The principle that one can experience the effects of bad karma from the past to a lesser degree because of Buddhist faith and practice. In general, Buddhism attributes one’s present sufferings to one’s past actions or causes that remain in one’s life as karma, asserting that one must suffer the effect of every negative cause made in the past.

1. “Lessening Karmic
Retribution”

2. Explaination of the Principle
• The principle that one can experience the
effects of bad karma from the past to a
lesser degree because of Buddhist faith
and practice.
• In general, Buddhism attributes one’s
present sufferings to one’s past actions or
causes that remain in one’s life as karma,
asserting that one must suffer the effect of
every negative cause made in the past.

3. • The Nirvana Sutra, states that, “It is due to the
blessings obtained by protecting the Law that
they can diminish in this lifetime their suffering
and retribution.”
• This passage suggests that, due to the benefits
accumulated through faith and practice, one can
diminish in terms of both time and intensity
negative karmic retribution that would otherwise
torment one harshly over a longer period, even
several lifetimes.

4. Great Hardships Lead to the
Attainment of Buddhahood
• Encountering
great hardship (not
punishment) for the
sake of the Lotus
Sutra is the path
that leads directly
to attaining
Buddhahood

5. The Significance of Hardships
• First, Nichiren Daishonin presents the principle
of lessening one’s karmic retribution.
• Second, he cites examples from the past to
clarify that those who spread the correct
teaching of Buddhism will inevitably experience
persecution.
• Third, he cites various sutra passages to
indicate that his having come under harsh attack
for propagating the Law signifies that he has
read and lived the Lotus Sutra.

6. The Significance of Hardships
• There is no such thing as a life free of
hardships. . . Unless we are aware of our inner
strength to withstand hardships, we will find one
difficulty giving rise to another, and we will
ultimately be crushed by their weight . . .
• It is of utmost importance to teach people in the
Latter Day of the Law about their inner power to
triumph over suffering.
• This is the teaching of Nichiren Buddhism. (LB, p.
73)

7. Lessening One’s Karmic Retribution Equals
Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
• A person could expiate
even the heaviest negative
karma from past lifetimes
through receiving retribution
in a lighter form in this
present existence.

8. Lessening One’s Karmic Retribution
Equals Attaining Buddhahood in This
Lifetime
• The first point is in regard
to Nichiren’s declaration
that the suffering of hell
will vanish instantly.
• The second point is that
lessening karmic
retribution is also the
gateway to attaining
Buddhahood in this
lifetime.

9. The Benefit of the Purification of the
Six Sense Organs
• Despite being abused and vilified,
Bodhisattva Never Disparaging
ceaselessly tried to convey the
fundamental tenet of the Lotus Sutra. As a
result, he received the benefit of purifying
of the six senses.

10. The Benefit of Protectingthe Law
• In an evil age, the practice of shakubuku
serves to protect the law clarifying the
correct teaching of Buddhism.
• Shakubuku is the driving force for
lessening karmic retribution and
transforming karma.

11. Action is the Direct Path to
Changing Our Karma
• In Nichiren
Buddhism, action
is of key
importance.
Nichiren selflessly
strove to open the
path to
Buddhahood for all
people.