Discussion
Meeting Gosho for May 2018
Key Points for Sharing
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The Strategy of the
Lotus Sutra
Employ the strategy of the
Lotus Sutra before any other. "All others who bear you enmity or malice
will likewise be wiped out."1 These golden words will never
prove false. The heart of strategy and swordsmanship derives from the Mystic
Law. Have profound faith. A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered.
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Vol 1, p 1001)
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The following key points are to be shared upon understanding
and explaining the “Background and Explanation” published in the May 2018 issue
of Creative Life. (Included in handout)
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Key Points
1.
It is
important to always base ourselves on prayers to the Gohonzon
2. The heart of
compassion transforms negative to positive
3. Courageous faith
unleashes the power of the Gohonzon
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1. It is important to always base ourselves on
prayers to the Gohonzon
Nichiren
Daishonin teaches here that we should always base ourselves on prayers in all
aspects of our lives.
In secular terms, the word “strategy” refers
to tactics of warfare or martial arts. In a broader sense, it corresponds to
the specific methods or means that we use in our work or daily life.
The Daishonin teaches here in this Gosho
passage that all of such methodology and means that we employ in our daily
lives derives from the Mystic Law. Because they are all encompassed in the
Mystic Law, the Daishonin is urging us to first and foremost base ourselves on
prayers to the Gohonzon when we employ these methodologies and means in our
daily life.
At the same time, the Daishonin is also
admonishing us not to be caught up only in tactics and methodologies and
forgetting about faith when resolving issues in our lives.
While basing our lives on earnest prayers,
we exert our utmost efforts as well as exercise our wisdom in our work, daily
life and Gakkai activities – this is the ultimate meaning of employing the
strategy of the Lotus Sutra.
The passage, “All
others who bear you enmity or malice will likewise be wiped out", means
that we can resolve any kind of problems.
2. The heart of compassion transforms negative
to positive
The
Daishonin states in this Gosho passage, “Have profound faith”.
Faith can be said to correspond to the
spirit of compassion as faith is what leads people to happiness.
As such, it is the practice based on the
spirit of compassion that will unleash the power of the Mystic Law.
Ikeda Sensei says as follows in his guidance:
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An enlightened mind—one that
shines as an entity of the Mystic Law—carves out a solid, ascending path of
optimism and hope, having the power to transform that which is negative into
something positive. The potential for both these states of mind exist within
our lives…. The power of the mind is truly unfathomable. A subtle change in
our mind can change everything. The practice that lets us draw forth this
power of the mind is chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for ourselves and others.
From “Learning from the
Gosho: The Hope-filled Writings of Nichiren Daishonin [8]”
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The practice for ourselves and others is an
act based on the heart of compassion, the spirit in wanting to lead all people
to happiness. In other words, by taking actions for the realization of
kosen-rufu, the happiness of all people, by offering prayers dedicated to
kosen-rufu, we can transform that which is negative into something positive,
thereby manifesting the beneficial power of changing poison into medicine.
3. Courageous faith unleashes the power of the
Gohonzon
The
Daishonin further teaches here that “A coward
cannot have any of his prayers answered”.
Why can’t a coward have any of his prayers answered?
In another Gosho, the Daishonin uses an analogy to illustrate this point
in simple terms.
He wrote, “The fact that her prayers have gone unanswered is like a
strong bow with a weak bowstring, or a fine sword in the hands of a coward.”
(WND-1, p 489)
No
matter how great the beneficial power of the Lotus Sutra is, whether or not it
can be unleashed depends solely on our faith, the practitioners of the Lotus
Sutra. It all depends on whether we have courageous faith or not.
Courage
gives rise to action. Without courage, we cannot become role models who shows
great actual proofs in society.
For
this reason, Ikeda Sensei says as follows in his guidance:
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The foundation of all of our efforts,
endeavors, and challenges—whether it be staying healthy, leading a fulfilling
life, and showing actual proof of winning trust in the community and in
society—is the strategy of the Lotus Sutra, or in other words, strong faith.
From “Learning from the
Gosho: The Hope-filled Writings of Nichiren Daishonin [8]”
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Cherishing this guidance in our hearts, let’s become role models in
society who shows great actual proofs in life while we continue in our efforts
to share Buddhism with others.
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