Benefit of Soka Spirit

The Justice Chronicle, provided by Soka Gakkai International-USA, is a free monthly e-mail in support of the Soka Spirit movement. Soka Spirit is the SGI's educational effort to create value and deepen our understanding of Nichiren Buddhism through increased awareness of issues surrounding the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and the spiritual foundation of the SGI movement.


1) VIEWPOINT

THE BENEFIT OF SOKA SPIRIT

By Mark Kaplan
Ridgewood, N.J.

I am always happy when asked to speak about Soka Spirit at a meeting. At that same time, I am very aware that for some people, Soka Spirit has felt like a heavy topic that they would prefer not to hear or talk about. This is true especially at discussion meetings, where people are concerned that the subject will ring the meeting down or make people, especially new members and guests, feel uncomfortable. They may also feel this issue is far removed from their daily lives.

However, it does not have to be seen this way. In fact, when we look more closely, I believe we can see that the true nature of Soka Spirit is a bedrock of our practice and applies directly to each of us as we strive to do our human revolution and become absolutely happy. During a recent SGI training in Japan, I asked SGI Vice Women¡s Leader Yumiko Hachiya if it was important for each member, regardless of his or her connection (or lack thereof) with the issue, to chant directly about this issue. Her answer was a very emphatic, YES! The following is my understanding of why she said so.

THE MACRO VIEW:

In 1945, when second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda was released from prison, only a small number of people on this planet had ever heard of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo -- and almost all of them lived in Japan. Today, less than 60 years later, people are correctly practicing Nichiren Buddhism in 181 countries. This is an unprecedented phenomenon that never occurred before in the entire history of Buddhism!

Nichiren Daishonin states: Something uncommon also occurs when an ordinary person attains Buddhahood. At such a time, the three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear and the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 637).

I have always been struck by the word invariably. It is not maybe or sometimes -- but invariably. In other words, it is as natural and predictable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.


The spread of the true Law throughout the world by SGI President Ikeda and the SGI can clearly be considered attaining Buddhahood on the part of the SGI. The natural -- invariable -- result of such powerful causes must be some type of response from he three obstacles and four devils.

Sometimes, as we see in our own practice, small causes bring big effects. Big causes however, such as worldwide propagation of the Law, bring huge effects. Quite simply, the more powerful the causes for good, the greater the response from the fundamental darkness inherent in life, which appears for the sole purpose of obstructing those good causes.

This is exactly what we are experiencing today. The magnitude of the SGI's good causes has brought forth the quintessential manifestation of this natural phenomenon of fundamental darkness -- in the form of High Priest Nikken Abe, fulfilling the function of the devil king of the sixth heaven.

The Daishonin shares that in the Decline of the Law Sutra the Buddha speaks as follows: 'After I have entered nirvana..., the way of the devil will flourish. The devil will appear in the form of Buddhist monks and attempt to confuse and destroy my teachings....' (WND, 716).

The appearance of such a perfect enemy is proof positive that the SGI is practicing correctly and fulfilling its mission as described by Shakyamuni in the Lotus Sutra and the Daishonin to 'spread it [the Lotus Sutra] abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be cut off' (WND, 398).

Part one of two.


2) FROM MY DEAR FRIENDS IN AMERICA

This series contains excerpts of speeches SGI President Ikeda made in the United Statesÿ which relate to Soka Spirit and are contained in the book My Dear Friends in America.

This excerpted speech was given on Sept. 30, 1991, before Nichiren Shoshu's excommunication of the SGI, in Santa Monica, Calif.

TO SLANDER THOSE WHO SPREAD THE LAW IS TO SLANDER THE LAW

To speak ill of that person is to speak ill of the Law, just as to show contempt for the child is to show contempt for the parents (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 61). The person here, in the specific sense, refers to Nichiren Daishonin. In a broad sense, however, it indicates his followers, we Soka Gakkai members who are promoting kosen-rufu. To speak ill of those who are propagating the Law even at the cost of their lives is to speak ill of the Mystic Law. To show contempt for the Buddha¡s children is to show contempt for the Buddha.

We can regard this as documentary proof that to speak ill of and look down on the SGI members who are opening a great path of global kosen-rufu is to speak ill of and look down on the Gohonzon and the Daishonin himself.

How can they fail to be ashamed of such actions! The pains of hell are frightful indeed. Beware of them! Beware of them! (WND, 61). Regarding the current priesthood situation, the truth of the matter is certainly known to the original Buddha. The Daishonin states that such people should be ashamed of their actions and should fear the sufferings of hell.

One must not simply allow teachers who go against the Daishonin to carry on in their ways -- this is the fundamental spirit of Nikko Shonin. It is the spirit with which he abandoned Mount Minobu, where the pure flow of faith had become polluted due to the actions of Hakiri Sanenaga, who had been misled by the evil teacher Niko.

In this way, [Nikko Shonin] took the first step toward accomplishing the will of Nichiren Daishonin -- that of establishing he High Sanctuary of Honmon-ji at [the foot of] Mount Fuji (Gosho Zenshu, p. 1600) -- and toward the realization of worldwide kosen-rufu. (My Dear Friends in America, pp. 166-167)

Eleven in a series.

SOKA SPIRIT IN THE PUBLICATIONS

This section highlights articles published in the World Tribune and Living Buddhism related to the Soka Spirit movement.

May 17 World Tribuneÿ Seize the Day, page A: In her article What Does Soka Spirit Mean to Me? Flora Grumich shares her experience of deepening her understanding of Buddhism and her own life through Soka Spirit.

May 17 World Tribuneÿ page 10: In the latest installment of The New Human Revolution, SGI President Ikeda recounts the struggles and contributions by 1.4 million Soka Gakkai members toward building the Grand Reception Hall at the head temple in 1964, which was fully supported by then-high priest Nittatsu. The building was subsequently destroyed by his successor, High Priest Nikken.