Selection Source: Buddhism is Dialogue — 48th HQ Leaders Meeting,
July 18, 2000, Hachioji, Japan, World Tribune, September 8, 2000,
pg. 5

I hope you will pray, too. Pray that instead of devils or negative,
destructive forces infiltrating your being, Brahma (Jpn Bonten),
Shakra (Jpn Taishaku), and the gods of the Sun and the Moon — the
positive, protective forces of the universe — will enter your life!
Pray that they will enter the lives of all members of the SGI, as
well. If you do this, your strength will multiply a hundredfold, a
thousandfold. With such prayer, you will realize a fundamental
transformation in the very depths of your life. This is the secret
to achieving your human revolution.

In one of his commentaries, 26th high priest Nichikan writes that
the Daishonin’s life manifests in our lives. [In his "Commentary
on `The Entity of the Mystic Law,'" Nichikan states, "Through the
power of the Mystic Law, we manifest the life of the Daishonin
within ourselves."]

This is the ultimate truth of faith in the Mystic Law. Nichikan
says that the life of the Daishonin manifests itself in the life of
each of us. That is why we will never be defeated. Let us move
forward with this invincible conviction.

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.”  

Summary of guidance from Amy Shur, Culture Dept.Leader, New York City.

The guidance from Danny Nagashima about becoming a person of unlimited self-esteem is the best medicine. When I chanted that way, everything in my life changed! You can analyze your situation all you want, but you still have to get to the root of why “ I don’t believe in the greatness and chant to appreciate and value your own life. The answer is so often simple, but since we over analyze, it gets complicated and the solution  seems farther away. When I followed Danny;s guidance, it was unbelievable what I felt inside! I realized that our mission as Buddhists is to be Happy, not to master suffering! We have a negative part of us, and positive part of us. There is a part of us that believe we can achieve our goals and become happy, and there is a part of us that says, “ Whom are you kidding”? We have to fight to not give in our negativity. This is not just about achieving one particular goal, but becoming the person you always wanted to become, a person who really values their life! This is an amazing opportunity. The obstacles we face are the answers to our prayers. Those feeling of self-doubt we feel, like being a scam artist or a failure are the feelings that we have to face. Your talent is not really questioned. Rather, it how you feel about yourself that is the karma we have to deal with. We have to value our own life. Appreciating our own life has nothing to do with someone else validating us. When I began to follow my heart and my Buddhahood, the effects and benefits from that were MASSIVE! You need to follow your heart and truly treasure your life. When you sit in front of the Gohonzon to chant, you must have the utmost reverence for your life! The Gohonzon is the embodiment of our enlightened life. Our lives deserve that kind of reverence. When Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Dai Gohonzon, he was already chanting Nam – Kyo. Thus, out of the greatness of his own wisdom, he was able to inscribe the Dai Gohonzon for all humanity so we would be able to relieve our suffering!If you chant Nam – Kyo for TWO weeks, to really become a person of unlimited self-esteem, and to really and TRULY appreciate your life, including your flaws, accomplishments, defeats, losses, victories and what you have created, and just truly APPRECIATE YOURSELF AS A PERSON FOR  TWO WEEKS…..EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE! FORGET about all the past “garbage,” it will only make you feel impotent. Put it away. From today on, really chant to become a person of unlimited self-esteem. Appreciate everything about your life! All the things about you that make you incredibly unique and wonderful! Remember that all that stuff, even the heartaches, will be the stuff you will be able to use to inspire other people. This is the stuff you’ll need in order to share your experience, so really and truly focus on awakening to your greatness! This is the opportunity you needed to go through so that you can become outrageously successful and fulfill your dream! If you focus on this, really valuing your life now, then everything will fall into place in a much bigger way.

You will feel and know your self worth and self respect. It’s something that no one can give you. Theuniverse is showing you what you need to tackle. When you first chant this way, a lot of “garbage” may come out of your life. A lot of negativity and awful feelings may surface. Let it pass through you like the flu and transform the darkness. See the enlightened side of your fear. We always bring things into our lives that match our life condition. Chant to feel incredible joy about your worth! Not being able to achieve a particular goal is a manifestation of our feeling that we are good enough to do it, if we can get ourselves to a place where we can absolutely see the miracle and the greatness of our own lives, everything in our lives will completely transform! We have to believe in our own Buddha nature. When we face the Gohonzon, we should say “I am going to praise my own wonderful life”! It is important to awaken to our own greatness. Now is the time for you to start over. Your life is the Gohonzon. When you pray to a deity, your prayer becomes passive. Our lives are the mystic law. You must appreciate and value your own life. The Gohonzon is not outside you. When you receive a benefit, it was you who created it. You must awaken to and believe in the greatness of your own life.The Gohonzon is the  manifestations of Nichiren Daishonin’s enlightened life. Just as a beautiful piece of art elicits a response, or a great book touches your life in a certain way, we must elicit the Buddha nature from our own lives. It is right there. The Gohonzon is the perfect vehicle to bring out our greatess potential. When you display your Buddhahood, you bring out that strength, joy and vibrant life condition. Then, you  take that to the world and change the environment. We are not necessarily chanting for the house, the car or the relationship. But, we are chanting to elevate our life condition to attract that happiness! The results we see in our lives are a reflection of our life condition. Everyday we must chant to manifest our Buddha nature consistently and to rise above our basic tendency. (I think mine is anger) Chant with the expectation: “I WILL MANIFEST MY BUDDHAHOOD!” That is exactly what will arise. I create my own fortune. I am a Buddha and I will manifest it everyday. I have to believe that I deserve boundless happiness. The Buddha is who I truly am! Everyday I must manifest my Buddhahood and rise above the belief that I am a mere common mortal who does not deserve fortune in my life. Manifest the extraordinary side of you. Believe in the greatness of your own life. Don’t negate your life when you are in front of the Gohonzon. Don’t beg, scream or berate the Gohonzon. The Gohonzon is the tool we need to bring our Buddhahood. My life is the Gohonzon. Don’t slander your life. The doubt is necessary to prove to myself that I am the Buddha. I will fulfill every one of my dreams, for we already possess something incredible that is our Buddha nature and the Gohonzon. But we don’t believe it. I have everything I need to get out of poverty and to transform my life. But if I don’t believe that the “billion dollars” is mine, I won’t be able to enjoy it. It is time to CASH THE CHECK. Trust that the Gohonzon is the absolute means for you to transform your life! Trust is the key word. Chant with the expectation that everyone of your wildest dreams will be fulfilled beyond your wildest imagination! Chant to believe in your Buddhahood. Trust in the greatness of your life. In the Gohso, “ On Attaining Buddhahood,” Nichiren Daishonin makes the primary point. To free ourselves from the sufferings of birth and death we have endured in lifetime after lifetime, and to attain absolute happiness, we must awaken to the mystic truth that has always been within our lives. That truth is Nam – Kyo. That truth is that I am a BUDDHA! Trust the power of your Daimoku. Your life will be HUGE! Put your life first. In front of the Gohonzon, it is all about your life. Trust your life. Trust that the billion-dollar check that you are afraid to cash out really does exist. Trust that you have EVERYTHING that you need for your happiness and it is in the Gohonzon When you look at the Gohonzon, know that you have exactly what you need to fulfill every prayer and become wildly and extraordinarily happy!

by Shin Yatomi

If you lived in a palace where you could enjoy everything – beauty, health, money and power – would you consider leaving behind such a ‘happy’ life? I probably would not.

But one man did more than two millennia ago in his quest for genuine happiness. Shakyamuni’s story still encourages millions around the globe to seek the meaning of suffering beyond pain and the meaning of happiness beyond pleasure.

Shakyamuni’s quest for genuine happiness paved the way for Nichiren Daishonin to reveal the essential law of life as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Based on this truth, Nichiren Buddhism explains some key attitudes for building true happiness. The following five points – though by no means complete – provide us with an outline from which each person may begin painting a clearer picture of authentic happiness.

The First Key: Happiness begins with a vow.
Do you have a despotic boss who is unhappy no matter what you do? The reason why most tyrants are unhappy is that they are waiting for someone else to please them while they themselves do nothing but make demands. Happiness served on a silver platter turns sour after a few bites. Nichiren Buddhism explains that we begin and continue the quest for happiness of oneself and others by making a personal vow and renewing it every day. Each person must create his or her own happiness. Waiting for happiness is a formula for unhappiness. Happiness is born of action.

The Second Key: Happiness is overcoming unhappiness.
Happiness is not an absence of problems, and the presence of problems does not mean unhappiness. Nichiren Buddhism explains that genuine happiness lies in overcoming difficulties. The important thing is to learn how to face our problems, not how to avoid them. Through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism, we can transform meaningless sufferings into meaningful challenges.

The Third Key: The solution to your problem lies within.
It is always tempting to blame our environment for our suffering through our delusions and that we can overcome our suffering by manifesting our innate Buddha nature. It is a common myth that we will become happy when we acquire pleasurable things or meet someone wonderful. But the truth is that when we are happy, we can truly enjoy the niceties of life or good companionship. This is a Copernican change in our view of happiness. Put simply, we are the cause and the solution to our problems, and genuine happiness must be created from within. To realize this is to free ourselves from being a victim of circumstances. Being a victim is easy, but it doesn’t make us happy.

The Fourth Key: Don’t compare yourself with others.
We are trained by society to compare ourselves with others, to see our lives through the eyes of others. Over the years, we’ve learned to feel superior to the less fortunate and disparage ourselves when we are with the more fortunate – restlessly vacillating between arrogance and self-disparagement depending on our circumstances. Nichiren Buddhism, however, teaches us how to build a stronger self that need not seek the reference of its worth outside. Nichiren Buddhism encourages us to bring forth our unique quality that cannot be compared with anything else. Each person has a unique set of karmic circumstances and – by challenging them – can make unique contributions to the world. Our karmic suffering can be transformed into our precious mission in life. With this awareness, we can change arrogance into appreciation, self-disparagement into true confidence.

The Fifth Key: Be in the here and now.
We sometimes dwell in resentment and regret about our past: ‘Because that horrible thing happened to me, I cannot be happy.’ At other times, we are preoccupied with worries about our future: ‘What if my relationship doesn’t work out?’ Nichiren Buddhism teaches that the present moment contains all the past and the future. In other words, by challenging our present state of existence, we can transform resentment and regret into appreciation for our past. Of course, we cannot undo our past, but – by developing a strong state of life Now – we can change the meaning our past holds for us and change worries into hopes.

Nichiren Buddhism also teaches that we cannot create happiness simply by moving from one place to another. What’s most important is to change our inner state of being where we are. Put simply, Nichiren Buddhism shows us how to create happiness in the past (appreciation), in the present (fulfillment) and in the future (hope) by challenging our lives in the here and now.