Beyond all pairs of opposites . . .

  Beyond all pairs of opposites and all dichotomous thinking, one realizes the truth because one becomes it. Self-motivation is the key—the intent to weld a liberating spiritual endeavor into one’s daily life; the desire to learn, reach a state of self-attained enligh­tenment leading to the greatest gift of all, living in a state of universal benevolence and compas­sion; living in the same world as those great Bodhisattvas who “rise up from the earth” in the Lotus Sutra.

  The true life and soul of the Buddha’s teachings is knowing wholeheartedly all sentient beings have the buddha-nature (or enlightened nature) innately. To become aware of one’s own enlightened nature, bringing it to light from the depths of the mind, nurturing it and devel­oping it vigorously, sponta­neously realizing others possess it equally, is to “go beyond all pairs of opposites.”

  “What is the final, profound truth? It is finding the infinite life of humankind within the eternal life-force of the universe. The true nature of humankind, in its union with the eternal life-force of the universe which causes us to live, is called the “buddha” or enlightened nature. The Buddha in the Lotus Sutra teaches that all beings possess the buddha-nature (or potential for enligh­tenment) equally and that we should respect this potential in one another and encourage one another to develop and fulfill this potential. The noblest form of practicing the teachings of the Buddha is the way of bodhi­sattvas who devote themselves to attaining enlightenment not only for them­selves, but for all sentient beings.” – Nikkyo Niwano (edited)

  Identifying one’s self as a “Buddhist” is not required if one practices the teachings of the Buddha, as it suggests “different than—other than.” The Buddha’s teachings inform all enlightened think­ing, and all enlight­ened thinking resonates with the teachings of the Buddha, beyond all pairs of opposites and dichotomous thinking.