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A great general who has won numerous battles may eventually be defeated unless he develops his conviction and philosophy through participation in each battle, thereby training his spirit.
IN making a phone call, if you mis-dial just one number, your call will not go through as desired. If even a single wire is misplaced in a sophisticated machine, it will fail to operate. How much more true is this in our practice of Buddhism. Unless a person embraces the correct Law, maintain correct faith, carries out a correct practice, he will eventually lead many astray. This is an extremely serious offence, and those who follow such a leader are to be pitied.
PEOPLE who devote themselves to kosen-rufu have busy lives. They may encounter greater hardships and work harder than others. But they live a life that is ten times, a hundred times more valuable than they can even imagine.
WE must build a society that has more than its short-term profit as a goal. To do that, the first step is to respect ourselves and to live with dignity, self-confidence and pride. Such a person can then treat others with respect.
THOSE whose lives are founded on an unshakeable philosophy will never be misled by the absurdity perpetrated by the powerful or swayed by superficial trends. We must therefore live out our lives with wisdom and strength, forever in accord with the laws of the universe.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
A truly wealthy person is one who possesses something eternal. Only the Mystic Law is eternal and unchanging; it is by faith alone that we make this treasure our own.
ALL people are equal. There are absolutely no discriminations of superior and inferior among human beings. Differences of positions in an organization are provisional and temporary. They are no more than an expedient means for enabling all members to practice joyfully and become truly happy.
OUR present life is short. But our lives themselves are everlasting. Through our struggles in this short present existence, we can accumulate eternal blessings and benefits. That is why we must not permit ourselves any regret in our struggles for the Law in this lifetime.
HOW can we develop a more generous and expansive state of life? By broadening our sphere of interpersonal relations and our circle of friends. It is vital, therefore, that we work hard to form really strong connections with others. We must maintain lose ties both with members and with the people in his or her community or workplace.
IN life, struggles and challenges lead to growth; they add zest to life. When we stop challenging ourselves, we stop growing. Stagnation sets in. Life feels empty and meaningless. Those who engage in activities for kosen-rufu are positive and filled with life.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
THE real world is harsh. The number of envious, prejudiced, cold-hearted and selfish people will no doubt increase. In society, you may encounter people you do not like and you may well have to work under bosses you find it hard to get along with. That is why the three qualities of integrity, perseverance and hope are so important. No one is a match for the person who possesses these qualities.
NICHIREN DAISHONIN said, “One should regard meeting obstacles as true peace and comfort.” (Gosho Zenshu, p 750) The important thing is to challenge trials and confront hardships head-on and to overcome them one by one. This is the true path of human beings. It is the path of Buddhism and the path of victors. Having the strength to surmount all obstacles constitutes true peace and comfort.
A disciple is one who cherishes the same goal, same conviction, and makes the same effort, as his mentor. And that is how he achieves the same state as his mentor. This way of mentor and disciple is the core of Buddhism and the eternal, royal road to human development.
ONE of the Fourteen Slanders mentioned in the Gosho is that of shallow, self-satisfied understanding. This does not merely mean possessing shallow knowledge; it indicates the condition of those who have lost their seeking mind and ceased to make efforts to deepen their understanding. This signifies backsliding in faith.
CRITICISING fellow members is just like steering your life from sunshine into darkness.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
A philosopher once said that a person who would conquer the world must first conquer his own personal sorrows. I fond of saying this. It is very important for you to establish a solid understanding of the world and of history. Without this, you cannot succeed on the world stage.
JOY can quickly give way to suffering. Joy is short and suffering long. Also, what passes for joy in society is superficial. It cannot be compared with the joy deriving from the Mystic Law, which, as Nichiren Daishonin said, is the “greatest of all joys” (Gosho Zenshu, p788). The key, then, lies in cultivating a state of mind where we can declare without reservation that life itself is a joy. This is the purpose of our Buddhist practice.
THE concept of perceiving oneself as a Buddha does not mean that one can attain Buddhahood by merely thinking about it. We must bring forth the power, vitality, wisdom, benefit and blessings that spring from our inherent Buddhahood and actually see and feel them at work in our lives. The power of our faith and practice holds the key to achieving this.
WITHOUT personal growth, a leader loses his appeal. Not only are the juniors of such a person affected, but he will himself arrive at an impasse. People will not follow him, and as a result, he will try to control them by weight of authority. Such arrogance, however, can only drive people even father away. It is a vicious cycle.
LET us become cheerful and warm-hearted leaders who can develop the members’ faith on a fundamental level. We should not be concerned with winning popularity or allow ourselves to lapse into formalism and authoritarianism.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
WE are Buddhist, but we are also ordinary citizens and members of society. So, we strive to be excellent citizens who contribute to society more than others. However, as Buddhists, our most fundamental understanding should be that we are followers of the Boddhisattvas of the Earth. As such, we should dedicate ourselves on our spare time to kosen-rufu activities and to the propagation of true Buddhism, in order to realize peace and for the sake of the people. The important thing is to have a deep sense of mission.
ARMED only with sincerity, not relying upon wither authority or economic strength, I have stood in the midst of all kinds of difficulties, taking the lead of millions of people. I have done this solely out of my faithful vow to my mentor that I would devote my whole life to protecting members and leading them to happiness. Fulfilling that vow has been my whole life.
BECAUSE we have problems to challenge, we can change our earthly desires into enlightenment by praying and trying to secure the best solution. Problems form the springboard for further growth and development.
NICHIREN DAISHONIN taught the principle “earthly desires are enlightenment”. Because we have desires and worries, we can appreciate happiness. Because we face and overcome painful difficulties, we can attain Buddhahood. The truth is that a life without suffering is not at all happy. That is the perspective of Buddhism.
WHAT is the purpose of life? What is the purpose of learning? Without a profound philosophy that addresses these questions, our lives will be superficial and shallow. How can we deepen ourselves as individuals? How can we attain a rich, fulfilling view of what it means to be a human being? And how can we lead lives that make the most of our potential? These are the basic questions we face in life.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
SOMEONE who is concerned only with maintaining his status will be unable to grow and develop. On the other hand, for a person who is striving for the sake of the Law and for the happiness of others, his difficult efforts will become the source of tremendous growth.
IN the world of faith or kosen-rufu, it is sincerity that is of prime importance. It is not schemes, order or commanding words but sincerity that moves people. One’s sincere prayers for kosen-rufu reach the Gohonzon on a profound level, thereby activating the protective functions of the Buddhist gods. In the long-range view, a sincere and honest person is always a victor. No matter how circumstances may change, no one can take away the truth in others’ hearts.
FAITH is not a matter of how you appear to others but how you behave and what you actually do. In the long terms, our invisible determinations and unseen actions will definitely become manifest as visible results. As time passes, a person’s true nature naturally comes to be revealed. An honest person always enjoys ultimate victory.
THE purpose of Buddhist practice is to establish an eternally indestructible state of life; not a fleeting happiness that perishes like a flower, but an internal palace of happiness that will last throughout all time. This diamond palace, this treasure tower soaring to magnificent heights, is built through faith.
FORGE a solid self and develop within you the power to attract happiness to your life. Then you yourself will be happy and fulfilled, and you will be able to lead your family, your relatives and your friends to happiness too.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
NO one has become great without a struggle. All of life is a struggle. Only those who have faced and triumphed over adversity possess genuine greatness; without this struggle, no matter how famous or celebrated one may be, any claim to greatness is merely an empty façade.
IN Buddhism, we either win or lose – there is no middle ground. Now and in the future, let us advance, determined to win in every sphere of our loves. By winning in our lives, we are advancing kosen-rufu; and by advancing kosen-rufu, we win in our lives.
THE important thing is to challenge that which lies before you with a lively and vigourous spirit. Those who advance energetically accumulate good fortune. Buddhism is concerned with victory with an ongoing struggle. Those who fight with a buoyant and animated spirit are ultimately victorious. Those who base their lives on faith and on chanting daimoku will definitely triumph in the end.
ALL of us are ordinary human beings. When these ordinary people embrace the Gohonzon completely, they are able to enjoy their lives from moment to moment just as they are, savouring an inexhaustible joy of Buddhahood. Therefore, in the eyes of Buddhism, all of you fellow members who are dedicated to the cause of kosen-rufu are indescribably precious.
YOU must not become so exclusively preoccupied with “faith, faith” or “kosen-rufu, kosen-rufu” that you make things rigid. Some space or flexibility is necessary in any way of life. It is important to consider everything wisely, always maintaining a margin of flexibility.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
WHEN we steadfastly dedicate ourselves to the path of mentor and disciple, we can boundlessly manifest the wisdom and power that is inherent in our life. In this world, nothing is stronger than the united struggle of mentor and disciple. Nothing is more joyful.
FAITH is not a matter of appearances. Nor does it have anything to do with position in the organization. It depends entirely on a person’s “fighting spirit”. Those who burn with a “fighting spirit” are true SGI members and disciples of President Makiguchi and President Toda.
WE cannot savour the true beneficial power of the Mystic Law if we lack courage. Courage gives rise to wisdom. Compassion and concern for others are also born of courage. Victory is achieved through courageous actions. Thos who possess courage are blessed with glory.
NOW, all of us have this same seed of the Mystic Law implanted in our lives. How we exert the power of the Buddha and the Law inherent in the Gohonzon, we will definitely be able to show proof of having attained Buddhahood on this lifetime. This is a promise made by the original Buddha and absolutely never fails to materialize.
BUDDHISM teaches the present decides the future; therefore, without clinging to past achievements, live your lives with freshness, keeping your eyes on the future. Never forget that a lively and joyful life depends on this kind of attitude.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
ALL Buddhas attain Buddhahood through the seed of the Mystic Law. The Daishonin clarified that it is one and the same principle, not any other special means that equally enables all people to attain enlightenment.
THE cause for development exists in a single person’s earnestness; stagnation and inertia originate in one’s affectations and irresponsibility.
TO live in such a way where we can perceive everything in terms of faith and are always determined to overcome all suffering and obstacles through faith means to walk the path towards ever-lasting happiness.
THERE is a Mongolian proverb, “A hundred friends are more precious than a hundred Tugrig.” People who have friends are rich. Quite often, the encouragement and stimulation of friends spur us towards self-improvement. We are inspired to lead fulfilling lives and creates a better world, and to work together with our friends towards that goal.
NICHIREN DAISHONIN wrote, “Anyone who teaches others even a single phrase of the Lotus Sutra is the envoy of the Thus Come One.” (WND, p33) The Thus Come One refers to the Buddha. Those who talk to another person about the greatness of faith, even if just a few words, are messengers of the Buddha. Through the very act of talking to someone about Buddhism, whether or not that person takes up faith, we accumulate boundless benefits and good fortune as the Buddha’s envoys.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
IF we take action, we are certain to meet with obstacles. When we overcome them with renewed passion for kosen-rufu, we are able to develop our faith.
SOCIETY is a place of confusion, full of contradictions and collisions of egos. It is precisely in these muddy waters of earthly desires that the state of Buddhahood, in other words, the great flower of absolute happiness, fragrantly blooms forth.
PEOPLE who have powerful life force are happy. People who have strong conviction are happy. They have the ability to take control of their lives, to open up their own paths before them. Weak people, in contrast, are miserable. They bring misery and unhappiness upon themselves. Faith in the Daishonin’s Buddhism enables us to become as strong as we can.
ONLY those who are determined to give their all, to try their very best and make effort upon effort, sparkle with true individuality. Such people can also respect and appreciate others’ individuality. They never try to sabotage other people’s success or pick on people because they are different.
NOW is the time for youth to stand up. It is the Century of Soka Youth. If you are going to try to achieve something, then strive to be the best. Please create a great record of accomplishment that will win the applause and praise of others. Be a presence that inspires reassurance, confidence, a person whose dedicated efforts deeply moved others.
NOTE:You can go to http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, Reply to Lord Nanjo - The Benefits of Offerings in Nichiren Buddhism.
