This study series covers Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings on the last Sunday of each month.
At a time when trust in key public institutions has neared historic lows, the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation—fueled by the rapid development of social media and AI—is further eroding this trust.
Misinformation arises when people unintentionally share inaccurate information (like mistaking the date of a discussion meeting).
Disinformation, however, is more insidious because it’s deliberately created to deceive, manipulate and exploit people’s emotions and biases.
Disinformation in Nichiren’s Time
While this may seem like a modern problem, it’s really an age-old obstacle that has also confronted Buddhist practitioners for centuries. Nichiren Daishonin, for instance, immediately faced persecution from the moment he established his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. And he often urged us to deepen our faith and resilience to withstand obstacles.
In “The Fourteen Slanders,” he writes:
The aspiration for enlightenment in common mortals is often hindered by evil influences and easily swayed by circumstances; though many warriors don armor, few go without fear into battle. (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 758)
The term hindered here is a translation of a Japanese word meaning to “deceive,” “cheat” or “dupe.” Nichiren uses this word repeatedly in his writings to describe how devilish influences can trick practitioners into veering from the correct path.
For instance, he uses it when he warns against priests who appear virtuous but actually mislead others, comparing them “to a hunter who spies sharply about him as he stalks a deer, or to a cat who hides its claws as it creeps up on a mouse. In just such a way, we are told, do they flatter, deceive, and mislead the lay men and women” (“How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way,” WND-1, 886).
Such priests are called arrogant false sages, the third of the three powerful enemies. These arrogant false sages pretend to be sages, gain people’s reverence and then, fearful of genuine practitioners of the Lotus Sutra, conspire with secular authorities to persecute them. They’re sneaky, rarely attacking openly; instead, they make false accusations and spread disinformation to undermine people of integrity and justice.
How to Avoid Being ‘Duped’
Today, false information about the SGI often takes the form of rumors, gossip and online attacks aimed at discrediting our members and movement. The crucial question for us is: How can we avoid being “duped”? Ikeda Sensei offers a clear response:
Silently, imperceptibly, devilish functions wreak havoc and destruction in people’s hearts. Having the wisdom to discern the true nature of such functions reduces them in power by half. Courage—which equates to the power of faith—is what ultimately defeats devilish functions. (The Teachings for Victory, vol. 1, p. 169)
Our Buddhist practice equips us with the ability to recognize and transform such negative functions. When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon, we bring forth the wisdom, courage and compassion that help us see through deception, avoid being swayed by rumors or slander, and instead respond in ways that create genuine value. By chanting, even deception can be transformed into fuel for growth, deepening our determination and strengthening our unity.
Nichiren assures us, “Though evils may be numerous, they cannot prevail over a single great truth” (“Many in Body, One in Mind,” WND-1, 618).
The “single great truth,” more literally “single great good,” is our faith in the Mystic Law and the vow we share with our mentor and one another to achieve happiness and rid the world of misery. When we unite based on this, devilish functions—no matter how cunning—cannot prevail.
Our Buddhist practice allows us to navigate confusion with clarity and resilience. By chanting, studying and engaging in SGI activities harmoniously with our fellow members, we can break through any obstacle. What’s more, we can serve as examples of trust and integrity, contributing to the broader effort against disinformation in our society.
Rather than merely a matter of fact-checking or debating, ours is a spiritual battle to transform fear, doubt and division into wisdom, courage and unity. As Nichiren teaches and Sensei reminds us, when we base ourselves on the Mystic Law and fight with unshakable faith, no lies—however widespread—can defeat the truth.
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