Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
The Daishonin encourage us to "treat our friends with courtesy."*
Let us always treasure our long time friends
and at the same time forge new friendships,
helping as many people as we can
to establish a connection with Buddhism.
Interacting with everyone based on sincerity in what we say and do,
let us fruitfully see out this year and see in the new!
*The Daishonin teaches in his letter to Nanjo Tokimitsu the four virtues of Confucian-Taoist ethics: (1) filial piety toward one's father and mother; (2) loyalty to one's lord; (3) courtesy towards one's friends; and (4) pity and kindness towards those less fortunate than oneself. He states, "Third, treating one's friends with courtesy means that, although one may encounter them ten or twenty times in the course of a single day, one greets them courteously as though they had travelled a thousand or two thousand miles to see one, never showing them indifference."
(The Four Virtues and the Four Debts of Gratitude - WND-II, page 636)
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Just as flowers open up and bear fruit, just as the moon appears and invariably grows full, just as a lamp becomes brighter when oil is added, and just as plants and trees flourish with rain, so will human beings never fail to prosper when they make good causes."
(The Third Day of the New Year - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1013)
Selection source: "Study - Both life and death are a source of joy", Seikyo Shimbun, Dec. 28th, 2010
Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
Tanano: "Many youth today struggle with human relationships in the workplace. Some are unable to get along harmoniously with co-workers, avoiding personal connections with them, while others quickly become emotional and often find themselves in conflicts."
President Ikeda: "I'm sure this can be looked at in many different ways, but I think at the root of such problems lies a mistrust towards others on the one hand and a lack of self-confidence on the other. Of course, it may also be related to the timeswe live in.
"The Daishonin writes: 'The extremity of greed, anger, and foolishness in people's hearts in the impure world of the latter age makes it difficult for any worthy or sage to control' (WND-1, 1121). The Latter Day is an age in which people's minds are confused and impure. Furthermore, it is an age when society is unstable and deadlocked, and conflict between people is rife. This is precisely why we need a solid philosophy on which we can base our lives.
"Shijo Kingo, one of the Daishonin's followers, also struggled in his place of employ. He encountered opposition as a result of sharing the Daishonin's Buddhism with his lord and was the target of slanderous rumours by jealous colleagues. Many around him harboured malice and resentment towards him.
"However, the Daishonin writes to the embattled Shijo Kingo: 'A fire burns higher when logs are added, and a strong wind makes a kalakula grow larger' (WND-1, 471). A kalakula is a mythological insect that is said to grow larger when a strong wind blows. Here, the Daishonin is encouraging his disciple that the harsher the winds of adversity blow, the more he will be able to develop himself and strengthen his faith.
"Complaining won't get us anywhere. Faith in the Daishonin's Buddhism is the driving force for doing our human revolution and becoming stronger and wiser. Our practice enables us to transform even the negative relationships in our lives that cause us suffering into positive relationships that help us grow."
SGI Newsletter No. 8134, YOUTH AND THE WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN, The Soka Network: An Alliance of People Dedicated to Good--Part 1 [of 2], from the Oct. 24th, 2010, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated Dec. 21st, 2010
* 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 ---
[TOMO NI AUTE REI ARE]
FURUI TOMODACHI O TAISETSU NI
ATARASHI BUTSUEN O MUSUBE!
SEIJITSU NA KOE TO FURUMAI DE
YUIGI NA NENMATSU NENSHI O!
-- KYO NO GOSHO --
"HANA WA HIRAITE KONOMI TO NARI TSUKI WA IDETE KANARAZU MICHI TOMOSHIBI WA ABURA O SASEBA HIKARI O MASHI SOMOKU WA AME FUREBA SAKAU HITO WA ZENKON O NASEBA KANARAZU SAKAU"
(Gosho Zenshu, page 1562)
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