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 a youth training meeting, Soka University Los Angeles, Calabasas, California, October 1, 1991. The full speech can be found in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 182–95.
Changing the Karma of Humankind
I asked [second Soka Gakkai President Josei] Toda why we had to practice faith with the spirit of not begrudging our lives. This is what he said in response: “Around the world, soldiers vie to kill one another. Economics is based on the survival of the fittest and does not necessarily lead to human happiness. Among the ranks of doctors, lawyers and government officials—who are supposed to serve the people—are many who look down on people and exploit them. We can see this trend in other areas too—politics, science, education and religion.
“Call it the karma of humankind if you like, but society is complex—a mass of contradictions lacking a fundamental path leading to people’s happiness. Only Nichiren Buddhism shows us the fundamental way to change people’s karma. It teaches us the path toward eternity, happiness, true self and purity, and toward the eternal fulfillment of all desires. This is the supreme path of life. Therefore, only by practicing this faith without begrudging our lives can we be completely free of all regrets.”
His words made perfect sense to me. Convinced that what he said was true, I advanced with the spirit of not begrudging my life. I believe this is the attitude that youth should possess.
The Mystic Law Provides a Holistic View of Life
I also asked President Toda: “When there are so many religions around, how can we say that Nichiren Buddhism is the most correct? Isn’t this a dogmatic assertion?”
President Toda, delighted that I had asked this question, remarked, “That is a natural question for a young person to ask.”
And giving another very clear response, he said: “Many of the world’s religions and philosophies expound only a partial view of life. If we use the analogy of the body, it is like expounding only an arm or a leg, or the eyes and the ears, or the torso—in other words, they expound only part of the whole. In contrast, Nichiren Buddhism comprehensively and holistically explains the true aspect of life. For this reason, it is an unsurpassed philosophy. When based on the Mystic Law, the intrinsic worth of all other positive teachings comes to the fore.”
He also said: “No one can avoid the four sufferings of birth, aging, sickness and death. The only thing that enables us to come to terms with the four sufferings is the Mystic Law.”
In a similar vein, regarding the inevitability of death, the French poet and author Victor Hugo (1802–85) declared that we are all “under sentence of death but with a sort of indefinite reprieve.”
True happiness is impossible unless one can solve this fundamental problem of existence. This is what makes kosen-rufu, the widespread propagation of the Mystic Law, such a necessity.
I have countless fond memories of the time I shared with my mentor—memories I regard as priceless treasures. I, too, will do my best to pass on all my thoughts and hopes to you by talking with you young people as I am today.
I want you to work in tight unity to create an SGI organization that will be the best in the world, in both name and reality, for I am convinced that in the future the United States will become the central stage for the SGI’s worldwide activities. Let us work on this task together, with painstaking care and patience, aiming at the 21st century! I am determined to support and encourage your efforts in any way I can, visiting your shores more often and, if possible, for longer periods of time.
• • •
How can one propagate Nichiren Buddhism without knowing about various other teachings that exist in the world? Just as I explained at the beginning—by quoting President Toda—when based on the Mystic Law, all laws of the world and society begin to function in their most valuable way. All endeavors in human society—politics, economics, learning and so on—become revitalized. They come to display their full potential and attain new life. The lifeblood of Buddhism pulses within society. If it is cut off from secular affairs, Buddhism’s full validity cannot be revealed.
Buddhism Gains Life Only in Correct Faith
Buddhism’s mission must be to impart dynamism to the society and the age in which it is practiced and to the people who practice it. In one of his lectures, President Toda fielded this question: “You said Buddhism became extinct in India and China, yet many sutras still exist in these countries, don’t they?”
President Toda spoke forcefully: “There may be sutras, but sutras are by no means Buddhism. They are just books! For without faith, sutras are nothing more than books. No matter how many sutras and temples there may be in these countries, their Buddhism is already dead.” …
I sincerely hope that you, my young friends, will develop the SGI organization in the United States into the foremost in the world. Please take good care of this center of the worldwide kosen-rufu movement. Thank you and congratulations on today’s gathering.
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