* Hope you have just a few more seconds to read today's Daily Encouragement!…
A translation of "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shinbun based on President Ikeda's recent guidance, and more.
Sunday, April 16th, 2017
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
Buddhism is about victory or defeat.*
Never hesitate,
Sunday, April 16th, 2017
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
Buddhism is about victory or defeat.*
Never hesitate,
even for a moment!
In any type of challenge,
it's the degree of momentum to push forwards
In any type of challenge,
it's the degree of momentum to push forwards
that determines if we are victorious.
Courageously and with confidence,
let's take on any and all challenges
let's take on any and all challenges
that might confront us!
*"Buddhism primarily concerns itself with victory or defeat." - "The Hero of the World", WND-I, page 835
Sunday, April 16th, 2017
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"At such a time, the three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear, and the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat."
(The Three Obstacles and Four Devils
*"Buddhism primarily concerns itself with victory or defeat." - "The Hero of the World", WND-I, page 835
Sunday, April 16th, 2017
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"At such a time, the three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear, and the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat."
(The Three Obstacles and Four Devils
- WND, Vol. I, page 637)
Selection source:
Selection source:
SGI President Ikeda's message,
Seikyo Shimbun, April 16th, 2017
Monday, April 17th, 2017
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"In 'The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,' the Daishonin explains the meaning of faith and the benefits that can be obtained through faith. He sent this letter to the lay nun Nichinyo to thank her for sending offerings dedicated to the Gohonzon.
"In the letter, the Daishonin explains that he inscribed the Gohonzon, the object of devotion, as the 'banner of propagation of the Lotus Sutra' (WND-1, 831). He calls it 'the great mandala never before known' (WND-1, 832), with the power to enable all people to attain enlightenment, and 'a cluster of blessings'[1] (WND-1, 832), a source of infinite benefits.
"This great Gohonzon, the Daishonin states, is found only in faith (cf. WND-1, 832).
"Faith is the ultimate way to attain Buddhahood. The Lotus Sutra states that we 'gain entrance through faith alone'[2] (LSOC3, 110). Even Shariputra, one of Shakyamuni's ten major disciples, who was hailed as 'foremost in wisdom,' was only able to enter the boundless realm of Buddhahood through faith, not through wisdom.
"Similarly, even if the Gohonzon is right in front of us, without faith, we cannot bring forth its power.
"The Daishonin attained the life state of Buddhahood by persevering in his great struggle with the spirit of 'Single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha, not hesitating even if it costs them their lives' (LSOC16, 271). [3] He then inscribed his enlightened state of life in the form of a mandala—the Gohonzon. Through faith based on a deep awareness that the Gohonzon 'exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who . . . chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo' (WND-1, 832), we can bring forth immeasurable benefit.
Monday, April 17th, 2017
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"In 'The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,' the Daishonin explains the meaning of faith and the benefits that can be obtained through faith. He sent this letter to the lay nun Nichinyo to thank her for sending offerings dedicated to the Gohonzon.
"In the letter, the Daishonin explains that he inscribed the Gohonzon, the object of devotion, as the 'banner of propagation of the Lotus Sutra' (WND-1, 831). He calls it 'the great mandala never before known' (WND-1, 832), with the power to enable all people to attain enlightenment, and 'a cluster of blessings'[1] (WND-1, 832), a source of infinite benefits.
"This great Gohonzon, the Daishonin states, is found only in faith (cf. WND-1, 832).
"Faith is the ultimate way to attain Buddhahood. The Lotus Sutra states that we 'gain entrance through faith alone'[2] (LSOC3, 110). Even Shariputra, one of Shakyamuni's ten major disciples, who was hailed as 'foremost in wisdom,' was only able to enter the boundless realm of Buddhahood through faith, not through wisdom.
"Similarly, even if the Gohonzon is right in front of us, without faith, we cannot bring forth its power.
"The Daishonin attained the life state of Buddhahood by persevering in his great struggle with the spirit of 'Single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha, not hesitating even if it costs them their lives' (LSOC16, 271). [3] He then inscribed his enlightened state of life in the form of a mandala—the Gohonzon. Through faith based on a deep awareness that the Gohonzon 'exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who . . . chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo' (WND-1, 832), we can bring forth immeasurable benefit.
"When we strongly summon forth the power of faith practice, chant wholeheartedly to the Gohonzon, and dedicate ourselves to realising the great vow for kosen-rufu, we can reveal the world of Buddhahood within us that is one with the Mystic Law, manifest the power of the Buddha and the Law, and freely enjoy and make use of great benefits.
"On this subject, Mr. Toda said: 'When we muster the power of faith and the power of practice to a factor of one, it gives rise to the power of the Law and the power of the Buddha to the same factor. Similarly, a factor of one hundred yields a response of one hundred; a factor of ten thousand produces a reaction of ten thousand.'[4]
"Everything hinges on our faith. As the Daishonin states in a letter to another of his disciples, the lay nun Nichigon: 'Whether or not your prayer is answered will depend on your faith; [if it is not] I will in no way be to blame' (WND-1, 1079; 'Reply to the Lay Nun Nichigon').
"People of strong faith never stagnate or reach an impasse.
"Those who persevere in faith will experience the wonder of realising within their own lives the same vast life state of Buddhahood attained by the Daishonin and be able to move everything in the direction of happiness.
"Those who 'gain entrance through faith alone' will never be defeated by misfortune."
SGI Newsletter No. 9587, The Buddhism of the Sun—Illuminating the World, [17] Faith, Practice, and Study: The Basics of Nichiren Buddhism—Part 1 [of 3], The Faith of the Soka Gakkai: Unlocking Immeasurable Good Fortune and Benefit, "The Gohonzon Is Found Only in Faith," from the September 2016 issue of the Daibyakurenge, translation released 13th April, 2017
[1] The Daishonin writes: "Mandala is a Sanskrit word that is translated [into Chinese] as 'perfectly endowed' or 'a cluster of blessings'" (WND-1, 832).
[2] In the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni says: "Even you, Shariputra, in the case of this sutra were able to gain entrance through faith alone. How much more so, then, the other voice-hearers. Those other voice-hearers—it is because they have faith in the Buddha's words that they can comply with this sutra, not because of any wisdom of their own" (LSOC3, 109–10).
[3] "Single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha, not hesitating even if it costs them their lives" is a passage from the "Life Span" (16th) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. It teaches that the Buddha appears in response to this single-minded seeking spirit. This may be interpreted as awakening to the eternal world of Buddhahood within one's own life. In other words, the life state of Buddhahood emerges in those who tirelessly devote themselves to realizing the great vow for kosen-rufu with unwavering seeking spirit toward the Buddha and faith in the Mystic Law.
[4] Translated from Japanese. Josei Toda, Toda Josei Zenshu (The Collected Writings of Josei Toda), (Tokyo: Seikyo Shimbunsha, 1981), vol. 1, p. 149.
* 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 --
BUPPO WA SHOBU DA.
DANJITE CHUCHO SURUNA!
IKANARU TATAKAI MO
SEMENUKU IKIOI DE KIMARU!
KAKAN NI UTTE DEYO!
--- KYO NO GOSHO ---
"KANARAZU SANSHO SHIMA TO MOSU SAWARI IDEKITAREBA KENJA WA YOROKOBI GUSHA WA SHIRIZOKU KORE NARI"
(Gosho Zenshu - Page 1091)
-- WAGATOMO NI OKURU --
BUPPO WA SHOBU DA.
DANJITE CHUCHO SURUNA!
IKANARU TATAKAI MO
SEMENUKU IKIOI DE KIMARU!
KAKAN NI UTTE DEYO!
--- KYO NO GOSHO ---
"KANARAZU SANSHO SHIMA TO MOSU SAWARI IDEKITAREBA KENJA WA YOROKOBI GUSHA WA SHIRIZOKU KORE NARI"
(Gosho Zenshu - Page 1091)
__._,_.___
Posted by: Scobie-John Le May-Grellan <sjlmg@yahoo.co.uk>
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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/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...
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SGI-ToMyFriends-Wagatomo/conversations/messages
To unsubscribe from this group send an email to:
SGI-ToMyFriends-Wagatomo-unsubscribe@egroups.com
But do drop us a line at sjlmg@wta.att.ne.jp when you leave and tell us why you are leaving as it often can help us to improve the service! Please!
To modify your subscription from receiving daily to picking up as you wish go to http://www.egroups.com/mygroups
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