Honmon Butsuryu Shu (HBS) means Buddhist Religion of the Primordial Path of the Lotus Sutra established by the Primordial Buddha, more commonly as Primordial Buddhism.
The Primordial Buddha (Kuon no Honbutsu) has neither beginning nor end. He is the sole divinity that governs the cosmos. He is the single Truth that encompasses all phenomena and the reality of all things. His existence is revealed in the First Eight Chapters of the Primordial Path of the Lotus Sutra (Honmon Happon) through the physical body of Shakyamuni Buddha. These chapters deal with the existence and identity of the Primordial Buddha and, above all, convey his teachings, which aim to lead us to enlightenment and the extinction of suffering.
The chanting walk holding Primordial Gohonzon
The Primordial Buddha is eternally preaching the Lotus Sutra to benefit and save beings in this age of degeneration. Therefore, we can say that, through his compassion and presence, the Buddha transmits to us the essence of his teachings — NAMUMYOUHOURENGUEKYOU — and makes us the most privileged beings of all.
Shakyamuni Buddha left approximately 84,000 teachings. However, in the last eight years before his passing, he revealed that all the teachings preached until then were provisional — a kind of preparation for the ultimate teaching, the Lotus Sutra. As it is stated, “Among the sutras, this is the Sovereign King.”
According to the teachings of Great Master Nissen Shounin, Honmon Butsuryu Shu aims to transmit the doctrine of the compassion of the Primordial Buddha — the true essence of the Lotus Sutra — bringing complete happiness to all beings, regardless of any differences or circumstances that may exist. In this spirit, Great Master Nissen Shounin established the religion on January 12, 1857.
We live in a turbulent time. Although sad events occur everywhere in the world, it is our responsibility to make this world either a paradise or a hell. For this reason, Honmon Butsuryu Shu does not aim only at one’s own happiness.
It primarily seeks to bring joy to the people around us through the practice of the Odaimoku (recitation of the Sacred Chant) and dedication to others, thus attaining the enlightened state of a Buddha through the altruistic actions of a bossatsu (from the Sanskrit bodhisattva).
Currently, there are approximately 270 Honmon Butsuryu Shu temples in Japan. Expansion abroad began in the 20th century. Today there are temples and followers in South Korea, Taiwan, the United States of America, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, Australia, Italy, the Philippines, Singapore, India, and Nepal.