[SGI-ToMyFriends-Wagatomo] To My Friends & Daily Gosho March 11th + Daily Enc. March 12th

A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo
Shimbun and more.

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
To all of our precious members who are forever striving boldly and
courageously for the sake of kosen-rufu
-- you will surely be embraced and assisted by the Buddhist gods, the
protective forces of the universe.
Even as you work hard behind the scenes, silently and unnoticed by others,
be assured that your life is being adorned with immeasurable benefit and
good fortune!
Let's advance with great confidence, conviction and courage!

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Birds and crickets cry, but never shed tears. I, Nichiren, do not cry, but
my tears flow ceaselessly. I shed my tears not for worldly affairs but
solely for the sake of the Lotus Sutra."

(The True Aspect of All Phenomena- The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page
386) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, March 11th, 2009

Thursday, March 12th, 2009
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"For what purpose, then, should we use this life, which is irreplaceable? In
'Letter from Sado,' the Daishonin teaches that by dedicating our life to the
practice of Buddhism we can attain Buddhahood. To underscore the profound
significance of such dedication, he first cites the 'Medicine King' (23rd)
chapter of the Lotus Sutra. He then points to the examples of the boy Snow
Mountains and the ascetic Aspiration for the Law--both of whom represent
Shakyamuni Buddha in past existences when he was carrying out bodhisattva
practise--to clarify that striving with an ungrudging spirit is the key to
accomplishing our Buddhist practice.

"Further, the Daishonin notes that those who are prepared to give their
lives will not hesitate to part with any other treasure. He is in effect
saying with strict compassion to those of his followers who trembled at the
thought of being persecuted and suffering such terrible consequences as
having their fiefs confiscated: 'Aren't these present persecutions we are
facing an unparalleled chance to give our lives in exchange for Buddhahood?
Since the goal of attaining that supreme state of life is just ahead, what
can we possibly have to fear?'

"This passage also conveys an important spirit that offers lessons for us
today. One of these lessons, as noted above, is that simply clinging to our
life will not result in attaining genuine happiness. It is by establishing a
fundamental purpose and pursuing the correct course in life--ready to face
any hardship this might entail--that enables us to experience a deep sense
of joy and fulfilment. If we allow ourselves to be controlled by shallow
desires and begrudge our lives at a crucial moment, then our hearts will
wither and only misery and regret will await us."

SGI Newsletter No. 7728, LEARNING FROM THE WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN:
THE TEACHINGS FOR VICTORY <NEW SERIES> [1] "Letter from Sado"--Part 1 [of
3], My Disciples, Win with the Heart of a Lion King!,
The Fundamental Issue of Life and Death, from the January 2009 issue of the
Daibyakurenge, translated March 6th, 2009

* The Japanese kanji for To My Friends and Daily Gosho 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---
KENAGE NI TATAKAU MINASAMA O
SHOTEN WA KANARAZU MAMORU.
KAGE NO ROKU NI
KUDOKU WA GENZEN DA.
DAIKAKUSHIN DE SUSUME!

-- KYO NO GOSHO --
"TORI TO MUSHI TO WA NAKEDOMO NAMIDA O CHIZU, NICHIREN WA NAKANEDOMO NAMIDA
HIMANASHI, KONO NAMIDA SEKEN NO KOTO NI WA ARAZU TABIHITOE NI HOKEKYO NO YUE
NARI"

(Gosho Zenshu, page 1361)

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