Material for Discussion Meetings

Passage

Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, but winter always turns to spring. Never, from ancient times on, has anyone seen or heard of winter turning back to autumn.—“Winter Always Turns to Spring,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 536

Background

Nichiren Daishonin wrote “Winter Always Turns to Spring” in May 1275, about a year after he was released from exile on Sado Island. He sent the letter to lay nun Myoichi, a devoted disciple. When Nichiren was exiled, the lay nun and her husband suffered intense persecution in Kamakura due to their faith. They even had their land taken away. Then, Myoichi’s husband passed away, leaving her to raise their two children alone. 

Even with all these hardships, she upheld strong faith in Nichiren’s teaching and continued sending him offerings. In this letter, Nichiren offers heartfelt encouragement, explaining that, just as winter turns to spring, facing hardships helps us grow stronger and bring out our best qualities. 

From Ikeda Sensei’s The New Human Revolution

Ikeda Sensei (who appears in the novel as Shin’ichi Yamamoto) encourages members in Atsuta, Hokkaido, October 1977.

“The true measure of a person lies in their state of life. Living an idle existence without any worries or cares in a comfortable environment is not conducive to inner growth. Rather than achieving human revolution, one will only grow lazy and stagnate. In contrast, it could be said that adversity is the mother of inner transformation.

“To vibrantly set our lives in motion, brimming with hope and refusing to be discouraged, no matter how straitened or harsh our circumstances—here we find true value in life. …

The deeper the darkness of suffering, the brighter the light of great joy that will come. The arrival of spring to a cold climate brings a hope and joy that is unlike spring anywhere else. Be firmly assured that those with faith in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, which always turns to spring; and please keep on challenging life’s hardships. Therein lies the essential path to leading a life of the richest fulfillment.” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 26, pp. 40–41)

Presenting this month’s 3-minute Gosho? 

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What Do You Think? 

What Does Supporting Others Mean to You?

When going through tough times, even small gestures of support—like a friend stopping by to check on us, receiving a heartwarming message or getting a little gift—can lift us up. Such seemingly small acts can sometimes become a catalyst for turning despair into a renewed sense of hope.

In our Soka community, we strive to chant with and encourage fellow members, support our friends, engage in dialogues and connect with those around us. 

Ikeda Sensei describes our Soka culture of care as “a grassroots force for revitalizing people, forging heart-to-heart bonds and invigorating society.”^[1]

How Do We Benefit From Supporting Others?

Buddhism teaches that when we act for someone else’s happiness, we also accumulate benefit and fortune in our own life. 

A growing number of scientific studies also affirm this. Genuinely helping others can bring about what’s known as “helper’s high”—a rise of feel-good chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, seratonin and endorphins—as well as lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and improve heart health.^[2]

Listening to someone else’s struggles often helps us gain clarity on how to challenge our own problems. And when we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the vow to grow alongside them, we develop in proportion to the depth of our prayers. Sensei explains:

When we look after and care for others—that is, help others draw forth the strength to live—our own strength to live increases. When we help people expand their state of life, our lives also expand. This is the marvel of the bodhisattva path; actions to benefit others cannot be separated from actions to benefit oneself.

To merely talk about benefiting others is arrogant. To only say the words saving people is hypocritical. Only when we realize that our efforts on others’ behalf are also for our own sake are we practicing with true humility.^[3]

We Grow From Helping Others

It’s natural to sometimes hesitate or doubt our ability to support others. We may at times feel stretched thin, be unsure how to relate to others or worry that we’re bothering them.

Whatever the case, we can take all our concerns to the Gohonzon and chant for the happiness of those around us. As we chant, we dispel our doubts, fears and hesitations. Instead, we begin filling our hearts with courage and determination and deepen our conviction in the interrelatedness of all things. Growing in this way, we learn to move everything in the best direction. We don’t need to wait for the “right time” or “perfect moment” to offer support. We can do so, just as we are right now.

Sensei assures us:

You may sometimes feel you’re not getting anywhere. But when you look back later, you’ll see that none of your efforts were wasted. You’ll see that going to meet others and encouraging them has made you a stronger, bigger person. You’ll discover that chanting for a friend’s happiness has enriched your own life enormously. The more time passes—10 years, 20 years on—the more you’ll see that your every action has become a precious treasure for you.

And the day will come when those you have reached out to will show their appreciation. Someday they will happily tell others that you helped them stand up in faith or become the people they are today.

Your aim is to play that role in the lives of as many people as you can. There is no greater treasure in life than this.^[4]

Nichiren Daishonin writes that when we bow before a mirror, our reflection bows back.^[5] Similarly, people who consistently show compassion for others ultimately inspire that same care and support in return. 

From the March 2026 Living Buddhism