A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends"
published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more.
Wednesday, Oct 1st, 2014
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
We are at the turn of the seasons
when dramatic fluctuations in temperature occur.
Please be careful not to catch a cold,
exercise good common sense precautions
such as thoroughly gargling and frequently washing our hands,
and at the same time try to have a healthy routine
of good eating and sleeping habits.
Good health is something we have to earn!
Wednesday, Oct 1st, 2014
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Nevertheless, it is taught that those people who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra will attain Buddhahood."
(Regarding the Birth of Kyō'ō, Writings of Nichiren Daishon, Vol 2, Page 457)
Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, Oct 1st, 2014
Thursday, Oct 2nd, 2014
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
Why do we have to endure hardships? The purpose of our Buddhist practice is to attain Buddhahood. Buddhahood is the state of absolute happiness. Though we are practicing Nichiren Buddhism to become happy, why then do we have to overcome obstacles? The reason is that we need to undergo the trials of difficulty to forge and strengthen within us the diamond-like and indestructible "self" of Buddhahood.
"The diamond is regarded as the king of gemstones. It is the hardest of all minerals, possessing unmatched brilliance. A symbol of purity, its name derives from the Greek word adamas meaning 'unconquerable' or 'invincible.'
"How are diamonds formed? I'm not a scientist, but it is widely known that diamonds, like graphite, are made of carbon. Deep in the earth, this material is subjected to intense heat and pressure until it is transformed into the crystalline structure of a diamond.
"This is similar to how we develop ourselves. Only when subjected to the concentrated pressure of hardships and the fierce heat of great adversity will the core of our lives, our deepest self, be transformed into the diamond-like and indestructible life state of Buddhahood. In other words, it is through experiencing hardships that we acquire the 'diamond-like body,' or the Buddha body—a brightly shining state of absolute happiness as indestructible as a diamond that cannot be crushed by any amount of suffering or delusion.
"A smooth and uneventful kind of Buddhist practice without any difficulties cannot truly help us polish and forge our lives. It is only when we withstand the intense heat and pressure of great hardships that we can shine as 'champions of life,' sparkling like the most perfect of diamonds."
SGI Newsletter No. 9095, The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, Part 1: Happiness, Chap. 4: Transforming Suffering into Joy—Part 3 [of 3], 4.6 Both Suffering and Joy Are a Part of Life, from the September 2014 issue of the Daibyaku-renge, translation released 25th Sep., 2014
* 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--
KANDANSA GA HAGESHI JIKI.
KAZE O HIKANAI YO
TEARI, UGAI O REIKO SHI
SETSUDO ARU SHOKUJI TO SUIMIN O.
KENKO WA KACHITORU MONO DA.
-- KYO NO GOSHO --
HOKEKYO O SHINZURU HITOBITO KOSO HOTOKE NI NARU BESHI TO MIETAMAE
(Gosho Zenshu, page 1123)
Posted by: Scobie-John Le May-Grellan <sjlmg@me.com>
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from there on it is all automatic!
ALSO if you want to introduce a friend to the SGI but just don't know where to start, share with them the following addresses and they can read and watch some very well put together explanations about the SGI. Check it out yourself!
http://www.sgi.org/
http://www.sgi-uk.org/buddhism/practise
Check out the following address if you are looking for an important gosho quote
http://www.nichirenlibrary.org
And for the children there's a wonderful new web-site
http://treasures-of-heart.com/
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