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.