make kosen-rufu inevitable through your own sweat and effort.

Do not ask whether the
mighty flow of kosen-rufu is
an inevitable consequence
of history. Rather, always
ask yourself whether you
have the passion to make
kosen-rufu inevitable
through your own sweat
and effort.

—SGI President Ikeda

8.25 & 8.26 Youth Summit

In 1958, 

6000 youths gathered at 3.16 Kosenrufu Day for Toda Sensei in Japan;

In 2018, sixty years on,

10000 youths shall gather during 8.25 & 8.26 Youth Summit for Ikeda Sensei in Singapore. 🙏

Key Points for Sharing — How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra

Not for Circulation. For the use of district leaders only.

Discussion Meeting Gosho for July 2018

 

Key Points for Sharing

 

How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra       When we revere Myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own life as the object of devotion, theBuddha nature within us is summoned forth and manifested by our chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is what is meant by "Buddha." To illustrate, when a caged bird sings, birds who are flying in the sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out. When with our mouths we chant the Mystic Law, our Buddha nature, being summoned, will invariably emerge.   (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p 887)

 

The following key points are to be shared upon understanding and explaining the "Background and Explanation" published in the July 2018 issue of Creative Life. (Included in handout)

 

Key Points 1. Buddhahood refers to the boundless potential inherent in the lives of all people 2. Myoho-renge-kyo is the name for Buddhahood 3. The power of the Buddha is manifested through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

 

1.   Buddhahood refers to the boundless potential inherent in the lives of all people

 

  Shakyamuni Buddha expounded that "one who is awakened to one's true self is a Buddha".

  In addition, Shakyamuni also expounded that "the universe is one with the self".

  That is to say, since the life of each individual is one with the life of the universe, the power that resides within our lives is as vast and magnificent as that of the universe.

  In other words, a Buddha is "one who is awakened to the fact that one's life possesses boundless potential, one that is the same as that of the universe" and "one who can manifest that potential".

  And this "boundless potential" refers to "one's Buddha nature (Buddhahood)".

  For this reason, the Daishonin expounded that to attain Buddhahood means to "open one's Buddhahood".

  Now, how do we "open this boundless potential, the Buddhahood"?

  The Daishonin established the practice of chanting the daimokuof Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and inscribed the Gohonzon so that all people, no matter who they may be, can open their Buddhahood. 

2.   Myoho-renge-kyo is the name for Buddhahood 

 

  Although we all possess the life state of Buddhahood, we are not able to see it.

  This is why the Daishonin named our Buddha nature (Buddhahood) "Myoho-renge-kyo".

  The word "Nam" means to "devote oneself to" or "fuse one's life with".

  Another thing that the Daishonin did was to embody this Buddhahood in the form of the Gohonzon.

  In another of his writings, the Daishonin says, "Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo." (WND-1, p 832)

  We chant daimoku to the Gohonzon so that we can manifest "the Gohonzin that exists within our lives", that is, to activate "the Myoho-renge-kyo that resides within".

  And the Gohonzon that the Daishonin inscribed, depicts the ceremony in which Bodhisattvas of the Earth vows to realize kosen-rufu.

  In other words, we must never forget that the basis for our practice of faith is to strive to lead all people to happiness.  

 

3.   The power of the Buddha is manifested through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

 

By carrying out the practice of chanting the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, one is able to manifest the Buddhahood from within our lives.

The Daishonin uses the example of "a bird in a cage" to illustrate the process of manifesting one's Buddhahood.

This "bird in a cage" represents the Buddhahood that resides within our lives. The "cage" here refers to one's fundamental darkness, ignorance, illusions, earthly desires that locks up one's Buddha nature.

The "birds who are flying in the sky" refers to the Buddha nature of all living beings. Through chanting daimoku, we can manifest not only our own Buddha nature but also help summon forth the Buddha nature in the lives of all living beings.

Ikeda Sensei says in his guidance, "When we chant … our Buddha nature emerges in response. This also summons forth the Buddha nature of all others. Our happiness is our responsibility, not someone else's; it is something we must build for ourselves. Blaming our unhappiness on others serves no purpose. Ultimately, we are responsible for our own lives. The sound of our daimokumakes our lives shine their brightest."

This Buddha nature refers to the Buddha's wisdom, courage and strong life force.

By chanting daimoku, we can manifest the power that a Buddha possesses.

By chanting daimoku based on the resolve to fulfill our mission for kosen-rufu, we can change any poison into medicine. This signifies the realization of the transformation of one's karma.

Let us continue to strive and forge our lives as we set our gaze on 2030, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Soka Gakkai.    /end

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How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra

July 2018 Creative Life

 

The following will be published on the July 2018 issue of Creative Life:

 

How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra

When we revere Myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own lifeas the object of devotion, the Buddha nature within us is summoned forth and manifested by our chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is what is meant by "Buddha." To illustrate, when a caged bird sings, birds who are flying inthe sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out. When with our mouths we chant theMystic Law, our Buddha nature, being summoned, will invariably emerge.

 

(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p 887)

 

Background and Outline

 

While the letter's date and recipient are unclear, it is generally thought to have been written in 1277 when Nichiren Daishonin was 56. As the letter's content focuses on refuting the Nembutsu school's view of the existence of an otherworldly Pure Land and also by the fact that a brief reference is made to the attainment of enlightenment by women taught in the Lotus Sutra, it suggests that the letter may have been addressed to a female follower of the Daishonin—who had either formerly recited the Nembutsu(the name of Amida Buddha) or was still drawn to the Pure Land practice—with the aim of teaching her the basics of faith in the Lotus Sutra, the essence of which is chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

 

Written in question-and-answer form, "How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra" first establishes that, among the various schools of Buddhism, only that based upon the Lotus Sutra represents the school founded by Shakyamuni Buddha himself, for this sutra alone expresses the Buddha's true intention. On top of this, the Daishonin reveals that "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo", which represents the heart and core of the 28-chapter Lotus Sutra and the fundamental Law for the attainment of Buddhahood for all people, is the only teaching to be propagated during the Latter Day of the Law. 

 

Next, the Daishonin teaches that one needs three elements—a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching—before prayers can be answered and the nation restored to peace. 

 

The Daishonin also states that because the teachings of the Lotus Sutra enables people who are ignorant about Buddhism to attain Buddhahood, one should strive to one's utmost best to propagate its teachings by saying, "Therefore, one should by all means persist in preaching the Lotus Sutra and causing them to hear it." (WND-1, p 882)

 

The Daishonin further states that for those who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra after hearing it will attain Buddhahood while those who slander the Lotus Sutra will eventually attain Buddhahood by virtue of the "poison-drum relationship," or the reverse connection that they thereby form with it.

 

Having said this, the Daishonin reveals that those who embrace and propagate the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day will invariably encounter the three powerful enemies and be persecuted. The Daishonin also teaches that the three powerful enemies appear as expounded in the Lotus Sutra and that one should not fear persecutions but instead, one should exert oneself even harder to practice faith. The Daishonin concludes that those who persist in propagating the teachings of the Lotus Sutra despite encountering the three powerful enemies are the true votaries of the Lotus Sutra.

 

In the concluding portion, the Daishonin explains that bycarrying out the practice of chanting the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can summon forth and manifest the Buddha nature inherent in our own lives. The Daishoninconcludes the letter by encouraging us to discard our attachment to biased views and exert ourselves in the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with strong faith.

 

The Gosho passage that we are studying this month is taken from the concluding portion where the Daishonin reveals that there is no other way for the people in the Latter Day of the Law to attain Buddhahood than the teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the Lotus Sutra. 

 

Those Who Keep Chanting Daimoku are Victors in Life

 

Second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, often said: "You yourself are Nam-myoho-renge-kyo." Once we awaken to our enormous potential, we can face any adversity. The purpose of our Buddhist practice is for each of us to bring forth the "Myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own life" (WND-1, p 887) and establish an inner state of everlasting and indestructible happiness.

 

At the outset of this Gosho passage, Nnichiren Daishoninteaches that when we chant the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, which is the fundamental Law that enabled all Buddhas of the three existences to gain enlightenment, the Buddha nature within us is summoned forth and we can attain Buddhahood. In other words, by chanting daimokuwith faith in the Gohonzon revealed by the Daishonin, the Buddha nature within our lives is summoned forth. And this process is called attaining Buddhahood. On top of this, the Daishonin teaches us that this Gohonzon resides within our lives.

 

The Daishonin then proceeds to explain the process by which this great life-state of Buddhahood manifests, employing the very accessible metaphor of a bird in a cage: "When a caged bird sings, birds who are flying in the sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out." (WND-1, p 887)

 

In this way, we call forth to our Buddha nature with our own voice chanting daimoku to the Gohonzon. As a result, our Buddha nature invariably emerges in response to our chanting of daimoku.  

 

The Daishonin further declares that when we chant daimoku, the great life state of Buddhahood will "invariably emerge" thereby enabling us to manifest within us the limitless beneficial power of the Mystic Law without fail. And by persevering in our Buddhist practice with strong faith based on daimoku, we will never be deadlocked.

 

SGI President Ikeda says in his guidance: "Those who keep chanting daimoku are victors in life. The heavenly beings, the protective functions of the universe, will gather one after another, around a person who earnestly chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with all of his or her heart, leading the person in the best direction towards happiness. Nothing can surpass the power of daimoku."

 

The Year of Brilliant Achievement has begun. Let's chant resounding daimoku as we take on each and every of the challenges that stand before us and forge ahead every day. 

 

(Translated from the August 2017 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai's monthly study journal.)

 

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