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THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTION IN BUDDHISM

Selection Source: Develop a Life-condition As Vast As the Ocean,
November 23, 1987, Shizuoka, Japan, Buddhism in Action, Vol. VI, pp.
319-320

Nichiren Daishonin faced persecution from government authorities
here in Izu. He was exiled to Ito on the Izu Peninsula; here he
spent a difficult two years, from May 12, 1261, to February 22,
1263, from the age of forty to forty-two. On New Year’s Day in
1262, the Daishonin wrote a letter to a believer by the name of Kudo
Sakon-no-jo Yoshitaka in Awa Province (present-day Chiba
Prefecture). This Gosho, “The Four Debts of Gratitude,” reads, “It
is already twenty-four or twenty-five years since I began studying
Buddhism” [WND, 43]. This statement is made from the viewpoint of a
common mortal, the form in which the Daishonin manifested himself to
lead the people.

He goes on to say, “Yet I have believed wholeheartedly in the Lotus
Sutra only for the past six or seven years.” Here the Daishonin
shows great humility. But let us examine the meaning underlying
this passage. The Daishonin was not simply preoccupied with
Buddhist study; he experienced great persecutions after the
establishment of his Buddhism, meaning that he truly read the Lotus
Sutra with his entire being, as expounded in the sutra.

The Daishonin continues: “Moreover, although I had faith in the
sutra, because I was negligent and because of my studies and the
interruptions of mundane affairs, each day I would recite only a
single scroll, a chapter, or the title.” Through this passage, I
feel as if the Daishonin knew of your present situation, that you
are very busy with many concerns and unable to devote yourselves to
practice and study as much as you would like. This sounds exactly
like the guidance you need.

The passage continues: “Now, however, for a period of more than 240
days — from the twelfth day of the fifth month of last year to the
sixteenth day of the first month of this year — I think I have
practiced the Lotus Sutra twenty-four hours each day and night.”
Why does he say this? As he states: “I say so because, having been
exiled on the Lotus Sutra’s account, I now read and practice it
continuously, whether I am walking, standing, sitting, or lying
down.” Here the Daishonin teaches us that only through experiencing
hardships can one truly live the Lotus Sutra or “read” it through
one’s actions. Then he expresses his profound joy of life by
saying, “For anyone born human, what greater joy could there be?”

The Daishonin continues: It is the way of ordinary people that, even
though they spur themselves on to arouse the aspiration for
enlightenment and wish for happiness in the next life, they exert
themselves no more than one or two out of all the hours of the day,
and this only after reminding themselves to do so. As for myself, I
read the Lotus Sutra without having to remember to, and practice it
even when I do not read its words aloud [WND, 43].

What a sublime state of life he had!

Selection Source: Dialogue on [Wisdom of] the Lotus Sutra, #28:
Establish a life of Eternal, Indestructible Happiness, Living
Buddhism, April 1998, pp. 32-3

Ikeda: The ten factors are also termed the true entity of the ten
factors. The substance of the true entity is none other than Myoho-
renge-kyo itself. The factors of “inherent cause” and “latent
effect,” along with the other eight factors, exist in one’s life at
each moment. This is the simultaneity of cause and effect. This
simultaneity is the marvelous Law of the lotus that we all are
entities of that Law.

“All phenomena” in the phrase “the true entity of all phenomena”
indicates the Ten Worlds. While the phenomena of the universe are
infinite, they are all included in the beings and environment of the
Ten Worlds. All phenomena of the Ten Worlds are the true entity;
that is, they are all entities of the Mystic Law. That is the
meaning of the true entity of all phenomena. …

Ikeda: The true entity accords with the dynamic life of the
universe, without beginning or end. The true entity of all
phenomena reveals the Law through which all beings in the Ten Worlds
can equally attain Buddhahood. This is ichinen sanzen of the
theoretical teaching.

Selection Source: The Joy Of Faith — President Ikeda’s Message to
the CEC, November 30, 2001, World Tribune, December 14, 2001, pg. 1

None of the efforts you have made for kosen-rufu are in vain. Only
by overcoming obstacles does the true worth of a practitioner
shine. To the degree that you challenge yourself to climb the
mountain of kosen-rufu, overcoming obstacle after obstacle, you will
accumulate more “treasures of the heart.” As leaders of America,
please lead lives of composure, based upon the great conviction that
faith is the source of infinite hope. In his writings, Nichiren
Daishonin states, “I praise myself, for I cannot hold back the
upsurge of joy in my life” (GZ 334). The essence of Buddhism lies
in the joy of faith. In other words, being able to truly enjoy
ourselves reflects the essence of Buddhism. Fully enjoying your
devotion to the Mystic Law, brimming with confidence, please always
be cheerful in spreading the seeds of happiness across your country
and constructing a truly peaceful paradise in this land of freedom
and justice, this land of America.

Selection Source: From SGI President Ikeda, World Tribune, 02/27/98,
pg. 11

The first thing is to pray. From the moment we begin to pray,
things start moving. The darker the night, the closer the dawn.
From the moment we chant daimoku with a deep and powerful resolve,
the sun begins to rise in our heart. Hope — prayer is the sun of
hope. To chant daimoku each time we face a problem, overcoming it
and elevating our life-condition as a result — this is the path
of “changing earthly desires into enlightenment” taught in Nichiren
Daishonin’s Buddhism. (July 5, 1996, World Tribune, P. 17)

When you purify your lives with daimoku, you will definitely develop
an utterly indestructible state of absolute happiness that abounds
with great fortune. In such a state of life, everything will become
a source of joy. You will feel a deep sense of fulfillment even if
you have neither worldly fame nor wealth. Each moment will be
totally satisfying. Your heart will be filled with joy and all
things will appear beautiful to your eyes. You can instantly
discern the truth, distinguish between good and evil. You will
think about the welfare of others in any circumstances. This is the
state of mind you can develop through faith. (April 1993 Seikyo
Times, P. 40)

Once, when encouraging a member who had begun practicing Nichiren
Daishonin’s Buddhism to change his angry nature, second Soka Gakkai
president Josei Toda said: “You don’t have to worry about changing
your personality. All you have to do is chant daimoku and live the
best you can. Then, very naturally, you will see the negative
aspects of your personality disappear, leaving you with the positive
ones.” (Aug. 8, 1997, World Tribune, P. 10)

Shin’ichi Yamamoto would consistently chant earnest daimoku that
those attending his lectures could savor the deep joy of faith and
go about their activities with absolute conviction. This daimoku
was infused with a powerful prayer, driven by a fierce determination
to without fail bring forth the life force he needed to adequately
convey the spirit and immense compassion of the Daishonin, whose
goal was to save all humanity. (Aug. 15, 1997, World Tribune, P.

Selection Source: Guidance Memo, Page 210

No matter what you’re doing, do it yourself first. Don’t depend on
somebody else. It is Zuitai to be swayed by another’s opinion. Youth
should have the spirit of Zuijii, to stand alone.

Regardless of what others may do or say, you should insist, “This is
the traditional Gakkai spirit,” and practice it. This is faith.

Selection Source: The New Human Revolution, Volume 7: Chapter 4 At
the Helm (17), World Tribune, June 2, 2000, pg. 9

When the politician finished, Shin’ichi Yamamoto smiled, but said
firmly: “I understand what you are saying, and I respect the views
of you and your colleagues. Let’s just forget about my meeting with
President Kennedy. I will cancel it entirely. I’ll wait another
opportunity presents itself.”

The politician was taken aback. He had obviously never expected
such a reply.

“Cancel the meeting?” he exclaimed. “But… if you do that, you’ll
lose such a wonderful opportunity…”

Shin’ichi broke in: “I haven’t the slightest intention of calling
on the help of you and your colleagues to meet President Kennedy.
It would change the whole meaning of why I was going to see him in
the first place.”

“Furthermore, I have never for a moment cherished the base idea of
boosting my prestige by meeting with the U.S. president. That may
be the way politicians think, but you are grossly mistaken in
assuming the same about me.”

“I wanted to meet with President Kennedy out of a desire to generate
a tide toward peace for all humanity and to open a path of dialogue
between the Eastern and Western blocs. I believe this is also in
the interests of Japan.”

“The Soka Gakkai has always acted wholeheartedly, with the purest
motives for the happiness of the people, the prosperity of society
and the peace of the world. It does not tolerate self-serving
political bartering.”

“To sincerity, I respond with even greater sincerity. To arrogance,
I respond with strength. Against evil and injustice, I fight armed
with truth. This is my creed and my conviction.”

Sweat trickled down the Diet member’s face. As he mopped it up with
a handkerchief, he tried to mask his confusion with feigned
generosity.

Many years ago, some friends invited me for dinner and asked me to help them shakubuku their friend, whom I shall refer to as Mr. Y. They really wanted him to chant because he had been diagnosed with cancer.  

Mr. Y was a very nice Japanese gentleman and I figured him to be in his 60’s. We had a very enjoyable dinner. We shared a lot of jokes and laughs. He told me about his family, his successful business, and his lovely vacation home. I talked to him about my life, Buddhism, and Ikeda Sensei. Mr. Y was very polite and listened very carefully to what I had to say.  

He then looked me straight in the eye and said, “I understand how you feel about Ikeda Sensei. You feel that he is a great man, and I can see that not only do you respect and admire him, but his works as well. However, I regret to inform you, that he is not the man who you think he is. You see, I know that because I know him very well. He was my classmate in school for many years. It is impossible that he does all those things you claim that he did.

During our school days, he didn’t have many friends, because he was sick all the time. He used to be absent a lot and when he did come to school, he would sit very quietly in the back and read. In other words, he was your basic school nerd. As the class leader and sports captain, I tried to get him to participate more, but he was so weak. So you see, I know him, and I know that the Ikeda-kun (kun in Japan is a title that is added to young Japanese boys) I knew, cannot be the Ikeda Sensei that you claim him to be.”  

I replied to him with two words: “Thank you”. He looked surprised. He said “What do you mean by ‘Thank you’? I have told this story to several Gakkai people and they are always ready to argue with me. You sit there, sipping your sake, and say ‘Thank you’?”  

I told him. “Ikeda Sensei himself tells us in the Human Revolution how he was sick as a young boy. You have just proven to me that he is not a liar. More importantly, you have just proven to me the power of the Gohonzon. If a man like Ikeda-kun can become Ikeda Sensei, I wonder how much more a class leader like Y-Kun could become.

Too often, people make the mistake of criticizing Sensei or the organization; what they forget is that we become Buddhists because we want to become happy. That the Gohonzon and chanting are powerful enough to change ourselves and our karma. According to your words, Sensei really changed his karma and also did a lot of human revolution; try as I might, I cannot imagine Sensei in the corner in the back. You have just given me tremendous hope on what I can do and become. I respect Sensei because he helps me keep the fire of my belief burning; but, in the end, it is only my own chanting and Gohonzon that can change my karma. Even though I am telling you ‘thank you,’ don’t forget that even you can achieve human revolution by chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.”