Based on reading of the Lotus Sutra, the sixth-century Chinese Buddhist T'ien-t'ai developed a system that classifies human experience into ten states or "worlds." This Ten Worlds teaching was adopted and elaborated by Nichiren, who stressed the inner, subjective nature of these worlds, saying, "As to the question of where exactly Hell and the Buddha exist, one sutra reads that Hell exists underground and another sutra says that the Buddha is in the west. However, closer examination reveals that both exist in our five-foot body."
I am intimately familiar with Hell, the lowest of these ten conditions, having spent much of my youth there. It is characterized by misery, suffering, grief and destructive rage or depression. I'm grateful to have been able to chant to turn these experiences into life lessons that I can share with others.
Another lower life condition, hunger, is the experience of being dominated by one's desires or cravings, both physical and mental. I have found this to be a tough world to challenge. I have always craved a life free of physical and emotional pain. Of course, there is no way to be alive and never experience illness, fear or sadness. Now they have much less sway over my life than before.
Animality is an instinctive behavior lacking in reason. It can manifest as a fear of those who seem stronger and bullying of those who seem weaker. The more I chant and study, the less affected I am by other people's negative behavior. Practicing in the SGI has also helped me to learn how to have compassion for others who are different than me.
When my wife and I were first married in 1969, I had a fair amount of frustration and anger, the world of self-centeredness and ego. I once threw a chair into a wall and put my fist through the windshield of our car. Not my finest moments. But this frustration, mostly with myself, motivated me to keep practicing to the point where I rarely lose my temper (a great benefit for my wife).
Tranquility or humanity is characterized as constant inactivity, laziness, or passivity. I have too much energy to spend significant time in this condition. However, one of the results of my years of chanting has been an increased ability to enjoy the simple relaxing things in life without the need to always be busy.
Rapture, or Heaven, is a short-term gratification when one's desires have been achieved. Being a human, I really enjoy my visits to this world of conspicuous benefits! Unfortunately, it is not lasting and can quickly revert to one of the lower conditions of life.
I love learning about our Buddhism and how it relates to other fields of knowledge, a higher condition characterized by a thirst to learn about life and oneself from others and from existing knowledge. I recently became aware that because I had chanted for many years, I subconsciously thought my opinions about Buddhism were more valid than someone newer to the practice. I'm so glad I have rediscovered the importance of humility and that everyone has something to teach me if I am just willing to listen.
Realization is the insight about life gained from our own observations and experiences. Fortunately, I now more quickly chant for wisdom and clarity than just relying on my intellect and emotions when I am faced with a challenge.
One of the major advantages of having a mentor like Daisaku Ikeda is to be reminded of the behavior and the benefit of being in the ninth world of Bodhisattva. I am so encouraged by the actions of the many people around me who continue to do everything in their power to help others even in a world filled with violence and distrust.
A Buddha is an ordinary person awakened to the true nature of life and who experiences absolute happiness and freedom within the realities of daily life. This brings us to a key aspect of Nichiren's understanding of the Ten Conditions or Worlds. The tenth world of Buddhahood exists as a potential within the lives of every human being. And each world contains within it the other nine. In other words, we all experience and live in the ten worlds.
Someone may reside in a hellish place, like prison, but experience the compassion of the world of Bodhisattva. When my wife first got MS in 1996 and was paralyzed from the waist down, we felt like our lives had been transformed into hell. However, with our Buddhist practice and the support of our fellow members, friends and family, we were able to also experience tremendous love, joy, compassion and, ultimately, many great victories including her being able to walk again.
The world we are currently experiencing doesn't have to define us. Because through chanting we can manifest our Buddha nature within that condition. The choice is ours!