Ichinen

"One's ichinen when chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo permeates the entire universe. It can move anything." ~ SGI President Ikeda


The word “ichinen’ (determination) is used frequently and loosely in many different ways in our conversations.

Theoretical explanation of its meaning can take many forms but to really understand and develop a strong ichinen in our practice of Buddhism to attain human revolution can be very difficult. It requires strong faith in the Gohonzon and consistent efforts at practice and study in the development of a strong ichinen to accomplish human revolution.


What is Ichinen?

‘Nen’ of Ichinen means to think.

In our day to day activities, innumerable thoughts spring into our minds. And a thought at one moment will disappear back into the depths of our consciousness in the next moment. Some thoughts come to the surface of the mind again and again, while others continually remain dormant in the depths of the unconscious.

A thought at any moment that orients your life to somewhere or something in one way or another is called Ichinen.

When we use the term outside of faith, it customarily denotes a strong inclination or wish. In this sense, ichi (literally one) means one among many.

In our Buddhist philosophy, however, ichi has another meaning. That is, not one among many, but one that includes all the aspects of life of one’s whole being. In this sense, this Ichinen means one’s whole-hearted belief and devotion to Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Timewise, Ichinen ranges from the infinite past to the infinite future, and spacewise, throughout the whole universe. Therefore, all of our activities can work powerfully to bring happiness to others and ourselves at the same time.

Strictly speaking, the concept of Ichinen could not possibly be explained in a short time, since it deals with an expression of the ultimate reality of life. Likewise, Ichinen as a term expresses our life at any given moment yet simultaneously possessing the potential for all 3,000 possible states of existence.

One's Ichinen and its Environment

The Gosho , On Attaining Buddhahood, states, "... if the minds of people are impure, their land is also impure; but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are no two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil or our minds."

This passage teaches that happiness or unhappiness in the final analysis lies within the mind, or Ichinen, in the depths of one’s life. In other words, it is this Ichinen in the innermost depths of one’s life that determines one’s happiness or unhappiness and further, even changes the environment.

Viewed from a deeper perspective based on Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, the ultimate power which brings about change to everything on earth exists in the Ichinen you develop by chanting daimoku to the Gohonzon, you can establish your Ichinen in the state of Buddhahood.

No matter what circumstances you may be in, it is your immovable Ichinen that enables you to open the internal palace of happiness and establish lives which are fulfilled in every respect. This is the purpose of faith and practice, and nothing else. The strong Ichinen towards the Gohonzon and the realization of kosen-rufu is the ultimate driving force to change everything in this world.

SGI President Ikeda in his guidance said,” I am aware that you are striving to practice under very difficult circumstances. But if you have any thoughts which attribute the cause of your difficulties to your environment, that is, to your country, and if you want to live in another place, thinking this country is good and that country is bad, it is a reflection of your unstable Ichinen.

It is like chasing after a dream. When you are truly determined that the place where you are now in is the place where you will practice true Buddhism, then you will see the ‘environment’ change into an ‘eternal enlighted land’.

While you are dedicating yourselves to activities towards kosen-rufu based on your faith, you can elevate your life-condition, and when this happens, you can expand the realm of your Ichinen limitlessly, accumulating abundant good fortune. In this way, you will be able to establish the correct path towards absolute happiness which defies any negative influences in the environment.”

Ichinen and Daily Practice

When Ichinen is used in reference to our daily practice, it has to do with what we are trying to accomplish and our attitude towards the Gohonzon. It also involves the strength of our desire and sincere prayer to the Gohonzon.

In the Gosho, Persecution by Sword and Staff, states that one should seek Gohonzon, “… as you crave food when hungry, seek water when thirsty, beg for medicine when ill…”

When we are hungry, the only thing we really concentrate on which holds our attention is food. It is a strong desire which must be satisfied.

Similarly, to develop this “hunger” or seek mind towards the Gohozon, is part of the development of our Ichinen. The more we polish the tarnished mirror of our life, the more we will be able to see and understand our life. This is a process of ten, fifteen to twenty years of practice. We need not worry – there are definitely times when we may not reach the intensity of Ichinen that we desire in a short period of time. Consistency is the key to developing a truly strong Ichinen.