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Buddhism: The Three Treasures

The three treasures are what all Buddhists revere as the most precious treasures in the universe. They are:

  • The Buddha
  • The Law
  • The priesthood

May 1 Intro Facebook sm
The Buddha is one who is enlightened to the eternal truth of life and the universe and possesses the three virtues of sovereign, teacher, and parent.

The Law is the teaching that the Buddha teaches through his own enlightenment.

The priesthood signifies the disciples of the Buddha who inherit, protect, and transmit the teachings to future generations.

In Nichiren Shoshu, the Buddha is Nichiren Daishonin, the eternal True Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. The Law is the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching, and the priesthood is Nikko Shonin, the Second High Priest, who directly received the transmission of true Buddhism, and all of the successive High Priests of Nichiren Shoshu who have received this face-to-face transmission in an unbroken succession for over 750 years.

In our daily Buddhist practice when we chant and do the sutra recitation, we burn three sticks of incense (but if too much smoke is produced we may use fewer). The three sticks of incense represent the Three Treasures – Treasure of the Buddha (Nichiren Daishonin), Treasure of the Law (Dai-Gohonzon), and the Treasure of the Priesthood (Nikko Shonin and the successive High Priests).

Visit our Buddhist Temple – Lecture on Karma

To learn about Buddhism, visit Myosenji Temple this Sunday, May 1st, for our next Introduction meeting. Our Chief Priest will give a brief lecture on Karma, a core concept in Buddhism.

  • Learn how to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and properly use the Juzu Beads, Buddhist prayer beads.
  • Q&A with our Chief Priest.
  • The meeting starts at 2:00 pm and concludes around 3:15 pm. Open to the public.

If you have decided to become a Buddhist or are interested in learning how to become a Buddhist, after Sunday’s meeting (about 3:30 pm) Rev Murata will be performing the Acceptance of the Precept Ceremony, the ceremony where you become a Buddhist. Contact the Temple if you have questions.

Excerpted: Nichiren Shoshu Basics of Practice book