The words of Daishonin

The Daishonin's words are guiding principles that have universal, eternal relevance. It is important to study his writings. And it is especially crucial that the members of the youth division gain a solid grounding in Buddhist study. The two ways of practice and study are important. A halfhearted attitude will not allow you to complete these two paths. That would be a truly sad thing.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 10/4

The three kinds of practice

To accept, uphold, read, recite, take delight in, and protect all the eight volumes and twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra is called the comprehensive practice. To accept, uphold, and protect the "Expedient Means" chapter and the "Life Span" chapter is called the abbreviated practice. And simply to chant one four-phrase verse or the daimoku, and to protect those who do so, is called the essential practice. Hence, among these three kinds of practice, comprehensive, abbreviated, and essential, the daimoku is defined as the essential practice. 27/5

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written on January 6, 1266

Test the truth of Buddhism now!

Therefore, I say to you, my disciples, try practicing as the Lotus Sutra teaches, exerting yourselves without begrudging your lives! Test the truth of Buddhism now!

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Selection of the Time
Written to Yui in 1275

When the Buddha nature manifests itself from within, it will receive protection from without

Buddhism teaches that, when the Buddha nature manifests itself from within, it will receive protection from without. This is one of its fundamental principles. 25/1

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Three Kinds of Treasure
Written to Shijo Kingo on September 11, 1277

Great disaster without fail changes into great fortune

I explained the teachings of the Lotus Sutra to you before. Matters of minor importance arise from good, but when it comes to a matter of great importance, great disaster without fail changes into great fortune. 24/1

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
A Warning against Begrudging One's Fief
Written to Shijo Kingo in July 1277

Have faith in the Gohonzon

President Toda used to say: "Don't be impatient. Since you have embraced the Gohonzon, your situation will definitely improve. There's no need to worry. Sure there will be hard times, times when you feel like crying. But as long as you have the Gohonzon, your life will become bright and joyful." As long as we persevere in faith, we will become happy. We must never doubt this no matter what happens but always advance resolutely, staunchly enduring all hardships and obstacles along the way. This is what true faith is. 20/12

The nobleness as SGI members

We SGI members devote ourselves to serving the Law, serving humanity. Ours is not an egocentric life. That is why we are busier than others and perhaps don't have as much opportunity for relaxation with our families. Nevertheless, we continue to devote ourselves to others. Ours is the most noble way of life. We must make sure our children can understand and respect our beliefs, our way of life and our dedication. We must make conscious efforts to verbalize and communicate our thoughts and feelings to them. Finding the wisdom for this task is an expression of our faith. 18/12

The Soka Gakkai's goal is kosen-rufu

The Soka Gakkai's goal is kosen-rufu—realizing human happiness and world peace by widely spreading the philosophy and ideals of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. We will continue to strive earnestly for this goal, undaunted by criticism, slander or malicious attempts to hinder our progress. That is because what we are doing is the will and decree of the original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin. I proclaim that all who energetically exert themselves for the cause of kosen-rufu are genuine disciples of the Daishonin and genuine members of the SGI.

Events - 18 Nov
Soka Gakkai Founding Day
1930: Soka Gakkai is established.
1944: Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the Soka Gakkai's first president, dies in prison.

True growth comes from striving together with our fellow members

There may be times, certainly, when being a member of an organization seems bothersome and we just want to be alone. But how sad it is if we are left alone without any support and then lose our faith. True growth comes from striving together with our fellow members in the living realm of human beings, experiencing the rich gamut of human emotions. 9/10

Ultimate conviction

We are people of faith and faith is the ultimate conviction. Nothing could be sadder nor more shortsighted, therefore, than complaining or giving up when we encounter some small obstacle in our path. A genuine Buddhist is a person of wisdom and conviction. 4/10

Our existence in this world can be likened to a dream

Our existence in this world can be likened to a dream. The issue of by far the greatest importance and eternal relevance is how we face death, the inescapable destiny of all living beings. For in the face of death, external factors such as social status or position in the organization count for naught. Everything depends on one's faith, one's state of life. 19/9

This is the era of youth

This is the era of youth. Youth do not depend on anyone. Nor do they hang on someone else's coattails. "I will open the way forward myself. I will advance kosen-rufu. I will see to it that the SGI is victorious." This is the spirit of youth and the attitude of true successors who love and cherish the SGI. 11/6

My experience

Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism was introduced to my by my mother in law some twenty years ago. I was a part time buddhist then, By part time I meant chant when got mood. On and off I will chant when I encountered any problem.

My first test of the faith was when my wife conceived my second son. When the new of my wife was pregnant with my second son we were very happy.

The gynecologist when my wife was conceived with my first son was Dr McCoy. The doctor was about sixty years then. My wife and I had decided to chan doctor as we felt that Dr McCoy was old and may not be good for out expecting second child and so we changed to a younger doctor.

So there we were happily visting the young doctor for about two months. On the second month the doctor did a scan on the womb and there was still no sign of heart beat on the feotus. One week later we went to see the doctor again and the doctor still said that there is no new development and suggested to do a D & C on my wife and there was still no heart beat.

We panic and did not know what to do and so we chanted daimoku for quite some time. After chanting we decided to seek a second opinion and went back to Dr McCoy. McCoy said since my wife was pregnant any suggested we just leave the womb alone and waite for another few months before any D & C is needed.

We chanted daimoku everyday and on the visit to Dr McCoy on the third month the scan showed sign of heart beat. We were very happy.

From the third month to the seventh month my wife bleeded for a number of times. Every time when my wife go to work after a few days in office, she bled and went to see the doctor and the doctor will give her two weeks MC. This happened until the seven months. The numbers of MC day taken was about more than 100 days.

We were persistent and continued to chant daimoku. Miracle happened on the eight month and my wife seemed okay. She can go to work everday until the day my second son was born.
The doctor looked surprise and was very happy with the progress of my wife.

Thru chant we had the good fortune of meeting a good doctor. Had we listen to the first doctor we will not have our second son. My son is now in form three. He is always in the top five position in the class and had seven As in UPSR.