Anchoring Our Faith Firmly in Our Daily Lives

Yesterday, I spoke about Mr. Makiguchi at the Simon Wiesenthal Center. To commemorate my address, Soka alumni living in America—graduates of the Soka schools and heirs to Mr. Makiguchi’s legacy—presented me with a handwritten manuscript by the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, whom I so admire. It is a draft of a letter he wrote to Czar Nicholas II, protesting the 1903 Kishinev pogrom,^[1] the massacre of Jews by Russians in the city of Kishinev.

In 1903 also, as I mentioned in my address, Mr. Makiguchi published Jinsei chirigaku (The Geography of Human Life). In this work, he called out for the people to develop an awareness as global citizens and stressed the importance of human rights and morality, peace and coexistence.

Going back to the Kishinev pogrom, some 50 people were killed and more than five hundred injured in riots perpetrated against the city’s Jewish residents by anti-Semitic forces. This is an indescribably tragic chapter in the history of the Jewish people.

Why did this violence occur? One reason is that the civil and religious authorities fanned the flames of hatred and resentment against the Jews. False reports vilifying the Jews were published in newspapers, rumors were spread, and the Russian people were encouraged to commit acts of violence against them—all of which led to the ultimate atrocity, the massacre.

Mr. Tolstoy was enraged by what happened. In another letter, he declared that he loved the Jews as his brothers and had met many excellent Jewish people. He expressed deep sadness at the fate of innocent people who became targets of the barbaric mob, and he had the strongest condemnation for the so-called educated people who had stirred up the violence.^[2]

The Russian author declared that the entire responsibility for the tragedy lay at the feet of the government and the clergy, who worked so hard to keep the masses in a state of ignorance and fanaticism.

Mr. Tolstoy wrote with great force, saying of the Jews, “They should fight the Government not by violence—that weapon should be left to the Government—but by virtuous living to the exclusion not only of all violence towards their neighbors but of all participation in violence.”^[3]

In his compassion for humanity, his anger at the authorities and his trust of the people, Mr. Tolstoy was identical to Mr. Makiguchi.

I am very pleased at the spirit with which the Soka alumni presented me the manuscript of Mr. Tolstoy’s letter of protest—out of their respect for Mr. Makiguchi’s message and a feeling of deep solidarity with the Jewish people.

I am also gratified to see the Soka alumni’s wonderful growth and development. To raise and nurture people younger in faith or experience so that they can surpass even your own achievements—that is the prayer of a senior in faith, the most heartfelt desire of a mentor.

The Meaning of Benefit

The SGI-USA has struggled against the tyranny of the priesthood. The benefit you have achieved as a result is immeasurable. 

Nichiren Daishonin discusses the meaning of the Chinese characters for the word benefit (Jpn kudoku), as follows: “The element ku in the word kudoku means good fortune or happiness. It also refers to the merit achieved by wiping out evil, while the element toku or doku refers to the virtue one acquires by bringing about good” (The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, p. 148).

We fight against those who try to destroy the correct teaching. That struggle purifies us and brings forth benefits in our lives. Justice or happiness without a battle is just an illusion. Thinking that happiness means a life free of hard work and effort is a fantasy.

Only by struggling against the extremes of evil can we live a life of extreme good. That effort will help us create lives that can transcend any obstacle or difficulty with ease and dignity. I hope that all of you, my dear friends in America, will lead lives as champions of justice and happiness.

True Happiness Is Not Built on the Misfortune of Others

Dr. Johan Galtung, the founder of peace studies and a dear friend of my wife and mine, is giving a series of special lectures at Soka University. On May 18, Dr. Galtung and his wife, Fumiko, both gave a talk to students at the Kansai Soka Junior and Senior High Schools, after which they opened the floor for a friendly discussion with the students and teachers. I’ll share with you some of the remarks Dr. Galtung made. 

He said he feels a deep accord with the Soka schools’ underlying tenet that true happiness is not built on the misfortune of others. He noted that it is a universal principle that has implications in all spheres of human endeavor. For instance, in the realm of economics, it means that we should not grow rich on the poverty of others, and in the realm of government, that it is wrong to seize the reins of power by force and hold dictatorial authority.

He also said that while teachers are doing their best to educate children, it is important that they step back from time to time and ask themselves whether what they are doing is really for each child’s good. I would add that the same applies to leaders as well.

There were two students, a boy and a girl, who each asked a question during the discussion, and Dr. Galtung expressed his wish to keep informed on their progress, saying he would like to meet them again in 10 years. All in all, Dr. Galtung was delighted to have the opportunity to meet the students and talk with them. Both he and his wife treasure each encounter with others. I sense their profound integrity and fine character in this trait.

As a committed proponent of peace studies, Dr. Galtung says that he wishes to raise peace workers for the future. These, he stresses, are not political leaders or administrators; they are, as we say in Buddhism, people with empathy, people who understand and feel the sufferings of others as their own. Since war and violence destroy human culture and human hearts, it is vital that we educate people who can heal that damage.

Dr. Galtung has high praise for the SGI as a grassroots movement that shares those same goals. Let us advance with bright hope for the future, spreading peace and friendship—valuing old friends and making new ones—all around the world.

Women’s Strength Powers Society’s Progress

June 10 is Soka Gakkai Women’s Division Day in Japan. I’d like to say a few words to commemorate this event.

In our dialogue Choose Peace, Dr. Galtung and I concurred that women, in general, have a natural tendency toward pacifism. In the course of that discussion, we also touched upon Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), who wrote the play A Doll’s House and was one of the first to take up the theme of greater freedom for women.

Ibsen is Norwegian, like Dr. Galtung. A Doll’s House was among the many works of world literature that members of the youth division studied under President Toda.

Even now I fondly remember Mr. Toda declaring that it wasn’t enough for men just to be strong. Instead of strutting around arrogantly, he said, they would be better advised to spend their time occasionally reading fine works such as Ibsen’s famous play.

About a hundred years ago, Ibsen and his wife were invited to attend a banquet of the Norwegian League for Women’s Rights. In his speech on that occasion, Ibsen said: “The task always before my mind has been to advance our country and to give our people a higher standard. To achieve this, two factors are important.”^[4]

What were these two factors? Culture and discipline—in other words, cultivating character and making diligent efforts to firmly acquire something of meaning and lasting value.

Further, Ibsen stated his belief that women make the most ceaseless efforts to guide others toward developing culture and discipline. He ends his speech by declaring: “It is the women who shall solve the human problem. … My thanks! And success to the League for Women’s Rights!”^[5]

I praise our women’s division members in the same spirit, for it is truly you who are working to “solve the human problem.” Because of your presence, the happiness and progress of women everywhere are made possible. Only when women enjoy happiness and progress is it possible for men to enjoy the same. Moreover, I declare, with great respect and admiration for each of you, that your very existence ensures the joy and advancement of all humankind.

Steady Commitment to ‘Faith Equals Daily Life’

Prayer is the foundation. But at the same time, if we fail to make concrete efforts, no matter how much daimoku we chant, our prayers will not be answered. Buddhism is reason. If we just chant without doing any work, we cannot succeed in our jobs; if students do not study, it will be reflected in their grades.

We must make steady and persistent efforts firmly grounded in daily life. If we travel in the orbit of faith equals daily life, all our prayers will definitely be answered. We can then lead lives in which all our desires will be fulfilled.

Should all our prayers be answered without our having to make any effort, we would grow lazy. Should all our desires be achieved without our ever having to experience suffering or hardship, we could not understand the pain and struggles of others, and our compassion would gradually wane.

The real benefit of the Mystic Law is inconspicuous. Just as trees grow taller and stronger year after year, adding growth rings that are imperceptible to the human eye, we, too, will grow toward a victorious existence. For this reason, it is important that we lead tenacious and balanced lives based on faith.

The Importance of Leaders

The role of leaders is important. Everything is determined by the leaders’ behavior. A passage in the famous Chinese novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms explains that only those who possess genuine wisdom and virtue win the highest regard from people. It all comes down to you. You have to polish and develop yourselves. Should there be a leader or leaders in faith whom you do not like, all you have to do is determine not to become like them. All you have to do is decide that you will become leaders who will make everyone feel comfortable and at ease.

My dear friends of Los Angeles, let’s advance with a cheerfulness, unity, and joy unsurpassed anywhere in the world! Filled with eternal hope, let’s build a magnificent SGI- USA!