Fusion of Reality and Wisdom

Question: What is the meaning of the concept of Fusion of Reality and Wisdom?
Answer: The concept of Fusion and Reality is a philosophical concept in Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin and has its roots in the “Treasure Tower” chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Its fundamental point is to teach us how praying to the Gohonzon with faith enables us to tap the unlimited potential inherent within in our lives and manifest it in our daily lives.

Let us try to understand this through a simple example first. The human capacity to create value in daily life depends on interaction between and object and subject. For example, when a musician plays his instrument he is able to produce music.

Here the instrument represents the object or reality and the musician’s ability to play it represents subject or wisdom. The act of playing the instrument represents the fusion of this objective reality and subjective wisdom, and the result of this fusion is fine music.
Separated from each other the musician and the instrument can do nothing. Only when this fusion of the object and the subject takes place, something of value is created.

Question: How does this example relate to our Buddhist practice of chanting Nam MyoHo Renge Kyo to the Gohonzon?
Answer: This example of musician and his instrument is one of the many such interactions that happen in daily life. But one must remember that the value that is created in any such single interaction is very limited. For example, if the same musician is asked to fly an airplane he would feel challenged. Similarly if the same musical instrument is given to you and me no music would probably be produced. So it is clear that the extent to which value is created or human wisdom is drawn out depends on what object is relating to which subject.

In terms of Buddhism, the objective reality is represented by the Buddha Nature that is inherent in our lives and Faith in the Gohonzon corresponds to subjective wisdom. Praying to the Gohonzon with faith represents the fusion of this reality and wisdom.

Question: Can you explain that further? How does prayer to the Gohonzon work?
Answer: Sensei says, “When we pray to the Gohonzon, the fusion of reality and wisdom is at work. The objective reality of the Gohonzon and the wisdom of our minds are fused at the deepest level. Prayer in other words, constitutes the ultimate Law of the universe and our minds. When we synchronize the microcosm of our own lives with the macrocosm of the life of the universe, we can tap unlimited power to overcome any problem.”

Question: Why is the Gohonzon called the entity of this fusion of reality and wisdom?
Answer: It was in order to show the full, limitless potential of human life that Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Gohonzon. The Gohonzon can be described as the objective reality of Buddhahood or the external reality that encompasses all power of the universe. The Daishonin inscribed, in an objective form, the Buddhahood that he realized from within his own life and which he knew to be inherent in all life. As the musical instrument brings out a musician’s creative ability, the Gohonzon brings out the universal wisdom which is often untapped within human life. This is why the Gohonzon is called the entity of this fusion of reality and wisdom.

Question: How do we make this fusion happen in our lives?
Answer: When we chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo with deep faith, we fuse our lives with the Gohonzon and are able to manifest our Buddha nature. The important thing to remember is that this fusion happens within our own lives. Sincere prayer to the Gohonzon is the fundamental which makes this fusion happen and brings out our highest potential.