Gosho for February

Letter to the Brothers Part 1. Overcome all obstacles through steadfast faith! See JanFeb Living Buddhism.

Friday, June 27, 2008

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.

No comments: