lotus of the entity ［当体蓮華］ ( tōtai-renge): A reference in the T’ien-t’ai doctrine to the lotus that is the essence of the Lotus Sutra and also the people who are entities of, or who embody, this essence. Nichiren (1222–1282) described this essence as Myoho-renge-kyo, or Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. He states in The Entity of the Mystic Law: “The supreme principle [that is the Mystic Law] was originally without a name. When the sage was observing the principle and assigning names to all things, he perceived that there is this wonderful single Law [myōhō] that simultaneously possesses both cause and effect [renge], and he named it Myoho-renge” (421). The term lotus of the entity is contrasted with the figurative lotus, or the lotus as a metaphor for the Law. Since the lotus of the entity, or lotus of the Law that simultaneously possesses both cause and effect, is difficult to understand, the lotus plant, which blooms and produces fruit at the same time, is employed as a metaphor. See also renge.