《创价人生》2019年12月
以下将刊登在《创价人生》2019年12月号:
日眼女造立释迦佛供养事
譬摆头发摇,用心身动,大风吹则草木披靡,大地震则海水汹涌。若奉得教主释尊一动,能有草木不披靡,海水不汹涌者耶?(御书1234页)
(白话文)
比如,头摆动时,毛发就摇摆;心有所思,身体就会有所行动;大风刮起,草木就摇曳作响;大地震动,大海就激烈翻腾。如果撼动教主释尊,会有草木不摇摆、海水不翻腾吗?
背景与大意
本篇御文是日莲大圣人从身延寄给住在镰仓的四条金吾之妻日眼女的书信。执笔年代原本被认定是在1279年,但另一说则1280年所著述。
这一年,日眼女正值37岁。根据日本民间传说,对女人而言,那是厄运之年。"厄"是指灾祸,当时人们视厄运之年为人生的关键年,会为了应对这一年可能发生的灾祸而预做各种准备。日眼女值逢厄运之年真心供养,本篇即是大圣人对其供养的回信。
大圣人于本篇开首写道"送上书写的守护御本尊",并鼓励:虽值厄运之年,但其根本仍在于确立深厚的信心。
大圣人接着教导,三世十方诸佛、菩萨、诸天善砷等,其本源皆是教主释尊此佛,只要抱持足以撼动此根本之佛的强盛祈念,就能撼动万物。并说示,在日本全国念佛信仰兴盛的情况下,受持妙法的女性最为尊贵,必将成佛无疑。
撼动万物的强盛祈念
御文的学习重点:
1南无妙法莲华经才是成佛之法
2只要根本撼动,一切将撼动
3祈求就是向目标挑战的宣言
解说
本段御文在于教导能撼动万物的信仰妙法的强盛祈求。
御文一开始,大圣人即以头摆动时,毛发就摇摆;心有所思,身体就会有所行动;大风刮起,草木就会摇动;大地震动,大海就会激烈翻腾的道理为例子。
在人的社会、在自然界亦然,只要能摇动其根干,一切事物也会随之产生变动。
佛法也是如此,通过撼动代表妙法的"教主释尊"此根本,就能撼动诸天善砷等一切事物。
本段御文所说的名为"教主释尊"此佛与贯穿宇宙及生命的根本法——南无妙法莲华经乃为一体。而且,释尊也是借由此大法而成佛的。
大圣人在本段御文的前一段中,引述法华经经文说示,全宇宙的佛、菩萨、诸天善砷全都是"教主释尊"此佛显出来的。
大圣人为了末法的众生,将佛的生命之"南无妙法莲华经"显现为御本尊。因此,信受此御本尊,虔诚地祈求,对我们而言,就是"撼动教主释尊"的实践。
池田SGI会长写道:"我们认真祈求后所说出的话语,定能打动友人的心。因此,我们要以宽大的心胸孕育友情;珍惜每一次的邂逅,勇敢地展开充满确信的对话。这都会成为光彩四射的佛缘,开拓出创造和平、幸福胜利的大道。"
让我们以认真的祈求和勇敢的行动,日日阔步奋勇前进吧!
(转译自创价学会教学月刊《大白莲华》2019年4月号)
池田SGI会长的指导
祈求是巨大变革的根源一念改变,自己本身亦会产生变化。若自己改变,环境和世界亦会改变过来。
这巨大变革的根源,在于我们以革命性的虔诚态度向御本尊"祈求"。
祈求与"依靠信仰"迥然不同。软弱丶笼统地请求某人帮助,不是祈求。祈求就是"誓愿",是"势必达到目的"的誓言,是向着明确目标挑战的宣言。
(摘自池田SGI会长的《随笔 人本世纪之光》之"勤行是胜利的源泉")
<以上将刊登在《创价人生》>
给地区部长的补充材料
池田SGI会长的指导
让我们以坚强的一念前进
大圣人称赞日眼女,说:"有较日莲更为强盛之心志。"(御书1171页,白话文:您比日莲更有强盛的信心。)大圣人也在给她的另一篇御书中写道:
"比如,头摆动时,毛发就摇摆;心有所思,身体就会有所行动;大风刮起,草木就摇曳作响;大地震动,大海就激烈翻腾。如果撼动教主释尊,会有草木不摇摆、海水不翻腾吗?" (御书1234页)
经济苦、生病、照顾年长者、家庭问题等等,在现实中有多少的烦恼。可是,只要一念坚定,以题目为根本来挑战问题时,痛苦、悲伤都能跨越,必定能打开充实与欢喜的人生,被想也想不到的大福德所围绕。
这就是"变毒为药"的妙法。是日莲佛法的精髓。
守护广布前进的众多诸天善神因着我们坚定的一念而被唤起。
(摘自池田SGI会长的《随笔不朽的创价大城》之"五月天空的灿烂之虹")
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强盛的一念是敲破铜墙铁壁之力
一念之力不可估量,其究极就在于不屈不挠的勇气的信心。决然的妙法之声音响彻全宇宙,将一切变为诸天的作用。
碰壁的时候唱题。事与愿违的时候,更进一步,燃烧着强盛的一念彻底祈求到底。
因为如此勇猛精进的唱题,会产生翻转逆境的"智慧",开始朝向新的胜利大回转。
(《与御书前进<2>——池田先生赠予之指针》)
Dec 2019 Creative Life
The following will be published on the December 2019issue of Creative Life:
Concerning the Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha Fashioned by Nichigen-nyo
When you shake your head, your hair sways; when your mind begins to work, your body moves. When a strong wind blows, the grass and trees can no longer remain still; when the earth shakes, the seas are atremble. Thus if one can move Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, can the grass and trees fail to respond, can the waters remain calm? (WND-2, p 811)
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Background and Outline
Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter in Mount Minobut to Nichigen-nyo, the wife of Shijo Kingo, who was residing in Kamakura. This letter is said to have been written in 1279, but other sources suggest 1280 as the year of writing instead.
At that time, Nichigen-nyo was 37, which according to Japanese folk belief was regarded as an "unlucky year" for women. According to old traditional Japanese reckoning, it represents a transitional period and people are more likely to encounter misfortune and difficulty in certain yeas of their lives, and they should therefore be especially careful and prudent at such times. For Nichigen-nyo, she made offerings to the Daishonin at this age and this letter was written in response.
At the outset of this letter, the Daishonin wrote, "I have inscribed the Gohonzon for your protection." Through these words, the Daishonin Nichigen-nyo that though she may be in an "unlucky age", what is most important is to always base herself on strong faith.
He further teaches that all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions throughout the three existences, and all the heavenly gods and benevolent deities, are none other than the provisional manifestations of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings. In other words, the Shakyamuni Buddha here, represents the Mystic Law which led all Buddhas to enlightenment. Thus, if one offers strong prayers and upholds conviction strong enough to move the fundamental cause that led all Buddhas to enlightenment, one is certain to move all things as well.
Furthermore, the Daishonin points out that amidst the situation at that time in Japan, where almost all men and women were followers of the Nembutsu, Nichigen-nyo, who uphold the Mystic Law, is the foremost women among all and that she would certainly attain Buddhahood.
Strong Prayers that Move All Things
Key Learning Points of the Gosho Passage: ◇ Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the teaching for the attainment of Buddhahood ◇ Everything begins to change when the core changes ◇ Prayer is a declaration to challenge a clear objective
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Explanation
This Gosho passage teaches the power of prayers based on faith in the Mystic Law which can to move everything in the universe.
This Gosho passage we are studying this month begins with these words: "When you shake your head, your hair sways; when your mind begins to work, your body moves. When a strong wind blows, the grass and trees can no longer remain still; when the earth shakes, the seas are atremble." The Daishonin uses analogies that accord with reason and truth.
In human society as well as in the natural world, if one can move the core that serves as the basis of all phenomena,everything else will move and change in accord with it.
Likewise, in Buddhism, if one can move "Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings", a representation of the Mystic Law from which all Buddhas arise, then one will be able to move everything else, including the heavenly gods and benevolent deities will move in accord with it.
The phrase, "Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings",which appears in the passage the Buddha who is one with Nammyoho-renge-kyo, the fundamental Law that permeates the universe and life. Shakyamuni himself attained enlightenment through this great Mystic Law.
In the paragraph that comes before this passage, the Daishonin cites passages from the Lotus Sutra and revealsthat all the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, heavenly gods and benevolent deities in the entire universe are the provisional manifestations of "Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings" and that their original form are "Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings".
The Daishonin manifested "Nam-myohorenge-kyo", which is the life state of the Buddha, in the form of the Gohonzon for all living beings in the Latter Day of the Law, As such,for all of us, "moving Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings" means to embrace and uphold faith in the Gohonzon and offering earnest prayers to it.
SGI President Ikeda once wrote, "[W]hen we speak to others based on earnest prayer, our words cannot fail to touch their lives. Let's therefore foster friendships with big, wide-open hearts. Let's courageously share our convictions and ideals with many others, cherishing each encounter. Every effort we make towards that end represents a brilliant opportunity to help others form a connection with Buddhism. Herein lies the path to creating peace. Herein lies the path to happiness and victory.''
Let us all pray sincerely and take courageous action, to advance boldly day by day!
(Translated and adapted from the April 2019 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai's monthly study journal.)
SGI President Ikeda's Guidance
The Source of Great Transformation Is Found In Our Prayers
When our fundamental mindset changes, we ourselves change. And when we change, the environment and the world change, too. The source of this great transformation is found nowhere but in a radical deepening of our own prayer to the Gohonzon. Prayer to the Gohonzon is completely different from that found in a dependent, supplicant faith; we do not weakly and passively beg someone for salvation or assistance. Prayer in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is fundamentally a vow. It is a pledge or commitment to follow a chosen course of action; it is a declaration to challenge a clear objective.
(From SGI President Ikeda's essay series, The Light of the Century of Humanity, "Gongyo – The Wellspring of Victory") |
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Supplementary Resources for MD District Leaders
SGI President Ikeda's Guidance
Let's Advance with Firm Resolve
The Daishonin praised Nichigen-nyo, Shijo Kingo's wife, saying: "[You are] even firmer and more dedicated in your faith than I myself" (WND-1, 436). He also wrote to her:
When you shake your head, your hair sways; when your mind begins to work, your body moves. When a strong wind blows, the grass and trees can no longer remain still; when the earth shakes, the seas are atremble. Thus if one can move Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, can the grass and trees fail to respond, can the waters remain calm? (WND-2, 811) Life presents all sorts of challenges, from financial hardship to illness to caring for the elderly, and various other family difficulties. But by having a firm resolve and tackling your problems based on chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, you can overcome suffering and sadness and attain a life of fulfillment and joy. You can savor benefits greater than you ever imagined possible. This is the power of the Mystic Law, which enables us to change poison into medicine, and the essence of practicing Nichiren Buddhism. Our firm resolve calls forth the protective functions of the universe that safeguard the development of our movement for kosen-rufu.
(From SGI President Ikeda's essay series, The Eternal Citadel of Soka, "Brilliant Rainbow in the May Sky")
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The Power of Our Determination Is Immeasurable
The power of our inner determination is immeasurable, and its ultimate expression is unshakable and courageous faith in the Mystic Law. The sound of our voices resolutely chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo reverberates throughout the entire universe, turning everything into a positive force that will support and protect us. When you hit a wall, chant daimoku. When things are not going as hoped, pray with even greater resolve until you win through. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo bravely and vigorously enables us to bring forth the wisdom to surmount adversity and move things dynamically toward fresh victories.
(From "Advancing with the Gosho: Words of Encouragement from SGI President Ikeda [2] )
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