Bells of Dawn 7
Next, Shin'ichi spoke about why the Soka Gakkai organization was necessary.
"There may be some who feel that organizations and individual freedoms conflict. But groups of all kinds, including companies and nations, need a structured organization to achieve their aims. The Soka Gakkai, too, must have an organization as a means to enable everyone to engage in faith, practice, and study, and to promote our movement for kosen-rufu.
"You have all come to practice Nichiren Buddhism today because we have an organization. Also, an organization is necessary for many people to advance in an orderly fashion. Without an organization, we could easily become self-righteous and self-centered in our practice, or attached to our personal views or opinions. Were that to happen, we would veer from correct faith, practice, and study, and be unable to establish a correct way of life based on the Mystic Law.
"When people practice by themselves, they often lose sight of the way forward. To remain steadfast in faith, we need to unite with others. We need to encourage one another to live bravely, urge each other to keep striving in our Buddhist practice, and support one another in staying on the right path. From that perspective, I think it becomes clear how important the organization is.
"Please remember, however, that the organization is a means, and that the reason for its existence is to provide guidance and direction so that each member can strengthen their faith and become happy. The purpose of the Soka Gakkai organization is to help everyone attain absolute happiness and the life state of Buddhahood.
"Moreover, positions in the organization do not mean there's a hierarchy among members. Leaders in the Soka Gakkai serve as cornerstones of unity.
"Therefore, I hope you all will respect, understand, trust, and encourage each other as fellow members of society and together lead victorious lives."
The Soka Gakkai is a unique and unparalleled organization that is striving for people's happiness and world peace—in other words, for kosen-rufu. That is why Josei Toda said that the Soka Gakkai organization was more important to him than his own life.
