In the Nichiren Tradition (SGI, etc), what happens after you die?

matthewmartin

This came up at my book club and I wasn't sure what the answer is.

Do you come back as a human, come back as some being in one of the 6 realms, go to one of the Pure Lands, hit the jackpot and attain parinirvana or what?

Chaz

Does a tradition have any real bearing on rebirth? I know some pure land traditions claim adherents take rebirth in a pure land, but I dunno. I've always thought that rebirth condition was due to karma.

Jeffrey

Tibetan traditions (some) also believe in pureland @Chaz

Bodhisattvas create purelands on earth that sentient beings can pick up the vibes and help draw them to the dharma. And then there are also purelands after death.

My lama has us recite the samantabhadracharya (which is the end of the avatamsaka) sutra as a way to make karma to practice the dharma wherever we are reborn. A pureland is all about being a place to practice dharma.

Chaz

Jeffrey said:

Tibetan traditions (some) also believe in pureland @Chaz

Quite right, but in my practice lineage Amithabha pureland practices are usually associated with funerary rites. Yes, there are Amithaba sadhanas for regular practice and Chenrezig practice makes repeated references to Dewachen, etc. Guru Rinpoche practices refer to his pureland, too.

However the focus of Tibetan pure land thinking is quite different from Nichiren thought.

A pureland is all about being a place to practice dharma.

Yes.

Sukhavati is said to be the place to take birth in order to complete the Paths and Bhumis.

Takuan

This might help.

matthewmartin

I think I tracked down a plausible answer-- enlightenment upon death for those who successfully followed the path, rebirth (reincarnation-lite) for those who didn't. The 10 worlds, hells & pure lands are seen as metaphors for states of mind.

ref: http://www.sokahumanism.com/nichiren-buddhism/Amida_and_SGI_Buddhism.html

http://www.sokahumanism.com/nichiren-buddhism/Differences_between_Rebirth_and_Reincarnation.html