….Manifesting Faith in Daily Life…. Soka Gakkai President Akiya’s Guidance Manifesting Faith in Daily Life Is the Heart of Buddhist Practice I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to all members throughout Japan for your valiant struggles over the past year. Thanks to your efforts, we have been able to further solidify the Soka Gakkai’s eternal foundation. While celebrating our great triumph together, let us begin our dynamic advance into 2004, the "Year of Total Victory of Soka." [Just as pertinent now, 2013, as then] Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism is at once a towering philosophy for changing society and a practical teaching for winning in daily life. At this time when we are boldly setting forth into the new year, it is crucial that we thoroughly take stock of our present situations and firmly solidify our commitment to actualizing the principle of "faith equals daily life." The essence of Buddhism is found in behavior that abounds with good sense and sound judgment. Earning people’s trust in the workplace, establishing heartfelt and open communication in the home, and engaging in sincere and genuine exchange with friends—each of these is an important cornerstone of kosen-rufu. In November 2001, SGI President Ikeda met once again with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, whose wife Raisa had passed away two years earlier. They were joined by the Gorbachevs’ daughter Irina Virganskaya. President Ikeda shared his memories of Raisa with Ms. Virganskaya and spoke to her of the Buddhist view of life and death, saying: "Do not dwell on your grief. You should gather the inner strength to rise above and override your sorrow and not be defeated. You will triumph, for your mother’s sake. With courage, you will overcome all your sadness." Ms. Virganskaya’s eyes glistened with tears as she intently took in his words. President Ikeda’s spirit is to give his all to encouraging the person in front of him, as well as to extend that encouragement to the person’s family and friends. No matter whom he is talking to, he never fails to convey his prayers for the health and happiness of the person and his or her loved ones, offering sincere words of hope and inspiration. In this way, he forges lifelong bonds of friendship and trust. Such behavior is the essence of Buddhist humanism. Let us, too, further expand the circle of trust through our conduct as human beings. When Shijo Kingo was faced with a storm of persecution, Nichiren Daishonin, concerned about his safety, instructed him in detail about how to handle his daily affairs. In one letter, for example, he tells Kingo to take good care of his brothers [who were living in poverty], by doing such things as covering their bathhouse expenses and buying them footwear (cf. GZ, 1176). Here, we can see the Daishonin’s warm consideration both for the safety of Kingo, who was surrounded by enemies, and for the well-being of his family members. With renewed awareness of our important mission to actualize the noble goal of kosen-rufu, let us continue to fundamentally transform our state of life as we make our way boldly and steadfastly into the "Year of Total Victory of Soka." (From the December 2003 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai study journal)
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:05:14 +0000
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