Ten suchnesses
Encyclopedia
The Ten suchnesses are a Mahayana
doctrine which is important, as well as unique, to that of the Tiantai
(Tendai
) and Nichiren
Buddhist schools of thought. The doctrine is derived from a passage found within the second chapter of the Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra
, and is also known as the ten reality aspects, ten factors of life, or the Reality of all Existence.
to establish the doctrine of the "three thousand [worlds] in one thought." Nichiren
regarded the doctrine of "three thousand [worlds] in one thought" (ichinen-sanzen) as the very essence of the Buddha
's teachings. He wrote in his work Kaimoku-shō (Essay on the Eye-opener) concerning ichinen-sanzen:
The principle of the Reality of All Existence not only analyzes what modern science would analyze in physical substances to the extent of subatomic particles, but also extends to mental states. Accordingly, everyone's mind has existing within it the ten realms of existence
which are said to be found within one another. The suchnesses reveal the deepest reality inherent within all things, and, consequently, innumerable embodied substances existing in the universe are interrelated with all things.
The doctrine consists of ten words that are preceded by the words "such a" or "such an":
The suchnesses, one through nine, operate according to the law of the universal truth
, namely from the "complete fundamental whole" under which no one, no thing, and no function can depart. All things, including man, along with their relations with everything else are formed from the Reality of All Existence that is the Ten Suchnesses.
The above three suchnesses describe the reality of life itself. The next six suchnesses, from the fourth through the ninth, explain the functions and workings of life.
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
doctrine which is important, as well as unique, to that of the Tiantai
Tiantai
Tiantai is an important school of Buddhism in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. In Japan the school is known as Tendai, and in Korea it is known as Cheontae. Tiantai is also called the "Lotus School", due to its emphasis on the Lotus Sūtra as its doctrinal basis...
(Tendai
Tendai
is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :...
) and Nichiren
Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century Japanese monk Nichiren...
Buddhist schools of thought. The doctrine is derived from a passage found within the second chapter of the Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra
Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
, and is also known as the ten reality aspects, ten factors of life, or the Reality of all Existence.
Overview
The ten suchnesses, or categories, are what led the sixth century Chinese Buddhist philosopher ZhiyiZhiyi
Zhiyi is traditionally listed as the fourth patriarch, but is generally considered the founder of the Tiantai tradition of Buddhism in China. His standard title was Śramaṇa Zhiyi , linking him to the broad tradition of Indian asceticism...
to establish the doctrine of the "three thousand [worlds] in one thought." Nichiren
Nichiren
Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching...
regarded the doctrine of "three thousand [worlds] in one thought" (ichinen-sanzen) as the very essence of the Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
's teachings. He wrote in his work Kaimoku-shō (Essay on the Eye-opener) concerning ichinen-sanzen:
- The very doctrine of the Three Thousand Realms in One Mind of the Tendai sect appears to be the way to lead man to buddhahoodBuddhahoodIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
.
The principle of the Reality of All Existence not only analyzes what modern science would analyze in physical substances to the extent of subatomic particles, but also extends to mental states. Accordingly, everyone's mind has existing within it the ten realms of existence
Ten spiritual realms
The ten spiritual realms are part of the belief of some forms of Buddhism that there are ten conditions of life which sentient beings are subject to, and which they experience from moment to moment....
which are said to be found within one another. The suchnesses reveal the deepest reality inherent within all things, and, consequently, innumerable embodied substances existing in the universe are interrelated with all things.
The doctrine consists of ten words that are preceded by the words "such a" or "such an":
- Such a Form (phenomenon)
- Such a Nature (character)
- Such an Embodiment (entity)
- Such a Potency (ability)
- Such a Function (activity)
- Such a Primary Cause (direct cause)
- Such a Secondary Cause (occasion or condition)
- Such an Effect (result)
- Such a Recompense (reward or retribution)
- Such a Complete Fundamental Whole
The suchnesses, one through nine, operate according to the law of the universal truth
Dharma (Buddhism)
Dhamma or Dharma in Buddhism can have the following meanings:* The state of Nature as it is * The Laws of Nature considered collectively....
, namely from the "complete fundamental whole" under which no one, no thing, and no function can depart. All things, including man, along with their relations with everything else are formed from the Reality of All Existence that is the Ten Suchnesses.
Definitions
The following definitions are given by and describe what each suchness means in more detail:- Appearance (Form): the attributes of everything that is discernible, such as color, shape, or behavior.
- Nature (Nature): the inherent disposition or quality of a person or thing that cannot be discerned from the outward appearance.
- Entity (Embodiment): the substance of life that permeates as well as integrates both appearance and nature.
The above three suchnesses describe the reality of life itself. The next six suchnesses, from the fourth through the ninth, explain the functions and workings of life.
- Power (Potency): life's potential energy.
- Influence (Function): the activity produced when life's inherent power or potential energy is activated.
- Internal cause (Primary Cause): the potential cause in life that produces an effect of the same quality as itself, i.e., good, evil, or neutral.
- Relation (Secondary Cause): the relationship of secondary, indirect causes to the internal cause. Secondary causes are various conditions, both internal and external, that help the internal cause produce an effect.
- Latent effect (Effect): the dormant effect produced in life when an internal cause is activated through its related conditions.
- Manifest effect (Recompense): the tangible, perceivable effect that emerges in time as an expression of a dormant effect and therefore of a potential cause, again through its related conditions.
- Consistency from beginning to end (Complete Fundamental Whole): the unifying factor among the ten suchnesses. It indicates that all of the other nine suchnesses from Appearance to Manifest Effect are consistently interrelated. All nine suchnesses thus harmoniously express the same condition of existence at any given moment.