During the lifetime of Nichiren Shonin in the 13th century, the people of Japan had far less contact with the wider world than we do today. Although medieval Japan was not completely isolated from other parts of Asia, regular contact with Europe did not begin until centuries later. Most people had little opportunity to encounter the variety of cultures, religions, and customs that we see around us today.
The modern United States is very different in this respect. People have come here from countries throughout the world, bringing their own languages, cultures, customs, and religions. When I first came to the United States, I attended an adult English school for a short time. My classmates came from various countries, and most of us spoke very little English. Perhaps for that reason, our teacher used simple words and many hand gestures to explain the idea of a “melting pot.” We learned that the United States was not a melting pot in which every difference simply disappeared. People did not have to give up their religion, customs, or culture and become exactly alike. The freedoms protected by the Constitution, particularly the First Amendment, allowed people to preserve their own traditions while living together under the same laws. Within such a diverse society, we must learn to respect one another and seek the common good.
When I first heard this explanation, it reminded me of the Buddhist teaching of ital dōshin, which can be translated as “different bodies, one mind”. Nichiren Shōnin explained this principle in a letter written to encourage his followers during a time of great difficulty and persecution. Every person is unique, with different appearances, personalities, abilities, experiences, and circumstances. There is no need to erase these differences or become exactly alike. We can still be united by a shared commitment and purpose. True unity does not mean uniformity. It means respecting each person’s individuality while working together to follow the Buddha’s teachings and promote the happiness of all beings.
Today, more than eight billion people live in this world. Each person has different causes and conditions that have shaped their life. If we think only of ourselves and insist only upon our own way, it will be difficult to create peace, no matter how much time passes. As long as greed, anger, ignorance, and selfishness govern our actions, conflict and suffering will continue, and we will remain caught in the cycle of transmigration through the six realms.
How, then, can we begin to create peace? Peace begins when we recognize that every person, no matter how different their life may be from ours, possesses Buddha nature. However, this Buddha nature can remain hidden or become clouded by ignorance, attachment, and selfish desires. Through our practice of the Lotus Sutra, we gradually polish our own Buddha nature while learning to recognize and respect the Buddha nature in others.
The Lotus Sutra and the Odaimoku unite us in our shared practice. We do not need to become the same to move together toward a common purpose. World peace may seem like a distant goal, but it begins with the causes and conditions we create each day. We create these causes by polishing our own Buddha nature through our practice and helping others reveal theirs. When we practice with the spirit of itai dōshin, our individual differences can become a source of strength rather than division.
Although we are different in body, I hope that we will remain united in spirit and work together for the peace and happiness of all beings.
Ven. Kenjo Igarashi
September / October 2026