The Lotus Sutra is the heart of the eighty thousand teachings and the core of the twelve divisions of the scriptures. The Buddhas throughout the three existences attain enlightenment because they take this sutra as their teacher. The Buddhas of the ten directions guide living beings with the teaching of the one vehicle as their eyes.
Commentary:
Nichiren emphasizes the superiority of the Lotus Sutra over all others. He says that all Buddhas attained enlightenment by taking the Lotus Sutra as their teacher and they also expounded the Lotus Sutra to others.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Letter to the Brothers Intro
"The great undertaking of kosenrufu is a struggle against devilish functions. We cannot afford to cower at their onslaughts. If we allow them to defeat us, humanity will be forever enveloped in darkness." This declaration by Josei Toda carries an important message for posterity. Mr. Toda wished to rid the world of suffering and misery; therefore, he strove tirelessly to vanquish all negative forces that inflicted pain and torment on people. Although suffering from illness when the Soka Gakkai was nearing its 750,000 membership goal, he fought on, undaunted. He overcame his health threat and handed the baton of kosenrufu to the youth division in March, 1958. He passed away peacefully on April 2.
The announcement of the attainment of 750,000 membership occurred at the December 1957 HQ leaders meeting. Mr. Toda presented what became known as "three eternal guidelines of the Soka Gakkai": faith for a harmonious family, faith for each person to become happy, faith for surmounting obstacles. In 2003 President Ikeda added two more: faith for health and long life, faith for absolute victory.
"Letter to the Brothers" is a crucial text for learning the correct attitude in faith. Nichiren Daishonin teaches his followers to triumph over all devilish functions and attain Buddhahood. He urges them to do so by striving in faith with the same commitment as his and uniting solidly with their fellow believers.
This writing could be called the basis of the five eternal guidelines. Unless we win in the struggle against devilish functions, we cannot achieve true harmony, happiness, health, longevity or victory.
The letter is addressed to Munenaka and Munenaga Ikegami in response to news of Munenaka's disownment (a really big deal) by their father, Yasumitsu, who was a leading construction contractor for the government. As an ardent supporter of Ryokan, chief priest of the Gokurakuji temple, he was opposed to their practice and had disowned Munenaka in oredr to tempt Munenaga who could become the heir if only he would abandon his faith. He teaches that the obstacles confronting them are due to their faith in the Lotus Sutrs and that the path to Buddhahood lies in battling devilish functions in accord with the sutra.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
President Ikeda's Message to the CEC
To my most respected and beloved fellow members who are serving on the SGI-USA Central Executive Committee!
I deeply appreciate your efforts in holding this conference to continue your victorious progress toward next year! When all of you, as leaders, shoulder overall responsibility and maintain solid unity, you can open a path to victory for tens of thousands of generations to come. Watching over you from here in Japan, I am deeply praying that your meeting will be bright and meaningful.
Next year marks the 50th anniversary since I made my first steps in America, the land I chose as the pivotal point of our global kosen-rufu movement. Thanks to your noble, tireless efforts in blazing an unexplored, virgin trail for worldwide kosen-rufu, our quest has been fulfilled to the point that we have proudly constructed many great castles of the Law around the world as evidence of the dynamic growth of our movement.
At this point, what matters most is "leadership revolution." Each of you is a vital pillar of kosen-rufu. That pillar must never fall, no matter what happens. Unless you wholeheartedly make a fresh determination now and grow significantly, you will not be able to open a new era. I ask you to become people who are trusted even more than before. Toward this end, you should base your lives on the oneness of mentor and disciple. You must decide that pursuing the oneness of mentor and disciple is the primary quest of your lives. You should continue to fight, especially in those areas where your mentor may not be watching, but with the same spirit as your mentor. Such dedicated disciples are surely praiseworthy. This is the supreme teaching of Buddhism.
Nikko Shonin, who walked along the true path of mentor and disciple until the very last moment of his life, strictly stated in the Twenty-six Admonitions of Nikko, "Until kosen-rufu is achieved, propagate the Law to the full extent of your ability without begrudging your life" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 1618). It is we who are single-mindedly struggling to advance toward our great desire of kosen-rufu in exact accord with our mentor's teachings without begrudging our lives. This is the spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple. It is the eternal spirit of the Soka Gakkai. First, you must become strong, then you must help your comrades to become strong, one by one, as you advance together. I ask you to chant daimoku resonantly with courage, bringing forth the true wisdom of the essential teaching that will enable you to most effectively cope with changing circumstances, and taking the most valuable action with dauntless leadership. Let's fight together!
Every single day, I am earnestly praying that all of you, my most-trusted SGI-USA leaders, will develop splendid successors and victoriously show exemplary advancement, praising one another with the harmonious unity of many in body but one in mind. Please stay in excellent health and high spirits.
Daisaku Ikeda
October 22, 2009