Material for Discussion Meetings

To be present, appreciate and use each precious instant to create value and fresh momentum for self and others—this expresses the spirit of the Buddhism of true cause. 

True Cause and True Effect

We can’t fully explain the Buddhism of true cause in this short piece.^[1] But this brief introduction starts with understanding a little about the Buddhism of true effect. 

Shakyamuni Buddha gave up his royal title to seek the truth of life. After years of searching, he attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree. His life demonstrated the effect of attaining Buddhahood, and most of his teachings prior to the Lotus Sutra focused on this result. 

Simply put, the Buddhism of true effect emphasizes the achievement of Buddhahood as a result, or effect. It was taught that ordinary people could reach this highest state only after countless lifetimes of arduous practice. 

But in the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni overturned the belief that he had attained enlightenment in his current lifetime. He revealed that Buddhahood is eternal and always present in each person.^[2] And, in saying “Originally I practiced the bodhisattva way,”^[3] he affirmed that compassionate bodhisattva practice is the essential cause for attaining it.

Based on the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren taught the Buddhism of true cause. He identified Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the fundamental Law of life and the universe—the Law that enables all people to attain enlightenment in this lifetime. 

Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and sharing it with others is the bodhisattva practice that causes our Buddha nature to instantly emerge. Through diligent practice of Nichiren Buddhism, we can simultaneously create the cause for bringing forth enlightenment and enjoy its effect—demonstrating that true cause and true effect are one and the same. 

‘Challenging Yourself Is Itself a Victory’

Faith in the Mystic Law, or chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, is the fundamental cause for enlightenment. When we chant to the Gohonzon, we awaken to the truth that our lives are originally endowed with the boundless wisdom, courage and compassion of Buddhahood. 

Sharing Buddhism with others is the impetus for overcoming our negativity and causing that Buddhahood to shine forth instantly.

Each moment is a battle between our Buddha nature and fundamental ignorance—our fears, doubts or negative impulses. That’s why Ikeda Sensei urges us:

Don’t worry! The times when you are suffering and struggling in that way, chanting, taking action and working hard are the greatest opportunities for you to do your human revolution and make headway in changing your karma. 

There’s no need to be anxious or impatient. This is the time to surely and steadily create the causes for your future victory—to sow seeds that will bear fruit later. …

The important thing is not to quit, not to give up. Always keep taking some positive action. As long as you keep trying, you will be able to move forward. The fact that you are challenging yourself is itself a victory. To win means to never succumb to self-defeat.^[4]

Chanting each day and taking action to advance in our lives and work for others’ happiness brings fresh hope and joy to all around us. Living the Buddhism of true cause means choosing, in each moment, to create value by facing obstacles with courage, never giving up on our dreams and advancing ever forward.

—Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department

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Writings for Discussion Meetings

Always Choose Faith, Integrity and Sincerity

Passage

Buddhism is reason. Reason will win over your lord. —“The Hero of the World,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 839

Background

In 1277, Nichiren Daishonin’s samurai disciple Shijo Kingo faced an intense time. His lord, Ema, was angered by false rumors that Kingo had led armed men to disrupt the June 1277 Kuwagayatsu Debate, a religious debate between Nichiren’s disciple and the protégé of Ryokan of Gokuraku-ji temple. Ema threatened to seize Kingo’s land unless he wrote an oath to abandon his faith in the Lotus Sutra. Kingo refused.

That year, Nichiren wrote “The Hero of the World,” urging Kingo to temper his emotions by making Buddhism his guide and persevering in faith, assuring him that he would “win over his lord”—which he did, later receiving an estate three times larger than before.

Like Kingo, by continuing to strive with unshakable faith, we can transform any hardship into victory.

—Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department

Ikeda Sensei’s Encouragement

Forging Inner Strength

We cannot achieve victory in a true sense if we constantly vacillate between hope and fear over what might await us in the future. Buddhism is reason. Only when we approach life with a serene, unclouded state of mind—forged through cultivating inner strength and polishing our faith—can we truly bring forth the wondrous workings of life that put us on a course to victory.

For us of the SGI today, the path of inner self-development entails our regular morning and evening practice and carrying out activities for kosen-rufu. It is through these continued efforts and the progress we make in our own human revolution that we open the door to victory.

Nichiren … provides an unerring road map to guide Kingo to victory, saying: “Buddhism is reason. Reason will win over your lord.” Those who live their lives with honesty and integrity based on faith in the Mystic Law will win in all areas as a matter of course. “Win over your lord” here means that even Lord Ema—who wielded power over the lives of Shijo Kingo and his other retainers by administering rewards and punishments—would be no match for the lucid principles of Buddhism.

Depending on how the situation unfolded, however, the need might arise for Shijo Kingo to risk his life and admonish the error of his lord. It was for this purpose that the Daishonin composed a letter of petition on Kingo’s behalf, denouncing the priest Ryokan of Gokuraku-ji … whose teachings Lord Ema esteemed and who was active behind the scenes in persecuting Shijo Kingo following the Kuwagayatsu Debate. In terms of Buddhism, Ryokan was a source of great evil, disseminating erroneous teachings and leading people astray from the correct path to enlightenment. Only by thoroughly repudiating evil can it be subsumed by good.

Nichiren, therefore, to be doubly sure, strongly reemphasizes to Kingo that he must never discard his faith out of a reluctance to part with his estate. Essentially, this represents a solemn admonition to persevere in faith, no matter what happens. Nichiren offers Kingo a clear guideline: When forced to make a life-and-death choice, choose faith, which is the foundation for everything. Such an unfaltering resolve is crucial in times of great adversity.

Of course, if Kingo were to relinquish his estate and retire from his lord’s service in a negative or angry frame of mind, it would not constitute a genuine solution. Though on the surface it might seem he was acting based on faith to sever ties with an unjust feudal lord, in reality it would be nothing more than him being defeated by his own weakness.

For Kingo, “winning over his lord” meant remaining steadfast in faith, conducting himself with integrity and sincerity, and eventually awakening Ema to the correct Buddhist teaching. (The Teachings for Victory, vol. 2, pp. 76–77)

From the October 2025 Living Buddhism