This section features Ikeda Sensei’s seminal guidance to the members of the United States. The following is an excerpt of his speech given at the Joint Conference for Leaders of the SGI Organizations in the U.S. and Canada at Soka University Los Angeles, Calabasas, California, September 30, 1991. The full speech can be found in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 166–81.
We Are Directly Related to Nichiren
In many writings, Nichiren Daishonin cites this passage of T’ien-t’ai’s Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra: “Originally one followed this Buddha and for the first time conceived the desire to seek the way. And by following this Buddha again, one will reach the stage where there is no retrogression” (“The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 748). This passage explains the principle of relationship [one of the ten mystic principles that T’ien-t’ai employs to explain the significance of the Chinese character myo of Myoho-renge-kyo]. What this passage indicates is that the followers of a Buddha are born into the world through their original relationship with that Buddha.
Also, in The Annotations on “The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra,” Miao-lo reiterates, “In the beginning one followed this Buddha or bodhisattva and formed a bond with him, and so it will be through this Buddha or bodhisattva that one will attain one’s goal” (WND-1, 748). The Daishonin summarizes this principle as follows, “The Lotus Sutra is like the seed, the Buddha like the sower, and the people like the field” (WND-1, 748).
Just as a seed is planted and raised, and its harvest reaped by the same person, people attain Buddhahood due to the efforts of the Buddha or bodhisattva who plants the seed of enlightenment in their lives and raises it to fruition.
The Annotations on “The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra” also says: “Forming a bond with a Buddha represents the process of birth, while the maturing of one’s Buddhist practice represents the process of upbringing. If the Buddha with whom one forms a bond and under whom one’s practice matures is different [from the Buddha of this saha world], then one cannot establish the father and son relationship with the Buddha” (“Rooster Diagram of the Five Periods,” WND-2, 1040). Thus, in Buddhism, the original relationship that one forms is very important; such a relationship is maintained over the three existences of past, present and future.
Citing passages from these commentaries, the Daishonin indicates that he himself is the “original teacher” whom all people should follow. This point is also clarified in “Reply to Sairen-bo” and other writings.
We are the followers of the Buddha of the Latter Day and shall always remain so. All of you here today are people who initially aroused faith, have developed and grown, and are steadily advancing toward attaining Buddhahood thanks to the Soka Gakkai and the SGI organizations that appeared in accordance with the will and decree of the original Buddha. As such, this is a gathering of people who share a truly profound relationship with Nichiren.
Embraced in the infinite compassion of the Buddha of the Latter Day, we have developed in the soil of the Mystic Law that has spread throughout the world; let us therefore continue practicing in this great earth so that we may realize the full fruition of our efforts. In light of Nichiren Daishonin’s writings, this is clearly the correct path for us to follow. We live, die and are reborn in this world to advance kosen-rufu. The ties uniting true friends of the Mystic Law are eternal and everlasting.
Nichiren quotes T’ien-t’ai’s The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra: “How … could those who formed a bond with the Buddha fail to come into his presence? Just as all the hundred rivers flow into the sea, so is one drawn by one’s connection with the Buddha and born in company with the Buddha” (WND-2, 1041).
In lifetime after lifetime, we can be reborn and carry out activities in the world of the Buddha of the Latter Day, in the world of kosen-rufu. With a sense of complete fulfillment and satisfaction, we can lead lives of great good fortune and merit over the three existences of past, present and future. What could be more fortunate? What could be a greater cause to rejoice?
Therefore, if we have the firm realization that we SGI members are friends whose relationship spans life’s three existences, it will solidify the path on which we are advancing toward attaining Buddhahood. All we need to do is continue straight along this fundamental path.
Buddhism exists for everyone’s happiness. The organization exists to enable each of you to practice with peace of mind and satisfaction. I pray that all of you, in the United States and in Canada, will continue advancing in harmonious unity and with heart-to-heart bonds of shared affection, as the happiest of all SGI families.
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