The following will be published on the December 2018 issue of Creative Life:
Reply to a Believer
Regard your service to your lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra. This is what is meant by "No worldly affairs of life or work are ever contrary to the true reality1."
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p 905)
Background and Outline
This letter is thought to have been written at Minobu on April 11 in the year 1278. As the title "Reply to a Believer" suggests, it was written to a lay believer (a leading disciple) but the recipient of the letter is not certain.
However, judging from its content which suggests that the recipient was in a position to know the movement of the shogunate and from phrases such as "service to your lord", it is thought to have probably been written to a samurai (warrior) who served a lord.
In 1260, Nichiren Daishonin composed the thesis, "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land" and submitted it to the Kamakura Shogunate. Since carrying out this act of remonstration, the Daishonin was subjected to various persecutions, including exiles to the Izu Peninsula and Sado Island. Four years after the Daishonin was pardoned from his exile in Sado, the Daishonin received news that there is a plot to send the Daishonin to exile for the third time. This letter was written after he received this news.
Regarding the possibility of a third exile, the Daishonin writes in this letter, "Even if I were to be exiled again, it would bring me a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, million times greater good fortune…" (WND-1, p 905) The Daishonin states that this would further clarify that he is a votary of the Lotus Sutra who has practised in exact accord with the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.
On top of this, the Daishonin describes his resolve to continue in his struggle to prove the righteousness of his teachings stating that he will follow in the paths of the boy Snow Mountains who seek the Law by giving up his life to a hungry demon who was actually god Shakra in disguise and Bodhisattva Never Disparaging who continued to carry out the Buddhist practice of bowing in reverence to all he met, staunchly believing in the innate Buddha nature that exists in all living beings no matter how harsh the persecutions he met.
In addition, at that point in time, an epidemic had spread throughout the nation and there was a risk for anyone to fall victim to it and collapse any time. Exposed to the danger of losing one's life at any point in time, there was no guarantee for anyone that he or she could live to see tomorrow.
Taking such circumstances into consideration, the Daishonin states, "… how wretched and meaningless it would be to fall victim to an epidemic or simply to die of old age! I would far rather suffer persecution from this country's ruler for the sake of the Lotus Sutra and thereby free myself from the sufferings of birth and death."
Finally, the Daishonin concludes this writing by calling forth to the recipient of this letter to make up his mind to base his life on faith no matter what the circumstances and regard his service his lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra, teaching him to show actual proofs of victory in the realities of society.
Win Where You Are Right Now!
This is a letter in which Nichiren Daishonin teaches the attitude with which we should regard to our work or career. The Daishonin teaches here that one who is well-versed in Buddhism should strive to become a victor in one's place of work and in society.
It is not known what challenges the recipient was experiencing when he received this Gosho. However, it is thought that the recipient was going through various adversity because of his faith in the Lotus Sutra.
Just before this passage we are studying this month, Nichiren Daishonin teaches that by continuing to strive amidst the harsh reality without being defeated by the various hardships in life is equivalent to practicing the Lotus Sutra twenty-four hours a day (cf WND-1, p 905)
Having said this, the Daishonin teaches, "Regard your service to your lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra."
Nichiren Buddhism is a teaching that empowers one to strive amidst the realities of society based on faith and win in all aspects of life. Therefore, Buddhism is not something that exists separately away from our society or our daily life. When we base ourselves on faith in our daily life and in our job, they become noble platforms for carrying out our Buddhist practice where we polish our lives. For this reason, the Daishonin teaches in this passage that "No worldly affairs of life or work are ever contrary to the true reality (the Mystic Law)."
Even though our circumstances may be harsh and adverse, basing ourselves on faith, we summon forth strong life force, exercise our wisdom and squarely take on the challenges. This should be the spirit with which a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism leads his or her life. On top of this, by winning in our place of work and daily life based on faith, we are showing actual proofs of the validity of the Daishonin's Buddhism.
SGI President Ikeda says: "Whatever your job, whatever your position, it is important for you, as a person who chants daimoku, to bring forth your wisdom and do your best to sincerely create value for the happiness of others and the welfare of society. All of your efforts are part of your Buddhist practice to accumulate "treasures of the heart." Your work and your Buddhist practice are not separate. Rather, your Buddhist practice and SGI activities are the power source for making your work truly valuable and meaningful."
Let's strive to actualize the principles of "faith is manifest in daily life" and "Buddhism is the basis for society" and win where we are right now.
(Translated from the Octoer 2016 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai's monthly study journal.)
Footnote:
1. True reality: Refers to the ultimate truth, that is, the Mystic Law.
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Discussion Meeting Gosho for December 2018
Key Points for Sharing
| Reply to a Believer
Regard your service to your lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra. This is what is meant by "No worldly affairs of life or work are ever contrary to the true reality." (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p 905)
|
The following key points are to be shared upon understanding and explaining the "Background and Explanation" published in the December 2018 issue of Creative Life. (Included in handout)
| Key Points 1. Practising the principle of faith equals daily life means to be a role model in our work place and daily life 2. Our determination and efforts give rise to wisdom 3. When we grow as an individual, we bring about positive changes to our surroundings |
1. Practising the principle of faith equals daily life means to be a role model in our work place and daily life
It is a general view to perceive that one's faith is separated from one's daily life.
However, Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism teaches that our practice of faith and daily life are not two separate entities.
The phrase, "service to your lord", corresponds to our occupation, job and daily life.
This Gosho passage teaches us that our daily life is itself the place of our Buddhist practice. The passage teaches us that our daily life is where we demonstrate a model example of how we should live our life based on faith.
Faith has the power to transform and enrich our lives. For this reason, our determination to forge our lives and to develop our lives becomes important.
The Daishonin's Buddhism teaches that faith and our daily is one and the same. For this reason, the Soka Gakkai always teaches that "faith is equal to daily life". We believe that our faith finds expression in our daily life. This is why as practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism, we must strive to become an individual who is trusted in society and win in our daily life.
2. Our determination and efforts give rise to wisdom
It is when we earnestly chant daimoku to the Gohonzon and make genuine efforts to confront and overcome the various challenges in life that our Buddhahood will be manifested.
What is important is one's determination. Merely praying with a blank mind will not do. For this reason, the Soka Gakkai always reminds us that "our prayers will be answered when we resolve, pray and make efforts towards its realization".
Toda Sensei says the following in his guidance:
"It is a great mistake to just assume you're going to succeed because of the benefit you receive from your Buddhist practice, without working harder than anyone at your job."
He also said, "You should deeply value your work, thinking hard and making every effort to succeed in it. For those of you who work for a company or some other organization, it's important to bring a sense of enjoyment to what you're doing and keep making efforts to improve at your job, as well as to be determined to fulfill your responsibilities."
By chanting daimoku, our Buddhahood will be manifested. To put it simply, Buddhahood refers to our courage and wisdom. How should we resolve our problem? Which direction should we take? It is wisdom that will give us the answer.
3. When we grow as an individual, we bring about positive changes to our surroundings
The phrase, "No worldly affairs of life or work are ever contrary to the true reality", is taken from the words of the Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai.
There are individuals who believe that having one's business is an expression of one's ego and goes against the teachings of Buddhism. However, the Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai teaches that Buddhism exists to transform society for the better and that all world affairs of life or work do not go against the teachings of the Mystic Law.
In other words, Buddhist practitioners develop themselves in the realm of daily life and thereby transform society for the better.
We can bring forth strong life force through chanting daimoku and by enriching our life state, we can bring about a positive transformation in the realities of our daily life. And as a result, positive influence is brought forth in our surroundings.
What is important is to cherish the Bodhisattva vow to lead the people around us to happiness. The Soka Gakkai is a gathering of Bodhisattvas of the Earth. It is a gathering of Buddhas. And Sensei expresses this point through the term, "Soka Gakkai Buddha'.
Sensei will be celebrating his 91st birthday on January 2 next month (2019). Let's continue to offer sincere prayers for Sensei's continued good health.
Let's set forth our goals and targets for the coming new year and strive towards achieving them so as to achieve Soka victory towards our 90th anniversary.
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