October Review

Study is the third leg of Buddhism as practiced by SGI members. Its purpose is to deepen our faith in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. This year the primary study effort has been the series of lectures by SGI President Ikeda published in Living Buddhism.

 

This week we'll have the October Review 'test'. The review consists of a 40 minute test period followed by a 40 minute self-grading discussion. The purpose is not so much to ace the review but to encourage study of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. There will be three sessions: Fri 7pm at the Cooper's, Sat 10am and Sun 2pm at the Wolpert's. Please plan to participate in one of these sessions.

More Highlights from 20 June WT

The Spirit to Fight

In 1991, the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood excommunicated the entire SGI membership. In their insanity, the priests expected that the SGI members would join the local temple. But, Surprise! (not), the vast majority of members continued to practice with the SGI under the leadership of President Ikeda.

This came about as the result of the priesthood's corruption and authoritarianism. Whenever Soka Gakkai members called for reform, the priesthood became more arrogant. They demanded exorbitant sums in donations. They sought to make veneration and obedience to themselves as the most important aspects of a practitioners faith.

Nichiren Daishonin clearly denounced such behavior in his writings, emphasizing the self-empowerment of ordinary believers. SGI-USA members have come to understand that the spirit to fight erroneous teachings is an integral part of their practice to protect the Law.

Please read the article A Religious Revolution prepared by the Soka Spirit Committee in the 20 June World Tribune.

Highlights from 20 June WT

The Spirit of Soka

Soka Gakkai General Director Masaaki Masaki addressed the May 24th SGI-USA West Territory Youth Meeting. He spoke about the importance of the mentor-disciple relationship. This relationship constitutes the essence of Buddhism, and it is the disciples who actualize that relationship.

How is our practice different from the practice of the Nikken Sect? We pray to the same Gohonzon; we recite the same sutra; we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and we read the same writings of Nichiren Daishonin. Soka Spirit poses the question as to what is correct faith and what is not. It is a challenge to each one of us to pursue correct faith.

First President Makiguchi said that the closer a counterfeit bank note resembles the real thing, the greater the crime. Why are people deceived by counterfeit bank notes, or, in this case, erroneous teachings? Is it because they closely resemble the real thing and people can't distinguish between them? The real reason is, they do not know the essential nature of the genuine article. When people are unawre of the real thing, they are easily fooled by counterfeits.

What is the distinction between the SGI and the priesthood? Mr. Masaki said that he believes it lies in the heart, in the faith, of those who pray. When discussing the beneficial power of the Gohonzon, Nichiren does not say: As long as we pray, we will receive benefits. Rather, he emphasizes the attitude and faith of the practitioner. He instructed his disciples to chant with the conviction that their lives are endowed with Buddhahood.

Having correct faith is essential. What must we do to maintain correct faith? Nichiren left everything in his writings for the sake of the people of the Latter Day of the Law. If we correctly study his writings, we can correctly practice Nichiren Buddhism. But not a single person can read Nichiren's writings and correctly understand them alone. We must learn from the person who correctly practices Nichiren Buddhism.

How do we discern the mentor who correctly practices? When the Daishonin states his orthodoxy as the Votary of the Lotus Sutra, he consistently makes the following two points: Who has spread the Law the most? Who has undergone persecutions on account of spreading the Law? Among Nichiren's followers, no other person beside SGI President Ikeda has advanced kosen-rufu and undergone persecutions for the sake of the Law as he has.

It follows, therefore, that through studying President Ikeda's lectures on Nichiren Buddhism, we can correctly practice faith.

Now is the time, Mr. Masaki says, to create the foundation for the SGI under President Ikeda's leadership and through the tradition of cultivating capable people who share the same vow as their mentor to accomplish kosen-rufu.

Please study this World Tribune article for full comprehension.

DC Culture Center Opens

The District of Columbia SGI-USA Culture Center officially opened on Wednesday 25 June 2008. SGI Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda cut the ribbon at about 6pm. He was joined in the ribbon cutting by Mid-Atlantic Zone Leader Kathy Geisler, Congressman Hank Johnson, Eastern Territory Leader Tariq Hassan and SGI-USA General Director Danny Nagashima.

A 2 part Opening Celebration followed the ribbon cutting: welcome by Kathy Geisler, reading of President Ikeda's message by Tami Frazier, presentation of awards from the District of Columbia, proclamation from Congresswoman Hilda Solis, letter from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, City of Baltimore, State of Maryland, Commonwealth of Virginia, City of Norfolk. This was followed by acknowledgement of the design and construction of the Culture Center, words by Danny Nagashima. The New Century chorus performed. Part 1 ended with a video of President Ikeda's visits to Washington DC.

Part 2 led off with gongyo led by VP Ikeda followed by words by Mr. Hassan and presentation of awards. In his final guidance VP Ikeda emphasized the importance of Washington DC to the entire world. Every country is watching us, he said. He encouraged us to be excellent representatives of SGI.

New Member Meetings

A New Member Meeting will be held on the first Sunday of every month at 11:30 at the MRCC. The New Members Meetings will include a short presentation, a question and answer session, and discussion. The emphasis will be on practical application of Buddhist principals, developing a strong practice and achieving personal Human Revolution.
January -1. Ten States of Life
February - 2. Cause and Effect
March - 3. Transforming Suffering and Illusion
April - 4. The Oneness of Body and Mind
May - 5. The Oneness of Self and Environment
June - 6. The Middle Way
July - 7. The True Aspect of All Phenomena (The Ten Factors)
August - 8. The Eternity of Life
September - 9. Nam My oho Renge Kyo
October -10. The Practice of Nichiren Buddhism
November -11. The Gohonzon
December - 12. The Life of Nichiren Daishonin

Wealthy Man Sudatta and Other Things

Food has three virtues. First, it sustains life. Second, it enlivens the complexion. Third, it nourishes strength. If one gives food to others, one will improve one's own lot, just as, for example, if one lights a fire for others, one will brighten one's own way. WND Vol 2, 1060.

When a single soybean is brought to the Lotus Sutra, the entire realm of phenomena becomes the lotus realm. WND Vol 2, 356.

The benefit of making offerings for Buddhism is immeasurable. One good example of this is the story of the wealthy merchant named Sudatta, who built the Jetavana Monastery as an offering to Shakyamuni Buddha. The Triumph chapter of the New Human Revolution Vol 4 recounts Sudatta's story and some tidbits regarding early Soka Gakkai finances.

Nichiren Daishonin’s followers made many offerings of food, shelter, clothing, medicine and money to him, often despite their own severe economic hardships. In his writings, the Daishonin says that without these offerings, he would not have survived. Similarly, without the wide variety of contributions made by members, the SGI-USA would not exist. Offerings to the Daishonin and the organization, however, are not merely charity (though they are legally considered charitable contributions). Rather than giving out of a feeling of pity, guilt, obligation or even kindness, offerings of the heart reflect our deep sense of appreciation and the strength of our desire to attain enlightenment. What’s most important is our joy at being able to make such contributions. As SGI President Ikeda writes in The New Human Revolution, “Such joy is the true spirit of offering and it is the wellspring of abundant good fortune” (vol. 4, p. 110).

Some members may feel they can improve their financial situation by challenging themselves to contribute more money to the organization. It’s true that when you make offerings, you are making a cause to change your destiny—just as it’s true that when you chant, you are changing your karma. How this change in karma will manifest, though, no one can readily predict. When we make offerings, we increase our fortune. That doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that we increase our bank balance. If we think that by donating $100 we’ll get $200 in return, then we need to re-evaluate the spirit with which we are contributing. Contributions are not like investments. There’s a subtle yet profound distinction between having no doubt that contributions result in benefit and expecting a specific benefit because we make contributions. It’s a paradox: If we contribute with a purity of heart that expects nothing in return, that’s when we reap the most benefit. Our heart is what matters most.

In Buddhism, there are many different kinds of offerings. Material offerings, such as water, fruit, incense and financial contributions, can be considered “offerings of the body.” “Offerings of the heart” include respecting and praising the Buddha, along with sincerity, purity, chanting and propagating the Law. Even our material offerings are expressions of our heart. It is our heart that enables us to attain Buddhahood. By making contributions from the heart, motivated by our desire to see the Buddha in our lives and in the lives of others, there is no doubt that we enrich ourselves and experience great benefit.

As you know, SGI-USA does not consistently solicit monetary donations. Of course there is the kofu table during kosen-rufu gongyo but it's very passive. There is no passing of the offering plate as you see in most Christian churches during Sunday services. When I was in high school, the church I attended had a separate building fund that was aggressively promoted. But administration, community center acquisition and upkeep cost big bucks.

The May Contribution opportunity is provided to SGI-USA members in commemoration of the founding of Nichiren Buddhism on April 28, Soka Gakkai Day on May 3, the birthday of the first president, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, on June 6, and Soka Gakkai Women’s Day on June 11.The May Contribution campaign will kick off on April 28th and run til June 8th. Contributions can be made in person, by mail, by credit card and on-line. Details forthcoming.

Heritage of the Law #9

Here are some comments on Installment 9 of President Ikeda's lecture series on the gosho "The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life".

"Nichiren has been trying to awaken all the people of Japan to faith in the Lotus Sutra so that they too can share the heritage and attain Buddhahood." (WND-1, 217)

This passage, says President Ikeda, expresses the fundamental spirit of the Buddha of the Latter Day. The Lotus Sutra is permeated by the Buddha's great vow to enable all people to attain Buddhahood.

The true heritage of faith is open to all people. This is the most crucial point. When it is correctly understood Buddhism can serve as a humanistic and universal religion. Nichiren made a great vow to

"But instead they have persecuted me in various ways and finally had me banished to this island. You have followed Nichiren, however, and met with suffering as a result." (WND-1, 217)

The sutra states that if one propagates the correct teaching in the evil age of the Latter Day, one is certain to encounter great persecution. Although persecuted unendingly, Nichiren, undaunted, confronted all obstacles head-on and triumphed over them.

"It pains me deeply to think of your anguish. Gold can be neither burned by fire nor corroded or swept away by water, but iron is vulnerable to both. A worthy person is like gold, a fool like iron. You are like pure gold because you embrace the “gold” of the Lotus Sutra." (WND-1, 217)

In praising Sairen-bo, Nichiren teaches us that the heritage flows in the lives of those who practice in the same spirit as the mentor. A person of pure gold is another name for a person of selfless dedication to the Law.

"The sutra states, “Just as among all the mountains, Mount Sumeru is foremost, so this Lotus Sutra is likewise.”¹¹ It also states, “The good fortune you gain thereby . . . cannot be burned by fire or washed away by water.” (WND-1, 217)

It's perfectly clear. No explanation needed.

"It must be ties of karma from the distant past that have destined you to become my disciple at a time like this. Shakyamuni and Many Treasures certainly realized this truth. The sutra’s statement, “Those persons who had heard the Law dwelled here and there in various Buddha lands, constantly reborn in company with their teachers,” cannot be false in any way." (WND-1, 217)

So, Shakyamuni and his disciples have been reborn again and again since the infimite past to practice as bodisattvas, This mentor-disciple relationship is eternal and deeply profound. This relationship is the vital spirit of the Soka Gakkai. If it lives on, our movement will continue to develop.

Shakyamuni, based on his awakening to the Law, strove to enable his disciples to achieve their highest potential. The disciples, their awarenes being clouded by fundamental darkness, could not percive the Law on their own. The Law was conveyed to them by coming into contact with the Buddha's charecter and by hearing his words of instruction. But what happens after the Buddha passwes away? The "Life Span" chapter says that, even after his passing, Shakyamuni will appear where there are practitioners striving in faith.