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

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, November 14, 2012:

 

When once we chant Myoho-renge-kyo, with just that single sound we summon forth and manifest the Buddha nature of all Buddhas; all existences; all bodhisattvas; all voice-hearers; all the deities such as Brahma, Shakra, and King Yama; the sun and moon, and the myriad stars; the heavenly gods and earthly deities, on down to hell-dwellers, hungry spirits, animals, asuras, human and heavenly beings, and all other living beings. This blessing is immeasurable and boundless.

How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra
Written to the lay nun Myoho in 1277

Greatest Treasure

Spiritual Story by Catherine Ingram

Long ago lived a young man in Istanbul, Turkey. Because he was poor, he had only a single room, spasely furnished with a few books and a small cot for a bed. One night the young man had a dream — a vision, really. In it, he saw himself walking on a street in what he came to realize was the city of Cairo in Egypt, a place he had never been. He could clearly see the name of the street and the houses that lined the road. In the vision, he walked up to one particular house, noting the address. He entered into a tiled courtyard and then into the main house. An open door drew him to a particular room within the house. In this room sat an old man surrounded by treasures beyond anything the young man had ever imagined. Diamonds, emeralds, and rubies were piled high in pyramid shapes. Gold and silver bars lined the walls. Exquisite carpets and artifacts from around the world lay at his feet. The young man stared at the treasures and then at the old man in amazement, for in that moment he somehow knew that these treasures belonged to himself. He didn't know how he knew (it was avision, after all), but he was certain that all of it was rightfully his. The young man bolted awake from the dream. So confident was he in its veracity that he set off that very day on the long journey from Istanbul to Cairo in order to claim his treasure. In those days, travel was slow and the young man, being poor, had to work along the way to pay for food and lodging. After several months, he eventually arrived in Cairo. Upon making the inquiries he found the very street he had seen in his dream. As he set foot upon it, everything seemed completely familiar. The houses were exactly as he had seen them in his vision. And sure enough, the house that in the dream had contained the old man and his treasure was precisely where the young man expected it to be. Knowing his way, he entered into the tiled courtyard and then into the room of treasures where he planned to make his claim. There sat the old man, but there were no jewels, no gold or silver, no carpets or artifacts. The young man, undetereed by the absense of the treasures recounted his vision to the old man and conclued by saying, "Since everything else in my vision has been accurate, I assume that the riches are hidden here somewhere. Please hand them over to me." The old man was silent for some time, looking intently at the young man, his eyes glistening. After a while, he spoke. "It's strange," he said. "I, too, had a dream. I dreamed of a young man in Istanbul who looked exactly like you." "Yes, go on," implored the young man, certain that this information would lead to his treasure. The old man proceeded to describe the street on which the young man lived in Istanbul. He described the young man's mother and father, his siblings, his friends at work, and the books on the wall of his simple room. "In my vision," said the old man, "the greatest treasure, more precious than all the shiny rocks and metals of the world, was there on a small cot in that room." The young man suddently realized what the old man meant. He bowed to the wise man, and taking his leave, returned home to Istanbul where he lived out his quiet days.

The Sons Pure Storehouse and Pure Eye

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, November 13, 2012:

 

Kai-ko said: ". . . I felt it a terrible pity that someone such as he, outstanding in every respect, should die so young. Reconsidering the matter, however, I realized that it was because of this boy's death that his mother became a seeker of the way and his father began to practice, praying for his repose. How marvelous, I thought. Moreover, the fact that they have put their trust in the Lotus Sutra, which all people detest, must mean that their deceased son has been at their side and encouraged them to do so." I also believe this to be the case.

The Sons Pure Storehouse and Pure Eye
Recipient unknown; written on July 7, 1280

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, November 12, 2012:

 

Even if your fiefs should be confiscated or you yourself driven out, you must think that it is due to the workings of the ten demon daughters, and wholeheartedly entrust yourself to them. Had I not been exiled, but remained in Kamakura, I would certainly have been killed in the battle. In like manner, since remaining in your lord's service will likely be to your detriment, this may well be the design of Shakyamuni Buddha.

A Warning against Begrudging One's Fief
Written to Shijo Kingo in July 1277

God As Mother

Spiritual Story by Sri Ramakrishna

There are some temples where God is worshipped as Mother. In one of these, in the state of Bengal, She is represented by a large stone image. The sculptor has carved in stone his idea of the Mother of the Universe, and many pious people, finding it attractive and inspiring, go there to pay their respects or make offerings. One day an old monk who used a cane came into the temple. Approaching the altar he said, speaking aloud to God, "Mother, you are said to be God; tell me the truth: are you solid like stone — this image? Or are you formless, indescribable and impossible to touch?" "Take your cane," the monk heard a soft voice saying, "and strike my body on the left side." He did, and the cane hit the stone with a clack. "Now strike me from the other side," She said. When the cane reached the sculpture it passed right through it as if it were air.

The Eight Winds

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, November 11, 2012:

 

Worthy persons deserve to be called so because they are not carried away by the eight winds: prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure, suffering and pleasure. They are neither elated by prosperity nor grieved by decline. The heavenly gods will surely protect one who is unbending before the eight winds. But if you nurse an unreasonable grudge against your lord, they will not protect you, not for all your prayers.

The Eight Winds
Written to Shijo Kingo in 1277

Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, November 10, 2012:

 

Moreover, as life does not go beyond the moment, the Buddha expounded the blessings that come from a single moment of rejoicing [on hearing the Lotus Sutra]. If two or three moments were required, this could no longer be called the original vow of the Buddha endowed with great impartial wisdom, the single vehicle of the teaching that directly reveals the truth and leads all living beings to attain Buddhahood.

Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263

Real optimism 22/2

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Real optimism should not be confused with a carefree outlook on life, one in which we forfeit responsibility for our lives. The person undefeated by misfortune, poverty, insult and vilification, the person who can bounce back from every adversity and say, "What? That was nothing!" The person who marches on toward hope through sheer force of will—that person is a true optimist.

The lion king is said to advance three steps, then gather himself to spring, unleashing the same power whether he traps a tiny ant or attacks a fierce animal. In inscribing this Gohonzon for [your daughter's] protection, Nichiren was like the lion king. This is what the sutra means by "the power [of the Buddhas] that has the lion's ferocity." Believe in this mandala with all your heart. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?"

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,

Reply to Kyo'o

Written Kyo'o and her parents, Nichigen-nyo and Shijo Kingo, on August 15, 1273 11/1

The fainthearted cannot savor the true benefit of faith.

Cowardice is harmful for it delights the enemies of Buddhism and obstructs the advance of kosen-rufu. The fainthearted cannot savor the true benefit of faith; their ability to tap the power of the Buddha and the power of the Law [of the Gohonzon] in their lives is enfeebled.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 5/6

Reply to Kyo'o

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, November 9, 2012:

 

Kyo'o's misfortune will change into fortune. Muster your faith, and pray to this Gohonzon. Then what is there that cannot be achieved? There can be no doubt about the sutra passages that say, "This sutra can fulfill their desires, as a clear cool pond can satisfy all those who are thirsty," and "They will enjoy peace and security in their present existence and good circumstances in future existences."

Reply to Kyo'o
Written to Kyo'o and her parents, Nichigen-nyo and Shijo Kingo, on August 15, 1273

On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, November 8, 2012:

 

If you seek enlightenment outside yourself, then your performing even ten thousand practices and ten thousand good deeds will be in vain. It is like the case of a poor man who spends night and day counting his neighbor's wealth but gains not even half a coin. That is why the T'ien-t'ai school's commentary states, "Unless one perceives the nature of one's life, one cannot eradicate one's grave offenses." This passage implies that, unless one perceives the nature of one's life, one's practice will become an endless, painful austerity.

On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255

Ghandi and Some Sugar

Spiritual Story by Catherine Ingram

A woman once came to Gandhi and asked him to please tell her son to give up eating sugar. Gandhi asked the woman to bring the boy back in a week. Exactly one week later the woman returned, and Gandhi said to the boy, "Please give up eating sugar." The woman thanked the Mahatma, and, as she turned to go, asked him why he had not said those words a week ago." Gandhi replied, "Because a week ago, I had not given up eating sugar."

Letter to the Lay Priest Ichinosawa

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, November 7, 2012:

 

I knew from the outset that, if I set aside my fears and declared things exactly as they are, I would be sentenced to death. And even if I should escape the death penalty, I would surely be condemned to exile. So great is the debt of gratitude I owe the Buddha, however, that I have not let others intimidate me, but have spoken out.

Letter to the Lay Priest Ichinosawa
Written to the wife of the lay priest Ichinosawa on May 8, 1275

The Dragon Gate

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, November 6, 2012:

 

In the end, no one can escape death. The sufferings at that time will be exactly like what we are experiencing now. Since death is the same in either case, you should be willing to offer your life for the Lotus Sutra. Think of this offering as a drop of dew rejoining the ocean, or a speck of dust returning to the earth.

The Dragon Gate
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on November 6, 1279

Friends in the Desert

Spiritual Story by Unknown

Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face." They kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life." The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?" The friend replied, when someone hurts us we should write it down in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

To My Friends

May 6, 2012

Capable individuals are fostered
through a hands-on approach.
Youth develop through the two ways
of practice and study.
Let's pray and take action together
with our new members who
have a profound mission, and
build a bastion of capable people
in which everyone is a protagonist.

Words of the Week

April 30, 2012

Hurrah for May 3rd,
the day of great victory!
Hurrah for Soka Gakkai Mothers' Day!
Together with our sun-like "mothers,"
let's vibrantly engage in dialogue
and advance, sharing words of hope
that shine a light upon our friends.

The Birth of Tsukimaro

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, November 5, 2012:

 

Tsukimaro must have chanted Nam-myoho-rennge-kyo with her very first cry at birth. The Lotus Sutra speaks of "the true aspect of all phenomena." T'ien-t'ai said, "Voices do the Buddha's work." This is also what I think. The deaf cannot hear the thunder, and the blind cannot see the light of the sun and moon. But I am quite certain that the ten demon daughters must be together side by side, giving the baby her first bath and watching over her growth.

The Birth of Tsukimaro
Written to Nichigen-nyo and Shijo Kingo on May 8, 1271

Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, November 4, 2012:

 

If you truly fear the sufferings of birth and death and yearn for nirvana, if you carry out your faith and thirst for the way, then the sufferings of change and impermanence will become no more than yesterday's dream, and the awakening of enlightenment will become today's reality.

Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man
Recipient unknown; written in 1265