A translation of "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shinbun based on President Ikeda's recent guidance, and more.
Thursday, March 9th, 2017
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
For what purpose do we practice this faith?
For what purpose do we live our lives?
The point at which we awaken
to our mission in life
is the point at which
unimaginable courage and strength wells up
from within.
Let's advance cheerfully and confidently
on our chosen path of faith!
Thursday, March 9th, 2017
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Single-mindedly chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and urge others to do the same; that will remain as the only memory of your present life in this human world."
(Questions and Answers
about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
- WND, Vol. I, page 64)
Selection Source: "Kyo no Hosshin",
Seikyo Shinbun, March 9th, 2017 Friday,
March 10th, 2017
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The term bodhisattva is used to describe a person dedicated to the realisation of happiness for oneself and others….
"…This spirit of the bodhisattva is the foundation that has sustained the SGI's efforts as a faith-based organisation that supports the UN and works for the resolution of global challenges. Over the years, we have engaged in such activities as the relief of refugees and rebuilding in the wake of natural disasters. And our consistent focus has been on promoting empowerment of, by and for the people.
"Like the inexhaustible lamp, the inner capacities of people that are unleashed by empowerment serve as an enduring source of energy for transformation, a wellspring of inextinguishable hope.
"The Lotus Sutra, which expresses the essence of Shakyamuni's teachings, contains the Parable of the Phantom City and the Treasure Land.[i]
"A caravan was crossing a vast desert guided by a leader who was well he urged them to advance together until they reached it.
"The theme that runs through this parable is found in Shakyamuni's words—together you may reach the treasure land.[ii] This may be understood as a proud affirmation of the human spirit—to advance together with others in an indefatigable pursuit of shared happiness no matter how painful or desperate that pursuit may at times seem.
"If we consider this in terms of the causal relationship touched on earlier, people who had fallen into a state of utter exhaustion (cause) and who might otherwise have been unable to go on (effect) were revitalised and enabled to reach their destination (alternative effect) thanks to words of encouragement (relation).
"Nichiren (1222–82), the Japanese Buddhist teacher who developed a unique interpretation of Buddhism rooted in the spirit of the Lotus Sutra, asserted that there was no fundamental difference between the phantom city and the treasure land, but that they were in fact identical. It is not simply the outcome of reaching the treasure land that matters, but the process—together you may reach the treasure land—that is invaluable.
"When the cause and relation of people's suffering and the encouragement to overcome it are harmoniously fused, each step forward becomes a 'moment of life in the phantom city' and shines with the ultimate dignity of life—a 'moment of life in the treasure land.'"[iii]
SGI Newsletter No. 9564, SGI President Ikeda's 2017 Peace Proposal, The Global Solidarity of Youth: Ushering In a New Era of Hope, translation released 6th March, 2017 [i] See Watson, trans., The Lotus Sutra, 154. [ii] See Watson, trans., The Lotus Sutra, 180. [iii] Nichiren, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, 72.
* The Japanese kanji is available by clicking on Seikyo Shinbun's http://www.seikyoonline.com/news/wagatomo/
-- WAGA TOMO NI OKURU --
NAN NO TAME NO SHINKO KA.
NAN NO TAME NO JINSEI KA.
WAGA SHIME O JIKAKU SHITA TOKI
HAKARI SHIRENAI CHIKARA GA DERU.
SHINNEN NO MICHI O HOGARAKA NI!
--- KYO NO GOSHO ---
"SUBEKARAKU KOKORO O ITSU NI SHITE NAM-MYOHO-RENGE-KYO TO WAREMO TONAE TA OMO SUSUMEN NOMIKOSO KONJO NINKAI NO OMOIDE NARUBEKI" (Gosho Zenshu - Page 467)
Posted by: Scobie-john Le May-Grellan <sjlmga1@yahoo.com>
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: SGI-ToMyFriends-Wagatomo-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk
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/practice
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/
And if you are looking for back editions of To My Friends click on...
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