We often hear people say they aren't capable. But this is a defeatist attitude. If you feel you aren't capable, then tap into the great reservoir of potential that lies inside you. Since we embrace the Daishonin's Buddhism, we have recourse to daimoku. If we chant daimoku to the Gohonzon, we can bring forth all the ability and strength we will ever needed.
The purpose of our lives, to the very last moment, is to achieve something of value. There is no life more noble than that of individuals who dedicate themselves to something they believe in and strive for it wholeheartedly, individuals who give their lives selflessly to their beliefs.
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Writings for Discussion Meetings – WT, July 15, 2011
WORKING FOR BEAUTY, GAIN AND GOOD
No matter how poor these estates might be, avoid complaining of it, either to others or to your lord. If you say, "They are excellent, excellent lands," your lord may add to your fiefs again.
"The Receipt of New Fiefs" (WND-1, 945)
At times, we may have to do things in life we don't particularly like. Or we may have a job that's not ideal, not the one we'd want if given a choice. Yet, we persevere. Life involves this kind of struggle.
Some may want to complain, but they don't. Or they do complain and run the risk of losing trust, being demoted or fired.
First Soka Gakkai president Tsunesaburo Makiguchi ascribed three components to the quality called "value,' the first being beauty, the second gain or benefit, and the third, good.
His disciple and successor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, applied these three kinds of value to a person's work or career. In work, beauty means to have a job one enjoys; gain, or benefit, accords with a job that pays well or from which one can profit materially; and good describes a job that contributes to the well-being of others or to the betterment of society.
It would be ideal to have a job that satisfies these three components of value: an enjoyable job that offers financial security and enables one to contribute meaningfully to society. But of all the working people in the world, few find this sort of job, especially early in their careers.
Rather, many work at jobs they never planned to have, doing things they never expected or hoped to do. To find work that fulfills even two of the three criteria for value is rare. You may like the work you do, but it may not pay that well. Or the income may be sufficient, but you may not feel you are contributing much to the world and are just working to bring home a paycheck. The reality is that in any job or any life endeavor, we have to take the good with the bad as we pursue our dreams.
The important thing, President Toda always emphasized, is first to become indispensable wherever you are. Instead of moaning that a job falls short of what you'd like to be doing, he said, become a first-class individual at that job.
SGI President Ikeda elaborates: "This will open the path leading to your next phase in life, during which you should also continue doing your best. Such continuous efforts are guaranteed to land you a job that you like, that supports your life and that allows you to contribute to society" (The Way of Youth, 94).
Nichiren Daishonin wrote the above passage to a disciple who was thinking of quitting his job, a samurai vassal named Shijo Kingo. His job was to serve and protect his feudal lord, Ema. But though he did his best, Kingo's fellow samurai became jealous of him and resentful of his Buddhist faith, and spread false rumors about him to their feudal lord. As a result, Ema threatened to confiscate Kingo's estates. Nevertheless, Kingo continued serving his lord while persevering in his Buddhist faith and practice. This enabled him to earn his lord's renewed trust, and Ema granted him an estate larger than the original one.
However, Kingo found that his new lands yielded him little revenue. Discouraged, he began to think, "Is this the reward I get for risking my life to serve my lord?" Nothing is more demoralizing than receiving no recognition for strenuous effort, and Kingo was about to abandon everything.
In the letter, Nichiren sent to Shijo Kingo cited above, he praises Kingo highly for the great victory that led to his increased landholdings. Recognizing Kingo' efforts, the Daishonin also tells him that no matter how frustrated or disappointed he becomes, if he continues to treat his lord and his fellow samurai will and act wisely, "Your lord may add to your fiefs again." Nichiren's message: By continuing to work hard without giving in to complaint, you will surely see a clear positive result.
An important concept in this teaching, Nichiren is telling us, is that "faith manifests itself in daily life." Because we practice Buddhism, aiming for our own happiness and that of others, it is important that we always refresh our spirit to do our best at work and other life responsibilities. In this way, we build a strong foundation for a life of genuine value and fortune.
President Ikeda says: "We practice Nichiren Buddhism so that we can develop and improve ourselves, and carry out our human revolution in our workplaces, in our families and in our communities. We do so in order to create the greatest value where we are right now…
"Nichiren Buddhism is a living philosophy for changing reality. That is why one of the titles of the Buddha is 'Hero of the World.' The SGI has followed this courageous path" (April 30, 2010, Seize the Day, E).
- Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department
Discussions
1. What does it mean to manifest faith in daily life?
2. Can you share a time when your faith enabled you to win in your workplace?
