published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more.
Saturday, February 14th, 2009
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
"Winter always turns to spring."*
It is in the midst of persevering in our struggles,
in the face of adversity,
that the causes for victory and success are made.
Let's each win on our own respective stages of life
and open up the way to a springtime filled with happiness and good fortune.
*"Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, but winter
always turns to spring."
- "Winter Always Turns to Spring", WND-I, page 536
**Winter can function to awaken inherent power and latent potential--this
principle applies to both life and Buddhist practice. All living beings
possess the seed of Buddhahood, otherwise known as the Buddha nature. This
seed contains potential as vast and boundless as the universe itself. It is
awakened from dormancy and brought to fruition by faith in the Lotus Sutra,
which enables us to surmount the trials of winter. In other words, it is
achieved through our struggles against the obstacles that arise in the
course of our Buddhist practice--namely, against the three obstacles and
four devils, and the three powerful enemies. We can bring brilliant flowers
of victory to bloom in our lives when we weather the hardships of winter and
emerge triumphant based on our practice of the Mystic Law.
(SGI President Ikeda's gosho lecture, SGI Newsletter No. 7521)
Saturday, February 14th, 2009
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Three things are required--a good teacher, a good
believer, and a good teaching--before prayers can be
effective and disasters banished from the land."
(How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain
Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of
Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 880) Selection source: SGI
President Ikeda's essay, Seikyo Shimbun, February 14th,
2009
Sunday, February 15th, 2009
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The French author Victor Hugo (1802-85) declared: 'Isolated forces cancel
each other out.' Working together in unity is very important. For the
continued success of our movement, we need to keep building a solid alliance
for truth and justice.
"Religion is often seen as being self-righteous and isolating. However, the
Daishonin writes: 'What does Bodhisattva Never Disparaging's profound
respect for people signify? The purpose of the appearance in this world of
Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behaviour as a human
being' (WND-1, 852). Buddhism seeks to enable all people to behave with the
utmost humanity.
"As our practice and understanding of the principles of Buddhism deepen, we
develop the ability to transcend all differences and open our hearts to
anyone, helping them form a connection with Buddhism. We are able to forge
warm bonds of friendship with those we meet and interact with them
sincerely. This leads to the expansion of a network of good people and the
creation of the values of peace, culture, and education. This is the
humanistic path of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. The SGI is a great
alliance for peace bringing people together everywhere."
SGI Newsletter No. 7709, THE LIGHT OF THE CENTURY OF HUMANITY, The SGI, an
Alliance for Peace--Part 2 [of 2], from the Jan. 25th, 2009, issue of the
Seikyo Shimbun, translated Feb. 10th, 2009
* The Japanese kanji for To My Friends is available by
clicking on Seikyo Shimbun's web-site address at
http://www.sokanet.jp/sg/sn/member_support_top.html
---WAGATOMO NI OKURU ---
"FUYU WA KANARAZU HARU TO NARU"
KIBISHIKI NINTAI NO HIBI NI
EIKO NO IN GA ARU!
WAGA BUTAI DE
KOFUKU NO HARU O KACHIHIRAKE
-- KYO NO GOSHO --
"YOKI SHI TO YOKI DANNA TO YOKI HO TO KONO MITSU YORIAITE
INORI O JOJU SHI KOKUDO NO DAINAN OMO HARAUBEKI MONO NARI"
(Gosho Zenshu, page 550)
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