Shirota’s Campaign (midcol 1 69 – midcol 1 71)(1436 – 1441)
‘Shirota and the new converts decided on their course of action. The two gamblers would be sent to prison in the near future. When they were released, they would go to see Shirota and receive their Gohonzon. Shirota was thoroughly satisfied.’
Shinichi, continuing his talk, encouraged the leaders to do their best. Fresh energy flowed throughout Osaka permeating the discussion meetings that day and night. Josie Toda changed his schedule and remained in Osaka. He openly displayed his anger about the unreasonable arrests, decrying the absurdities of the government and touting the necessity of good statesmen. He affirmed the validity of righteous faith, assuring the members that victory was certain.
Meanwhile, Fujita Shirota resolved to chant daimoku and conduct shakubuku as his religious activity in jail, just as the two presidents had done. He engaged in lengthy discussions with his cell mates. One day the ‘boss’ decided to do gongyo with Shirota. Then another man asked to join the group. The jailers were flabbergasted!
Shirota was exuberant!
Points to ponder
Shinichi’s guidance based on the gosho, ‘On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha’.
President Toda’s anger regarding the political conspiracy against the Sokagakkai.
Shirota’s resolve.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Agony in Osaka
Agony in Osaka (67 – midcol 1 69)(1432 – 1436)
Shinichi Yamamoto speaking:
“No matter what the problem, we must always seek the solution in our faith, which is as indestructible as a diamond. There is a letter which the Daishonin wrote Shijo Kingo when the latter was having difficulties in his association with his colleagues. In it he said, ‘Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other. Then, just as the sutra says, “All enemies are crushed.” These golden words will never prove false. Believe them wholeheartedly… A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered.’ ”
Turmoil. President Toda, Shinichi and other senior leaders were alert to the impact the arrests had on the membership.
Leaders were reluctant to talk at the morning gongyo/gosho lecture. Pressed to report, Tojiro Ueda said that everyone was fine, that the meeting broke up earlier than usual and that he thought the members were secretly frightened. “Isn’t it you who are frightened?”, interrupted Shinichi.
Shinichi then spoke at length, reminding them what their attitude toward faith should be. Some points of his talk:
Points to ponder
Shinichi’s remarks to the Osaka leaders.
Tojiro Ueda’s account of the discussion meeting.
The difficulty of caring for thousands of new members in such an oppressive environment.
Shinichi Yamamoto speaking:
“No matter what the problem, we must always seek the solution in our faith, which is as indestructible as a diamond. There is a letter which the Daishonin wrote Shijo Kingo when the latter was having difficulties in his association with his colleagues. In it he said, ‘Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other. Then, just as the sutra says, “All enemies are crushed.” These golden words will never prove false. Believe them wholeheartedly… A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered.’ ”
Turmoil. President Toda, Shinichi and other senior leaders were alert to the impact the arrests had on the membership.
Leaders were reluctant to talk at the morning gongyo/gosho lecture. Pressed to report, Tojiro Ueda said that everyone was fine, that the meeting broke up earlier than usual and that he thought the members were secretly frightened. “Isn’t it you who are frightened?”, interrupted Shinichi.
Shinichi then spoke at length, reminding them what their attitude toward faith should be. Some points of his talk:
- The most pressing question is how quickly we can cope with this situation and how effectively we can fight against it.
- We must always seek a solution in our faith.
- The Daishonin warns that a common mortal must meet various obstacles on the road to Buddhahood.
- Each of us must summon up the courage of a lion and never succumb to threats from manyone.
- We must reaffirm the prime point of faith and advanced kosenrufu in a dignified manner.
Points to ponder
Shinichi’s remarks to the Osaka leaders.
Tojiro Ueda’s account of the discussion meeting.
The difficulty of caring for thousands of new members in such an oppressive environment.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Sokagakkai Under Attack
Sokagakkai Under Attack (midcol 1 64 – 66)1427 – 1432)
"As practice progresses and understanding grows, the three obstacles and four devils emerge in confusing form, vying with one another to interfere . . . . One should be neither influenced nor frightened by them. If one falls under their influence, one will be led into the paths of evil. If one is frightened by them, one will be prevented from practicing the correct teaching." (WND, page 501, quoting from ‘Great Concentration and Insight’ in Letter to the Brothers)
The sudden arrests, on the morning of May 15th, on the erroneous assumption that previously resolved incidents had been part of some coordinated action, received widespread newspaper coverage. Headlines such as “Soka Gakkai – Strong Arm Religious Body” and “Soka Gakkai Kansai Headquarters Wins Believers by Strong-arm Tactics; Police to Nab Six” appeared.
It’s likely that the actions of other religious sects contributed to the gakkai member round-up. The conversion of 9,000 households by the Osaka chapter during April came as a shock to leaders of other sects and they no doubt felt an urgent need to ‘protect’ their membership rolls. It was rumored that a federation of other sects had formed a ‘committee to cope with the Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai.’
The incident could have a serious impact on the members, in particular those newly converted. Shinichi and other top leaders in the Kansai headquarters rose resolutely to crush the devilish maneuvering of those in power.
President Toda was in Osaka at the time and he was scheduled to give a gosho lecture on the 15th. The lecture was on the gosho, ‘On Omens.’ Some main points are:
Points to ponder
Was the arrest of the six members unreasonable? Why? Read the account of President Toda’s lecture.
Imagine yourself being arrested in circumstances such as Shirota’s. How do you think you would react.
"As practice progresses and understanding grows, the three obstacles and four devils emerge in confusing form, vying with one another to interfere . . . . One should be neither influenced nor frightened by them. If one falls under their influence, one will be led into the paths of evil. If one is frightened by them, one will be prevented from practicing the correct teaching." (WND, page 501, quoting from ‘Great Concentration and Insight’ in Letter to the Brothers)
The sudden arrests, on the morning of May 15th, on the erroneous assumption that previously resolved incidents had been part of some coordinated action, received widespread newspaper coverage. Headlines such as “Soka Gakkai – Strong Arm Religious Body” and “Soka Gakkai Kansai Headquarters Wins Believers by Strong-arm Tactics; Police to Nab Six” appeared.
It’s likely that the actions of other religious sects contributed to the gakkai member round-up. The conversion of 9,000 households by the Osaka chapter during April came as a shock to leaders of other sects and they no doubt felt an urgent need to ‘protect’ their membership rolls. It was rumored that a federation of other sects had formed a ‘committee to cope with the Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai.’
The incident could have a serious impact on the members, in particular those newly converted. Shinichi and other top leaders in the Kansai headquarters rose resolutely to crush the devilish maneuvering of those in power.
President Toda was in Osaka at the time and he was scheduled to give a gosho lecture on the 15th. The lecture was on the gosho, ‘On Omens.’ Some main points are:
- An event is always preceded by an omen
- When Sakyamuni was about to preach the Lotus Sutra, there appeared great omens without precedent in the previous 42 years.
- When Sakyamuni expounded the essential teaching, as huge treasure tower appeared from the earth and hung in the air.
- Greater omens exist inn the Latter Day because there are many more evil people, and more wicked, than there were in Sakyamuni’s day.
- The Daishonin severely criticized the social situation in his time from the standpoint of the inseparability of life and its environment
- Because the people of Kansai have been propagating the Lotus Sutra, omens must appear. One such occurred today with the unreasonable arrest of our friends.
Points to ponder
Was the arrest of the six members unreasonable? Why? Read the account of President Toda’s lecture.
Imagine yourself being arrested in circumstances such as Shirota’s. How do you think you would react.