Chanting Growers Group

[PassTheDoobie]

"The Daishonin writes:

''When with our mouths we chant the Mystic Law, our Buddha nature, being summoned, will invariably emerge. The Buddha nature of Brahma and Shakra, being called, will protect us, and the Buddha nature of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, being summoned, will rejoice. {WND-1, 887)

Gongyo is a ceremony in which, through the refreshing sound of our voices, we awaken our inherent Buddha nature and cause it to shine brilliantly like the primordial sun. In gongyo, we recite the teaching of 'the true aspect of all phenomena' (shoho jisso) that is expounded in the 'Expedient Means' (2nd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. This teaching indicates that our lives themselves are manifestations of Myoho-renge-kyo. Meanwhile, the jigage verse portion of the sutra's 'Life Span' (16th) chapter, also a part of gongyo, proclaims the eternity of life. The opening line of the jigage--ji ga toku burrai (Since I attained Buddhahood)—begins with the Chinese character ji (self), while the last line--soku joju busshin (quickly acquire the body of a Buddha)--ends with the Chinese character shin (body). When combined, these two characters form the word jishin, meaning'oneself.' In other words, the jigage is a joyous song in praise of our eternal life.

"In the midst
of a dark
and troubled age,
gongyo is my
dawn of hope.

"Gongyo is the source that enables us to bring the essential power of Myoho-renge-kyo, the very life of Nichiren Daishonin, to pulse vibrantly within every aspect of our being. With gongyo, we cannot fail to summon forth the courage and wisdom of the Buddha; we cannot fail to savour 'the greatest of all joys' (OTT, 212).

"No matter how fierce the onslaught of the three obstacles and four devils, when we pray to the Gohonzon we are able to manifest the strength of a charging lion and sound the alarm of a vigorous counterattack. The mighty forces of Brahma and Shakra, Bodhisattva Universal Worthy, Bodhisattva Medicine King, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Many Treasures Buddha come to our aid, filling us with a diamond-like, indestructible state of life that enables us to open a way to victory.

SGI Newsletter No. 7066, SGI President Ikeda’s Editorial, Prayer Is the Driving Force for Advancement and Victory, from the January 2007 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal, translated Dec. 28th, 2006

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Question: Is there any evidence to indicate that one should embrace in particular the name of the Lotus Sutra in the same way that people embrace the name of a particular Buddha?

Answer: The sutra states, "The Buddha said to the demon daughters, 'Excellent, excellent! If you can shield and guard those who accept and uphold the mere name of the Lotus Sutra, your merit will be immeasurable.'" The meaning of this passage is that, when the ten demon daughters made a vow to protect those who embrace the title of the Lotus Sutra, the World-Honored One of Great Enlightenment praised them, saying, "Excellent! Excellent! The blessings you will enjoy for protecting those who accept and uphold Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will be impossible to fathom! They will be splendid blessings! Truly wonderful!" This passage implies that we ordinary people, whether we are walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

As for the meaning of Myoho-renge-kyo: The Buddha nature inherent in us, ordinary people; the Buddha nature of Brahma, Shakra, and the other deities; the Buddha nature of Shariputra, Maudgalyayana, and the other voice-hearers; the Buddha nature of Manjushri, Maitreya, and the other bodhisattvas; and the Mystic Law that is the enlightenment of the Buddhas of the three existences, are one and identical. This principle is called Myoho-renge-kyo. Therefore, when once we chant Myoho-renge-kyo, with just that single sound we summon forth and manifest the Buddha nature of all Buddhas; all existences; all bodhisattvas; all voice-hearers; all the deities such as Brahma, Shakra, and King Yama; the sun and moon, and the myriad stars; the heavenly gods and earthly deities, on down to hell-dwellers, hungry spirits, animals, asuras, human and heavenly beings, and all other living beings. This blessing is immeasurable and boundless.

When we revere Myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own life as the object of devotion, the Buddha nature within us is summoned forth and manifested by our chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is what is meant by "Buddha." To illustrate, when a caged bird sings, birds who are flying in the sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out. When with our mouths we chant the Mystic Law, our Buddha nature, being summoned, will invariably emerge. The Buddha nature of Brahma and Shakra, being called, will protect us, and the Buddha nature of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, being summoned, will rejoice. This is what the Buddha meant when he said, "If one can uphold it [the Mystic Law] even for a short while I will surely rejoice and so will the other Buddhas."

All Buddhas of the three existences, too, attain Buddhahood by virtue of the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo. These five characters are the reason why the Buddhas of the three existences appear in the world; they are the Mystic Law whereby all living beings can attain the Buddha way. You should understand these matters thoroughly and, on the path of attaining Buddhahood, chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo without arrogance or attachment to biased views. (“Those Initially Aspiring To The Way / WND page, 887)

 

[Bonzo]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


!!!!!NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO!!!!












>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[PassTheDoobie]

I have received a hundred slabs of steamed rice cake and a basket of fruit. New Year's Day marks the first day, the first month, the beginning of the year, and the start of spring. A person who celebrates this day will accumulate virtue and be loved by all, just as the moon becomes full gradually, moving from west to east, and as the sun shines more brightly, traveling from east to west.

[ New Year's Gosho, WND Page 1137 ]

 

[Babbabud]

Thankyou for the New Years Gosho. We read it aloud last nite. Then chanted out the old year and brought in the New Year.
Happy New Year to all !!
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[pieceofmyheart]

First off I want to thank you for this thread and to show some things that I was reading last night.



Life is so hard, how can we be anything but kind? You know your life isn’t easy—you live it every day. But have you ever stopped to think that we as the human race are all in the same boat? No matter if you have money, or friends, or a great job, you still probably think your life is lacking something. Everyone feels that way. Your rich neighbor has marital problems; your happy in-laws wish they had enough money to retire early. Life is hard for everyone, and it is for that reason that we should live our lives with kindness and compassion for everyone we encounter.
The key isn’t how easy we can make our lives; it’s how kind we can be while living our lives.



Buddha teaches that our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch with compassion. Everyone has some kind of sorrow or wound in their soul. You do, I do, your friends do. Most people walk around with their hidden wounds, wondering if they can ever be healed. People spend countless hours and time in therapy seeking healing. But there really is a simple way to get that relief, and it comes from within. We must treat ourselves with compassion, the way we would respond to the sorrows of a friend. If you can only befriend yourself and learn to love and nurture yourself, you can heal any wounds you have.


Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most. We only have one chance to live the life we are given, but each new day is a new beginning. It’s a gift to us—the chance to do today what we didn’t do yesterday. It doesn’t matter what you did yesterday, or what you didn’t do. You have another day to love, nurture, and reach out with kindness to your fellow man.

Read the words, comtemplate their meaning, and you have the key to happiness right in your hand.

 

[Babbabud]

Nicely said POMH Happy New Year !!!
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!! Like the Roar of the Lion!!

 

[scegy]

hello friends of the universe!
piece of my heart:right words for a new year's start. your words speak for themselves, your kindness will have a respond in my gongyo right after this,

i'm lately feeling like i'm slowly giving myself in to not being able to think what will happen next, my head is becomming preoccupied with the present and it feels like when you see a window of blue sky in the middle of the ending storm clouds....rejoicing what the rest of the day brings to you.
i hope i make sence to someone as it is straight from ME.

thinking of our happines...all year long!

 

[WAMEN]

Happy New Year Fellaz!!

wishing you all a fertile new beginning

 

[Mrs.Babba]

Happy New Year everyone!!
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"In The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, the Daishonin states: 'Both oneself and others together will take joy in their possession of wisdom and compassion' (OTT, 146). Each of you is a Buddha who is demonstrating the nobility of the Buddha nature. There are no Buddhas who do not possess wisdom or compassion, and there are no Buddhas who are defeated by misfortune. Please unite together harmoniously, warmly supporting and encouraging one another, and extend the SGI's circle of friendship widely throughout society with courage and wisdom. Please actively reach out to others in dialogue with the aim of helping them become happy. Please become outstanding leaders of kosen-rufu. Please also win as trustworthy leaders in your communities and societies. This will bring you vast, everlasting benefit and activate the state of Buddhahood in your lives."

SGI Newsletter No. 7065, SGI President Ikeda’s New Year’s Message, Openinga Path of Brilliant Victory toward the 80th Anniversary, translated Dec. 27th, 2006

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The Wisdom of 'Tathata': Making the Most of Our Changing World

The Wisdom of 'Tathata': Making the Most of Our Changing World

Wisdom has much to do with our ability to create happiness, with knowing what is the right thing to do in our constantly changing world. Our happiness, in other words, depends greatly on our ability to create the most value out of each unique situation we face. Each one requires a different, if ever slightly, response. This is wisdom. A wise person, in other words, understands not only the universal principles that govern the workings of life, but also how to apply them for the greatest joy and fulfillment amidst change.

No experiences in life are exactly the same, just as no two waves break in exactly the same way. Even in the same circumstances, people often have entirely different experiences. To ride out each challenge in life and still enjoy the ride, we must be like an expert surfer. An excellent surfer not only knows the underlying influences on waves, such as swells, tides, winds and bottom contours, but also is equipped physically and mentally to respond to the uniqueness of each wave. The difference between an expert surfer and someone who barely manages to stay on a surfboard in a high sea is the difference between those with wisdom and those without, in facing life's vicissitudes. Our ability to face new challenges plays no small part in our happiness.

Buddhism explains the relationship between universal and particular, principle and application, in terms of the two aspects of tathata, which is the Sanskrit word for the ultimate, unchanging reality of all phenomena. The Japanese rendering of tathata (Jpn shin'nyo) has two components indicating "truth" (shin) and "as it is [always] or "as such" (nyo). The Buddhist truth of tathata - truth as it is always - is considered timeless and universal. This truth holds that all living beings are endowed with the Buddha nature and embody the true aspect of all phenomena.

Tathata has two aspects: (1) the unchanging law of ultimate truth and (2) the wisdom of ultimate truth manifested in changing relations. The theoretical teaching (or the first half) of the Lotus Sutra is said to indicate "the unchanging law of ultimate truth" as the true aspect of all phenomena. The essential teaching (or the latter half) of the Lotus Sutra is said to reveal "the wisdom of ultimate truth manifested in changing relations" through the Buddha's concrete action, that is, the cause and effect of his enlightenment and the land where he practiced and spread his teaching. The law of life, in other words, is universal to all people while the wisdom of life is particular to each person or to each situation. Put simply, "the unchanging law of ultimate truth" is the universal principle behind enlightenment, and "the wisdom of ultimate truth manifested in changing relations" is the profound wisdom to actualize this principle in one's life.

All people are endowed with both "the unchanging law" and "the wisdom of ultimate truth." Put another way, all people possess the ultimate truth of Buddhahood and the wisdom to manifest it in their interactions with the environment. "The unchanging law" and "the wisdom of ultimate truth" are not separate entities; they are two innate qualities of life.

"The unchanging law" permeates simultaneously our lives and all external phenomena. Based on this law, we reveal "the wisdom of ultimate truth" as we relate to our environment moment to moment.

In the "The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings," the Daishonin explains the meaning of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as follows: "'Nam' derives from the Sanskrit, and here [in Japan] it means to 'devote life.'...To 'devote' signifies to devote oneself to the unchanging law of ultimate truth expounded in the theoretical teaching [of the Lotus Sutra]. 'Life' signifies to base oneself on the wisdom of ultimate truth manifested in changing relations. To 'devote life' is thus Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. As a sutra commentary states, both the changing law of ultimate truth and the wisdom of ultimate truth manifested in changing relations are both contained in the single moment of life, respectively in the tranquility of dormancy and in the illumination of appearance" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 708).

The Daishonin described the Gohonzon as the object of devotion for all people to reveal their supreme potential of Buddhahood. The Gohonzon embodies the fundamental law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo within all of us, that is, tathata. So when we take faith in the Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to it, our lives be in harmony with "the unchanging law of ultimate truth," and our actions will express "the wisdom of ultimate truth manifested in changing relations." As long as we maintain faith in the Mystic Law within us, we can freely tap "the wisdom of ultimate truth" to create the utmost value in our constantly changing circumstances.

The Daishonin also states in the "The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings": "'Universal' [of the Bodhisattva Universal Worthy] means the true aspect of all phenomena, indicating the unchanging law of the ultimate truth as it is expounded in the theoretical teaching [of the Lotus Sutra]. 'Worthy' means wisdom, that is, the wisdom of ultimate truth manifested in changing relations as it is expounded in the essential teaching [of the Lotus Sutra]" (GZ, 780). Since Bodhisattva Universal Worthy symbolizes the spread of the Buddha's wisdom throughout the world, "the wisdom of ultimate truth" not only serves our personal happiness, but also our efforts to spread the humanistic ideals of the Daishonin's Buddhism in our communities. Here the Daishonin explains that the wisdom of tathata is both for oneself and others.

Every day brings us a new challenge that requires new thinking. This is why we can experience joy every day anew. Some people, however, go through each day as if it were the same. Closing their eyes to new opportunities before them, they live as automatons who fear change and lack self-confidence. The Daishonin's Buddhism offers a fundamental solution to such monotony and boredom in life; it enables us to tap our innate wisdom to face each new challenge with confidence. Then each day and each encounter will be a new joy uncovered. As an expert surfer can enjoy and appreciate the uniqueness of each wave, we will start to enjoy the process of challenging each set of circumstances, instead of passively enduring problems while wishing for the disappearance in some imagined future. To live truly is to enjoy the ride of life - with all of its ups and downs. Living is an art to be learned, and the joy of life comes through our efforts to cultivate our innate wisdom to make the most of our changing world.

By Shin Yatomi, based on Yasashii Kyogaku (Easy Buddhist Study) published by Seikyo Press in 1994.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"A Buddha appears in the world once in countless kalpas. Yet even if one should meet a Buddha, it is far more difficult to encounter the Lotus Sutra. And even if one should encounter the Lotus Sutra, it is rarer still for an ordinary person of the latter age to meet the votary of the Lotus Sutra."

(An Outline of the "Entrustment" and Other Chapters - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 913) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, January 1st, 2007

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The Buddha has already been called a skilled physician, and the Law has been likened to good medicine and all living beings to people suffering from illness. The Buddha took the teachings that he had preached in the course of his lifetime, ground and sifted them, blended them together, and compounded an excellent medicine, the pill of the Mystic Law. Regardless of whether one understands it or not, so long as one takes the pill, can one fail to be cured of the illness of delusion?

[ Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man - Part Two, WND Page 132 ]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Wisdom

Wisdom

A Buddha is characterized as a person of profound wisdom. The idea of wisdom is core to Buddhism. But wisdom can be a vague and elusive concept, hard to define and harder to find. How does one become wise? Is wisdom something that we can actively develop, or must we merely wait to grow wiser as we grow older? Perhaps it is because wisdom is such an indistinct concept that it has lost value as a relevant ideal in modern society, which has instead come to place great store in information and the attainment of knowledge.

Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai, characterized the confusion between knowledge and wisdom as one of the major failings of modern society.

His critique is starkly demonstrated in the astonishing progress of technology in the last century. While scientific and technological development has shown only a mixed record of alleviating human suffering, it has triumphed remarkably in its ability and efficiency in unleashing death and destruction. .

Toda likened the relationship between knowledge and wisdom to that between a pump and water. A pump that does not bring forth water (knowledge without wisdom) is of little use. .

This is not to deny the importance of knowledge. But knowledge can be utilized to generate both extreme destructiveness and profound good. .

Wisdom is that which directs knowledge toward good--toward the creation of value. .

Buddhist teachings, such as the concept of the five kinds of wisdom, describe and analyze in detail the dynamics of wisdom and how it manifests at different levels of our consciousness. .

When wisdom is functioning in our life, it has the effect of enabling us to overcome the ingrained perspectives of our habitual thinking and arrive at a fresh and holistic view of a given situation. We are able to make a broad assessment of facts, perceive the essence of an issue and steer a sure course toward happiness.

Buddhism also likens wisdom to a clear mirror that perfectly reflects reality as it is. What is reflected in this mirror of wisdom is the interrelatedness and interdependence of our life with all other life. This wisdom dispels our delusions of separateness and awakens in us a sense of empathetic equality with all living things. .

The term "Buddha" describes a person who freely manifests this inherent wisdom. And what causes this wisdom to well forth in our lives is compassion. .

Buddhism sees the universe, and life itself, as an embodiment of compassion--the interweaving of the "threads" of interdependent phenomena, giving rise to and nurturing life in all its wonderful and varied manifestations.

It teaches that the purpose of human life is to be an active participant in the compassionate workings of the universe, enriching and enhancing life's creative dynamism. .

Therefore, it is when we act with compassion that our life is brought into accord with the universal life force and we manifest our inherent wisdom. The action of encouraging and sharing hope with others awakens us to a larger, freer identity beyond the narrow confines of our ego. Wisdom and compassion are thus inseparable. .

Central to Buddhist practice is self-mastery, the effort to "become the master of one's mind." This idea implies that the more profoundly we strive to develop an altruistic spirit, the more the wisdom of the Buddha is aroused within us and the more powerfully we can, in turn, direct all things--our knowledge, our talents and the unique particularities of our character--to the end of creating happiness for ourselves and others.

Speaking at Tribhuvan University in Nepal in 1995, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda commented, "To be master of one's mind means to cultivate the wisdom that resides in the inner recesses of our lives, and which wells forth in inexhaustible profusion only when we are moved by a compassionate determination to serve humankind, to serve people."

If human history is to change and be redirected from division and conflict toward peace and an underlying ethic of respect for the sanctity of all life, it is human beings themselves who must change. The Buddhist understanding of compassionate wisdom can serve as a powerful basis for such a transformation.

[ Courtesy January 2003 SGI Quarterly ]

 

[Babbabud]

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

STUDY SPOTLIGHT: NEW YEAR'S GOSHO
Monday, January 01, 2007

Selection Source: New Year's Gosho explanation from the Seikyo Times, December 1985

How do we give more meaning to our lives? The New Year gives us an opportunity to reflect on this based on New Year's Gosho and to determine the course of our lives by taking stock of our lives by making determinations. However these determinations are mostly short-lived as our Karmic patterns hold sway over us. In this Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin explains difficult and profound teachings in an accessible manner. The whole purpose of study therefore is to grasp the most important aspects of Buddhism. Therefore it is the study of the Gosho such as the New Year Gosho and the profound principles so simply explained that can help us transform our lives for the better, therefore the need to study and awaken our Buddhahood by chanting to the Gohonzon and working for the happiness of others. In this practice lies the possibility of a true new year.

In this Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin talks about how each believer can live with a continually renewed spirit. Morning Gongyo is just like a New Year's Day. As Sensei says "Gongyo is a solemn ceremony in which we fuse our lives with the life state of a Buddha. It is the means of establishing the world of Buddhahood as our basic life tendency". The words beginning anew refer to our daily spirit of returning to the eternal dimension of our lives by praying to the Gohonzon, so all our action are illuminated by our Buddha nature and like the moon becoming full our lives too become more wise and filled with increasing good fortune.

As 65th High Priest Nichijun Shonin stated in a lecture on this Gosho "as years pass human beings tend to be swayed by their surroundings and their own inner darkness and tend to grow worse in various ways. But once they return to their essence all become good people. New Years carries this implication to return to ones essence". "Thus Nichiren Daishonin says that one who celebrates and honors New Years day, is a person who rejoices on return to his essence".

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Happy New Year's 2007 everyone. Thanks to everyone for contributing to an awesome thread here on the internet in '06. I agree as PTD said something to the effect, .....'we have grown so much'.....YES INDEED!!!

So many new friends embracing this Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin, the Lotus Sutra and the Gohonzon. So many tremendous challenges overcome and victories made all solidifying the actual proof guaranteed to those embracing these teachings. I am looking forward with strong hope and conviction towards this new year, '07 to be even better for all.

Thank you all again! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

 

[SoCal Hippy]

On determination

On determination

"Our innermost determination can move the universe. Because cause and effect are simultaneous, all results are encompassed in our present resolve. Determination is not just words. True determination contains earnest prayer and brims with concentrated energy. It gives rise to wholehearted action and leads without fail to splendid victory."

Quote by Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

New Years Message

New Years Message

SGI President Ikeda's New Year's Message

Opening a Path of Brilliant Victory

My sincerest congratulations to everyone on the start of the Year of Advancement and Victory! The SGI's broad network of peace, culture and education based on the philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism has today spread to 190 countries and territories around the globe. I wholeheartedly thank all of our dedicated members who have made possible this unprecedented achievement in the annals of Buddhism.

I am sure that not only Nichiren Daishonin but also Shakyamuni Buddha, the Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai and all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the universe, would be delighted at what we have accomplished.

My wife and I offer our most heartfelt prayers for the health and happiness of all of you, our dear friends and readers of the World Tribune. We wish you and your families a year filled with bright hope, joy, peace and fulfillment.

René Huyghe, the French art historian with whom I met a number of times, strongly hoped that people of the 21st century, spurred by the difficult problems confronting them and elevated by an overflowing sense of awareness, would be protagonists of "Reformation and Renaissance."

Many serious global problems do indeed continue to cast a dark shadow over the world today. But the deeper the darkness, the more brilliantly all of you who uphold the humanistic ideals and principles of the SGI shine as a source of hope. You are truly the forerunners of "Reformation and Renaissance" in the new century.

Kosen-rufu constitutes an unsurpassed path to lasting peace and happiness based on the principle that the human revolution of an individual can lead to a global revolution—that is, a fundamental change in all humankind. The realm of kosen-rufu is one of bright, lively dialogue and inspiring life-to-life encounters. It is pervaded by an enthusiastic spirit of good citizenship to
create a better society. It is a community of human harmony spanning the globe, in which people of diverse cultural backgrounds come together as one big family, sharing each other's joys and sufferings.

Humanity today is thirsting for a sound philosophy of coexistence and harmony. Such a philosophy, by its very nature, must be rooted in values that uphold the sanctity of life. The respect for others found in Buddhism, which teaches that all human beings are infinitely precious and worthy because they possess the Buddha nature, is a source of immense hope in this regard. All people yearn for ideals and actions that are genuinely dedicated to peace and equality and are based on this fundamental spirit of respect.

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Indian plant geneticist and driving force for the creation of a "sustainable green revolution," has stressed the need for forging a network, an international alliance, of human revolution. Just as he says, real hope for humanity's future lies in building a spiritual global community committed to human revolution—the inner transformation of human beings themselves.

In The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Nichiren states, "Both oneself and others together will take joy in their possession of wisdom and compassion" (p. 146). Each of you is a Buddha who is demonstrating the nobility of the Buddha nature. There are no Buddhas who do not possess wisdom or compassion, and there are no Buddhas who are defeated by misfortune.

Please unite harmoniously, warmly supporting and encouraging one another, and extend the SGI's circle of friendship widely throughout society with courage and wisdom. Please actively reach out to others in dialogue with the aim of helping them become happy, and become outstanding leaders of kosen-rufu, winning as trustworthy individuals in your communities and
societies. This will bring you vast, everlasting benefit and activate the state of Buddhahood in your lives.

Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize winner, has kindly described the women of the SGI as her heroines. Her admirable life is driven by the conviction embodied in these words: "Fear is contagious. It cripples and engulfs societies. But courage is contagious, too." Difficulties are inevitable in a life of great mission, but courageously surmounting the obstacles that arise can
propel one toward wonderful new possibilities.

In the Lotus Sutra, the bodhisattvas who are disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha pledge before him in a mighty lion's roar to courageously "travel here and there, back and forth through the worlds in the ten directions" (The Lotus Sutra, p. 193) in order to spread the Law in the evil age after his passing. Those who walk the correct path of mentor and disciple throughout their lives
will know no impasse or stagnation. This is the essence of genuine victors in life—people of profound spiritual depth, strength and nobility.

I am confident that, as we continue to press on toward the Soka Gakkai's 80th anniversary and the SGI's 35th anniversary in 2010, you will make each day shine with even greater brilliance and golden significance in the history of kosen-rufu. Please join me and all our fellow members around the world in making a fresh departure toward realizing wonderful, triumphant achievements for yourselves, your families, your communities, your societies and your countries.

Let's cheerfully advance with the united spirit of "many in body, one in mind." Let's leave a joyful and exhilarating record of "brave and vigorous exertion" (see LS, 10). Let's energetically and enthusiastically foster capable fellow Bodhisattvas of the Earth.

When we are solidly united, the skies of the future will stretch on infinitely, with the sun of Soka brightly illuminating a hope-filled horizon. A throne of eternal happiness lies ahead for you, along with a sparkling crown of glory. Gazing together at the dawn sky of worldwide kosenrufu, let us set forth toward new victories this year.

Daisaku Ikeda

President, Soka Gakkai International

New Year's Day, 2007

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"It has been twenty or more years now since I found myself in that situation and began the great battle. Not once have I thought of retreat."

(The Great Battle - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 2, page 465) Selection source: The New Human Revolution, Volume 19, Seikyo Shimbun, December 1st, 2007