[SGI-ToMyFriends-Wagatomo] 19th April 2013 To My Friends and Daily Gosho + 20th April 2013 Daily Enc.

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

Friday, April 19th, 2013
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
Thank you, all of our meeting staff members,
for your noble dedication behind the scenes!
It is because you carefully plan against
any kind of accident or mishap occurring
that we can hold safe and cheerful meetings for kosen-rufu.
It is absolutely certain that all of your dedicated efforts
are being witnessed by the Buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Friday, April 19th, 2013
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"My wish is that my disciples will be cubs of the lion king, never to be laughed at by the pack of foxes."

(In the Continent of Jambudvipa - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.2, page 1062)
Selection Source: Kyo no Hosshin, Seikyo Shinbun, April 19th, 2013

Saturday, April 20th, 2013
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Mr. Makiguchi stated: 'Encountering obstacles or devilish functions is what distinguishes "practitioners" from mere "believers."'[1] He also said: 'People leading lives of minor good who practise faith only for their own benefit will certainly not encounter obstacles, but those leading lives of major good dedicated to altruistic bodhisattva practice will most definitely be assailed by devilish functions. Encountering obstacles and devilish functions is what identifies one as a practitioner.'[2]

"The three obstacles and four devils are the functions of fundamental darkness or ignorance arising from our own lives and the lives of others. When we practise the bodhisattva way that draws forth the inherent enlightenment or Dharma nature[3] of ourselves and others, obstacles and devilish functions are bound to make their appearance.

"Mr. Makiguchi also said that we should actively seek to bring such devilish functions out into the open. By summoning them forth and vanquishing them, he asserted, we could deepen our faith, acquire immeasurable benefit, and change poison into medicine,[4] establishing a life condition of supreme happiness. And through his personal example of facing persecution and battling obstacles with this spirit, he left a model of faith and Buddhist practice for all members of the SGI."

[1] Changing poison into medicine: The principle that earthly desires and suffering can be transformed into benefit and enlightenment by virtue of the power of the Law. This phrase is found in a passage from Nagarjuna's Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom, which mentions "a great physician who can change poison into medicine." This phrase is often cited to show that any problem or suffering can be transformed eventually into the greatest happiness and fulfillment in life.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Dharma nature: Also, fundamental nature of enlightenment: The unchanging nature inherent in all things and phenomena. It is identified with the fundamental Law itself, the essence of the Buddha's enlightenment, or ultimate truth.
[4] Translated from Japanese. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Makiguchi Tsunesaburo Zenshu (Collected Writings of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi), (Tokyo: Daisanbunmei-sha, 1987), vol. 10, p. 152.

* The Japanese kanji is available by clicking on Seikyo Shinbun's web-
site address at http://www.seikyoonline.jp/news/index.html

--WAGATOMO NI OKURU--
KAIGO O KAGE DE SASAERU
TOTOKI YAKUIN NO JINRYOKU NI KANSHA!
MUJIKO NO UNEI ARITE
KOFU NO TSUDOI WA HOGARAKA.
MYO NO SHORAN WA GENZEN DA.

-- KYO NO GOSHO --
"NEGAWAKUWA WAGA DESHIRA WA SHISHIO NO KOTO NARITE GUNKO NI WARAWARURU KOTO NAKARE"
(Gosho Zenshu page 1589)


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