279, many of the farmers who practiced Nichiren’s teachings in the Atsuhara region endured mounting pressures to renounce their faith. Ultimately, three of Nichiren’s followers were executed and 17 were driven from their lands. This series of persecutions, known collectively as the Atsuhara Persecution, demonstrated that Nichiren had fulfilled the purpose of his appearance in this world because:

Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, with his disciple Josei Toda’s dedicated assistance, published the first volume of The System of Value-Creating Pedagogy on Nov. 18, 1930. This is also the date of the Soka Gakkai’s founding. In this work, Mr. Makiguchi uses the word soka, which means:

In 1943, Mr. Makiguchi and Mr. Toda were imprisoned for refusing to comply with government pressure to accept the religious Shinto talisman and thereby compromise their beliefs. While in prison, Mr. Toda earnestly chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and repeatedly studied the Lotus Sutra, and came to realize that the Buddha is essentially life itself and that this life of the Buddha exists within himself and all people, as well as in the vast universe. Through practicing and studying Buddhism in prison, Josei Toda:

Every year since 1983, in order to offer his perspective and vision for a better world, SGI President Ikeda has:

In his writing “The Dragon Gate,” Nichiren uses the analogy of carp climbing a waterfall to become dragons to emphasize that:

In “The Dragon Gate,” Nichiren says, “My wish is that all my disciples ______.” Please correctly fill in the blank.

In “How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way,” Nichiren offers an analogy, saying, “When a caged bird sings, birds who are flying in the sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out.” President Ikeda explains that the caged bird singing represents:

In “The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” Nichiren also states, “This Gohonzon also is found only in the two characters for ___________.” Please correctly fill in the blank.

The Nichiren Shoshu priesthood’s doctrine of the infallibility of its high priest—that the high priest must be followed despite any error—runs counter to the statement of Nikko Shonin in his “Twenty-six Admonitions”: “Do not follow even the high priest if he goes against the ___________ and propounds his own views.” Please correctly fill in the blank.

The claim of Nichiren Shoshu that “the fundamental principle of the Daishonin’s Buddhism is transmitted only to the High Priest” is contradicted by Nichiren’s own statements. For instance, in one letter, he writes, “Nichiren has been trying to awaken all people of Japan to faith in the Lotus Sutra so that they too can share ____________ and attain Buddhahood.” Please correctly fill in the blank.