The highest offering to the Buddha

THE HIGHEST offering to the Buddha is not to worship

     something reminiscent of the Buddha. Rather,

it is to inherent the Buddha's spirit. In other words, the

highest offering lies in struggling to manifest, as one's

own way of life, even a part of the spirit of the Buddha,

who upheld the philosophy that everyone is a Buddha

and tirelessly strove to save all from suffering.

Buddhism Day by Day, p. 297

-Daisaku Ikeda

The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood

Is not the meaning of the sutra and the commentary that the way to Buddhahood lies within the two elements of reality and wisdom? Reality means the true nature of all phenomena, and wisdom means the illuminating and manifesting of this true nature. Thus when the riverbed of reality is infinitely broad and deep, the water of wisdom will flow ceaselessly. When this reality and wisdom are fused, one attains Buddhahood in one's present form.

The sutras expounded prior to the Lotus Sutra cannot lead to Buddhahood because they are provisional and expedient teachings that separate reality and wisdom. The Lotus Sutra, however, unites the two as a single entity. The sutra says that the Buddhas open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings, show it, cause them to awaken to it, and induce them to enter its path. By realizing this Buddha wisdom, one attains Buddhahood.

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - Page 746