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Abstract

sic inner states of being which we experience from moment to moment and that a human mind fluctuates 8 million times in 24 hours. The alterations in one’s life or state of mind are in other words infinite. These states of life are exhibited at varying levels in different individuals, <b>with one state being dominant in our lives.</b></p><p id="93ee">For example, a person who is generally calm and content is said to have a state of Tranquility as their dominant life condition. Whereas a person who is highly competitive, aggressive, and selfish exhibits the state of Hunger as their dominant life condition.</p><h2 id="b387">Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism explains these 10 life conditions as follows:</h2><h2 id="fa25">1. The State of Hell</h2><p id="afc2">In Buddhism, this is the state of extreme suffering. Individuals in this state are engulfed in agony, misery, and a sense of hopelessness. It’s the lowest life condition any human can experience. Driven by destructive impulses, those in this condition seek to destroy themselves and others. Their whole life seems to contract and become concentrated on the cause of their suffering and agony.</p><h2 id="789c">2. The State of Hunger</h2><p id="2f90">This hunger is not the same as hunger for food but rather the state of being overly consumed by insatiable desires. Individuals in this state are constantly yearning for more of everything in life. Like living in a bottomless pit of needs, never satisfied or grateful for what they have or achieved.</p><h2 id="83f6">3. The State of Animality</h2><p id="f2fc">The world of animality is one in which the individual is controlled by their basic instincts. Those dominated by this world lack rationality and are unable to distinguish between right and wrong — <i>good or evil</i>. They act on base impulses preoccupied with their immediate gains. Selfishness is the strong foundation of the individual trapped in this life state.</p><h2 id="6f42">4. The State of Anger</h2><p id="4fe3">Dominated by false ego, this state is characterized by a person’s constant urge to compare and compete with others around them. They exhibit a strong desire to feel superior to everyone else. Arrogance, conceit, contempt for others, and a powerful competitive urge are all aspects of the state of anger.</p><p id="317f">Buddhism explains that these 4 states of life; Hell, Animality, Hunger, and Anger are rife with suffering, fear, and insecurity and are collectively called the <b>four lower worlds</b>.</p><h2 id="4f65">5. The State of Humanity/Tranquility</h2><p id="2458">People in this life condition exhibit a humane and tranquil state of existence with themselves and others. These individuals are rational and can distinguish between right and wrong. But maintaining this life condition takes effort and they can be easily swayed to the lower states of life driven by negative influences in their immediate environment.</p><h2 id="7094">6. The State of Heaven/Rapture</h2><p id="75ec">Also called the state of rapture, this life condition is based on temporary happiness from achieving or fulfilling your immediate desires. Like the state of joy when you get your first job, a new car, or fall in love. The joy in this state is generally short-lived and solely dependent on the object of your desire. For example, the joy of getting a job can turn into a state of hell if you don’t get along with your boss. Similarly, the rapture of newly found love can turn into misery if the relationship turns toxic.</p><p id="8227">The 6 life conditions from Hell to Heaven are collectively called the <b>“Six Paths”</b>. Those who live dominated by these 6 worlds are trapped by the demands of their desires and the influence of their immediate external environment — <i>all of which are temporary</i>. <b>People who live in these six life states lead a passive existence witho

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ut experiencing any genuine personal freedom or long-lasting happiness.</b></p><p id="db6d">Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism teaches that living in these 6 lower worlds does not constitute the entirety of life and only when we try to improve our understanding of ourselves and the world at large, do we enter the <b>“Four Noble Paths”</b> defined below. Living in the four noble paths we start the process of developing our true potential as human beings — Also called <b>“Human Revolution.”</b></p><p id="6d40" type="7">“An inner change for the better in a single person is the essential first turn of the wheel in the process of making the human race stronger and wiser. This “human revolution” is, I believe, the most fundamental and most vital of all revolutions. This revolution — an inner process of self-reformation — is completely bloodless and peaceful. In it, everyone wins and there are no victims.” — Dr. Daisaku Ikeda</p><h1 id="963b">The Four Noble-Paths</h1><h2 id="6a16">7. The State of Learning</h2><p id="6efe">People residing in this state are well aware of the transitory nature of the phenomenon and do not get attached to the frivolities of life. They remain unattached to the outcomes of their actions and are in a constant state of understanding their environment and learning from it.</p><h2 id="ad64">8. The State of Realization</h2><p id="5df0">In this state, individuals are more concerned with self-actualization and attempt to relinquish their attachment to the temporary phenomena. They seek the higher truth in life and aim to sever their earthly desires from all impermanent things. Sages and monks who denounce their worldly life and possessions are examples of this life state.</p><h2 id="4274">9. The State of Boddhisattva</h2><p id="80f1">This state of life is characterized by the intense desire to seek enlightenment and to share the learnings with others in an altruistic way. The heart of the Boddhisattva aims to provide happiness and support others through their actions. Compassion is the foundation of this state of life coupled with the strong desire to mitigate the sufferings of others. Compassionate nurses and doctors are good examples of this state of life.</p><h2 id="c413">10. The State of Buddhahood/Enlightenment</h2><p id="c6f6">Buddha means “<i>awakened one</i>”. Such individuals exhibit profound compassion with a strong life force that accurately perceives the truth and lives in harmony with it. Buddhahood can also be described as the state of absolute happiness that cannot be destroyed by external events or circumstances. Complete freedom, wisdom, courage, and compassion are the defining qualities of this state of mind.</p><p id="8b5c">Interestingly, Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism explains that every human (Buddhist or not) exhibits these 10 life conditions, and each life condition has the other 9 conditions inherent in them. This concept is called the <b>mutual possession of the 10 life-states</b>. What this means is that even if our life is dominated by a lower life condition, it has the potential to rise to the higher life states since each lower state has the other 9 present in it. For example, a person in the state of hell also possesses the state of Buddhahood that can be evoked through prayer and action. This invocation can change a person's life of misery and suffering into profound joy and happiness.</p><p id="00dc">This mutual possession of the 10 life states also implies that by mastering these life conditions and making Buddhahood our dominant life condition humans can learn to control their ever-changing mind.</p><p id="ba3c"><b><i>“We ordinary people can see neither our eyelashes, which are so close nor the heavens in the distance. Likewise, we do not see that the Buddha exists in our hearts.” — Nichiren Daishonin, 13th-century Japanese sage.</i></b></p></article></body>

Buddhism Says Your Mind Fluctuates 8 Million Times Daily

From Hell to Buddhahood, we experience 10 life conditions every day.

You wake up in high spirits on a sunny Saturday morning, in anticipation of tonight’s much-awaited college friends' reunion. You smile at the thought of all the yesteryear reminiscing that will happen over dinner at your favorite restaurant. You can hardly wait.

As you get out of bed and head to the kitchen you suddenly remember the dreaded work project report due on Monday. The smile instantly converts to a frown.

Your boss expects a complete report and you haven’t even started. Jeez, another Sunday will be spent working.

Hungry for breakfast you open the refrigerator to find you’re out of milk. Yikes, you were supposed to go grocery shopping yesterday but forgot.

You glance at a stash of unopened mail on the kitchen counter — mostly bills. You reluctantly open the water bill and see it’s higher than any previous month. Darn the City Water Department, they keep raising the prices.

The next bill is your credit card statement. A whopping $2560 this month! How come? Then you remember the impromptu shopping spree where you bought some expensive clothes. Plus, the tab from last weekend’s concert and dinner wasn’t cheap either. But then you recall how uplifted you felt listening to your favorite jazz musician, that state of bliss was worth every penny.

The next letter is a ticket to attend a Health and Nutrition Seminar paid for by your company. The session is led by an award-winning Fitness and Mindfulness Guru. You’ve been wanting to learn mindfulness meditation for a while now. Just the thought of meditation puts your mind at ease. Suddenly the phone buzzes, it’s your college BFF, she’s boarding a plane to attend the reunion tonight. The sound of her cheery voice lifts you and you’re back to thinking about the reunion. You note her flight details and happily volunteer to pick her up from the airport.

In the narrative above, you’ve been through 10 life conditions in a matter of minutes — all in your mind.

The joy you experience thinking of the much-awaited reunion is called the state of Heaven. The dread of having to finish a tight work deadline puts you in a state of Hell. The hunger for breakfast is the life state of Animality. Feeling upset with the City Water Department puts you in a state of Anger. The high credit card bill from the impromptu shopping spree is the life condition of Hunger. The quick assessment that the credit card bill was high from your own actions is the state of Realization. The blissful reminiscence from listening to jazz music puts you in the state of Buddhahood. The thought of attending the health and nutrition seminar puts you in a state of Learning. The calmness from thinking about mindful meditation puts you in a state of Tranquility. When you volunteer to pick your friend up from the airport you’re transported to the state of Bodhisattva.

So, what are these 10 life-states or 10 worlds and why do we constantly fluctuate between them?

Buddhism teaches that every human being possesses ten basic inner states of being which we experience from moment to moment and that a human mind fluctuates 8 million times in 24 hours. The alterations in one’s life or state of mind are in other words infinite. These states of life are exhibited at varying levels in different individuals, with one state being dominant in our lives.

For example, a person who is generally calm and content is said to have a state of Tranquility as their dominant life condition. Whereas a person who is highly competitive, aggressive, and selfish exhibits the state of Hunger as their dominant life condition.

Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism explains these 10 life conditions as follows:

1. The State of Hell

In Buddhism, this is the state of extreme suffering. Individuals in this state are engulfed in agony, misery, and a sense of hopelessness. It’s the lowest life condition any human can experience. Driven by destructive impulses, those in this condition seek to destroy themselves and others. Their whole life seems to contract and become concentrated on the cause of their suffering and agony.

2. The State of Hunger

This hunger is not the same as hunger for food but rather the state of being overly consumed by insatiable desires. Individuals in this state are constantly yearning for more of everything in life. Like living in a bottomless pit of needs, never satisfied or grateful for what they have or achieved.

3. The State of Animality

The world of animality is one in which the individual is controlled by their basic instincts. Those dominated by this world lack rationality and are unable to distinguish between right and wrong — good or evil. They act on base impulses preoccupied with their immediate gains. Selfishness is the strong foundation of the individual trapped in this life state.

4. The State of Anger

Dominated by false ego, this state is characterized by a person’s constant urge to compare and compete with others around them. They exhibit a strong desire to feel superior to everyone else. Arrogance, conceit, contempt for others, and a powerful competitive urge are all aspects of the state of anger.

Buddhism explains that these 4 states of life; Hell, Animality, Hunger, and Anger are rife with suffering, fear, and insecurity and are collectively called the four lower worlds.

5. The State of Humanity/Tranquility

People in this life condition exhibit a humane and tranquil state of existence with themselves and others. These individuals are rational and can distinguish between right and wrong. But maintaining this life condition takes effort and they can be easily swayed to the lower states of life driven by negative influences in their immediate environment.

6. The State of Heaven/Rapture

Also called the state of rapture, this life condition is based on temporary happiness from achieving or fulfilling your immediate desires. Like the state of joy when you get your first job, a new car, or fall in love. The joy in this state is generally short-lived and solely dependent on the object of your desire. For example, the joy of getting a job can turn into a state of hell if you don’t get along with your boss. Similarly, the rapture of newly found love can turn into misery if the relationship turns toxic.

The 6 life conditions from Hell to Heaven are collectively called the “Six Paths”. Those who live dominated by these 6 worlds are trapped by the demands of their desires and the influence of their immediate external environment — all of which are temporary. People who live in these six life states lead a passive existence without experiencing any genuine personal freedom or long-lasting happiness.

Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism teaches that living in these 6 lower worlds does not constitute the entirety of life and only when we try to improve our understanding of ourselves and the world at large, do we enter the “Four Noble Paths” defined below. Living in the four noble paths we start the process of developing our true potential as human beings — Also called “Human Revolution.”

“An inner change for the better in a single person is the essential first turn of the wheel in the process of making the human race stronger and wiser. This “human revolution” is, I believe, the most fundamental and most vital of all revolutions. This revolution — an inner process of self-reformation — is completely bloodless and peaceful. In it, everyone wins and there are no victims.” — Dr. Daisaku Ikeda

The Four Noble-Paths

7. The State of Learning

People residing in this state are well aware of the transitory nature of the phenomenon and do not get attached to the frivolities of life. They remain unattached to the outcomes of their actions and are in a constant state of understanding their environment and learning from it.

8. The State of Realization

In this state, individuals are more concerned with self-actualization and attempt to relinquish their attachment to the temporary phenomena. They seek the higher truth in life and aim to sever their earthly desires from all impermanent things. Sages and monks who denounce their worldly life and possessions are examples of this life state.

9. The State of Boddhisattva

This state of life is characterized by the intense desire to seek enlightenment and to share the learnings with others in an altruistic way. The heart of the Boddhisattva aims to provide happiness and support others through their actions. Compassion is the foundation of this state of life coupled with the strong desire to mitigate the sufferings of others. Compassionate nurses and doctors are good examples of this state of life.

10. The State of Buddhahood/Enlightenment

Buddha means “awakened one”. Such individuals exhibit profound compassion with a strong life force that accurately perceives the truth and lives in harmony with it. Buddhahood can also be described as the state of absolute happiness that cannot be destroyed by external events or circumstances. Complete freedom, wisdom, courage, and compassion are the defining qualities of this state of mind.

Interestingly, Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism explains that every human (Buddhist or not) exhibits these 10 life conditions, and each life condition has the other 9 conditions inherent in them. This concept is called the mutual possession of the 10 life-states. What this means is that even if our life is dominated by a lower life condition, it has the potential to rise to the higher life states since each lower state has the other 9 present in it. For example, a person in the state of hell also possesses the state of Buddhahood that can be evoked through prayer and action. This invocation can change a person's life of misery and suffering into profound joy and happiness.

This mutual possession of the 10 life states also implies that by mastering these life conditions and making Buddhahood our dominant life condition humans can learn to control their ever-changing mind.

“We ordinary people can see neither our eyelashes, which are so close nor the heavens in the distance. Likewise, we do not see that the Buddha exists in our hearts.” — Nichiren Daishonin, 13th-century Japanese sage.