Empowerment of People

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: SOKA SPIRIT -- EMPOWERMENT OF PEOPLE

By Peter Lerner
Oak Park, Ill.

We practice Nichiren Buddhism to become happy. We cannot become happy without inner strength. To develop inner strength, Buddhism teaches us the way to access power from within.

The issue of empowerment of the individual is central to our identity as a nation and as a people. Although the United States was founded on the principles of equality, justice and fairness, the reality of our history has not always lived up to the ideal. People who have worked for human rights in the past, such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez and the suffragettes are now generally seen as heroes. But at the time of their struggle they were vilified by many, and they often suffered deeply as a result of their taking a stand. The common thread for all of these people is that they fought for the empowerment of those whose power was denied.

Nichiren Daishonin devoted his life to just such a mission. His message to the people of Japan in the 13th century was extremely revolutionary. He espoused that all people, regardless of external factors, could directly connect to the power of the universe without an intermediary. The Daishonin says: Shakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment countless kalpas ago, the Lotus Sutra that leads all people to Buddhahood, and we ordinary human beings are in no way different or separate from one another. To chant Myoho-renge-kyo with this realization is to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death. This is a matter of the utmost importance for Nichiren's disciples and lay supporters, and this is what it means to embrace the Lotus Sutra (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 216).

The SGI has acted in absolute accord with this. The SGI teaches, based on the Daishonin's writings, that all people are equal, possess the Buddha nature as their essence and are fundamentally Buddhas. This is something very difficult for me personally to believe. In spite of myself, when I do not believe in my Buddhahood, my good friends in the SGI-USA remind and encourage me to believe that I am a Buddha.

There is a parallel organization that chants, has the Gohonzon, recites the sutra and in many respects looks like they are practicing Nichiren Buddhism. It may be difficult to tell the difference between the SGI and this organization, Nichiren Shoshu. Yet, they teach that their high priest alone possesses the living essence of the Law (Nichiren Shoshu publication Dai-Nichiren, special edition, p. 8) and that we common mortals can attain Buddhahood only by connecting to the Law through him. This is in direct contradiction not only with the Daishonin's words but also with his great compassion, his intent to liberate people from spiritual slavery, a cause for which he continually risked his life.

In our country, we hold high, not only for ourselves but for all people of the world, the concepts of freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Fundamentally, that is why it is so difficult for many of us, myself included, to speak ill of or denounce what others think or believe. We want to live and let live. I passionately believe in these fundamental rights and have struggled long and hard with what is the right thing for me to do, in order to practice Buddhism correctly.

I have realized that if I practice just for myself I probably don't have to speak up at all. Yet, the Daishonin says, The foremost among the Buddha's thirty-two features is his pure and far-reaching voice (WND, 332).

If I want to achieve happiness for myself and help others become happy, which actually is the mandate the Daishonin left for me to fulfill as my fundamental purpose in life, I must be able to clearly discern the truth and have the courage and wisdom to exercise my right to freedom of speech to clearly denounce that which would rob others of their personal power of self-realization.

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 March 11, 1993, in Miami, Fla.

BUDDHISM IS OPEN TO ALL OF SOCIETY

Nichiren Daishonin teaches that the object of fundamental devotion [the Gohonzon] exists within our lives. The Daishonin inscribed the Gohonzon so that we common mortals may bring forth the brilliance of this inner object of devotion.

We must never forget this basic point. We ourselves hold the fundamental key, every one of us. We practice faith so that we may proudly hold our heads high and, in our respective spheres, lead the most valuable lives in which all our desires are fulfilled.

By reciting the sutra, we humbly praise the Buddha, which means we are automatically praising and reinforcing to the utmost our own Buddhahood.

Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo allows us to accumulate the supreme treasure of the universe in our lives day by day. The origin of the universe is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, our lives are Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the Daishonin's name is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Chanting enables us to tap this supreme power in our own lives and, at the same time, make it resonate powerfully in our surroundings. Therefore, we need fear nothing.

In On Offering Prayers to the Mandala of the Mystic Law, the Daishonin writes that the four great bodhisattvas will surround and protect those who embrace the Mystic Law, walking by their side at all times on the journey through life (see the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 415).

Formality is not important. There are no rigid formalities for reciting the sutra laid down in the Daishonin's writings. What counts is that reciting the sutra refreshes and invigorates your lives.

Just as a morning walk or jog may be pleasantly exhilarating for both the body and the mind, please recite the sutra as is personally satisfying to you -- one that leaves you feeling refreshed and uplifted both mentally and physically.

In recent weeks, the media have been filled with reports of an ongoing standoff between U.S. federal agents and a religious cult in Waco, Texas. The antisocial, narrow-minded and intolerant characteristics of a cult led by a fanatical leader are truly fearful and barbarous.

The aberrant behavior of Nichiren Shoshu has also inflicted suffering on a great number of people. The Daishonin writes, All phenomena in the universe are manifestations of the Buddhist Law (Gosho Zenshu, p. 564).

Buddhism is not a closed or insular teaching; it applies to and is open to all of society. The Daishonin also states, A person of wisdom is not one who practices Buddhism apart from worldly affairs... (WND, 1121).

The path of correct faith is to value society, daily life and humanity to the utmost.

Let us in the SGI contribute even further to the world and to humanity through our activities for peace, culture and education, based on the True Law. (My Dear Friends in America, pp. 260-62)

Fifteen 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.

November Living Buddhism pp. 11-12: The study series The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, on Lessening One's Karmic Retribution, discusses viewing the attacks from Nichiren Shoshu as a challenge to our faith.

CORRECTION:

Justice Chronicle 157 contained an error. The sentence, In saying that one should never be disturbed, the Daishonin indicates that we must be swayed in the least by such persecutions, should read, In saying that one should never be disturbed, the Daishonin indicates that we must not be swayed in the least by such persecutions.

We apologize for the error.