From July to November, the SGI-USA women are studying Ikeda Sensei’s lecture series The Five Eternal Guidelines of the Soka Gakkai at our America Victory Daimoku Group chanting sessions. The study passage for October follows.
In the course of our lives, we can’t anticipate what challenges await us. The important thing is to embody a philosophy that enables us to live with strength and confidence.
Ikeda Sensei writes: “All people face the realities of birth, aging, sickness and death. No one can escape them. But if we persevere in our Buddhist practice, we can come to achieve a life state filled by the four virtues of eternity, joy, true self and purity. Basing ourselves on our great vow for kosen-rufu and striving day after day in SGI activities, no matter what hardship or adversity we encounter, we can transform karma into mission.”[1]
2. In fighting illness, the key is to be absolutely determined to defeat it. “When we have resolute faith, illness can be an opportunity to awaken the spirit to seek the way and attain Buddhahood. That’s why we should look at illness as a chance to develop that highest state of life and be determined to overcome illness through our Buddhist practice.”[2]
3. The supreme way of life is one in which we accumulate treasures of the heart. “The treasures of the heart cannot be destroyed by illness, old age or death. They serve to lead us to the path of happiness and enable us to attain a life state pervaded by the four noble virtues of eternity, happiness, true self and purity throughout the three existences of past, present and future. Those who have accumulated these indestructible treasures can always calmly and serenely overcome all difficulties.
“Some may have parents or family members who are bedridden or suffering from dementia, but there is no need to be apprehensive or anxious about their spiritual state for such reasons. All those who have lived their lives based on the Mystic Law are already eternal victors in life.”[3]
4. Life is a struggle to fulfill our mission.“The purpose of Nichiren Buddhism is to enable us to triumph over the fundamental sufferings of life by bravely engaging in that struggle and boldly fulfilling our mission. …
“A century of true happiness, peace and health can be achieved only when people the world over bring the innate dignity of their lives to shine forth. Then everyone can lead long, fulfilling, healthy lives together. That is the reason our Buddhist movement exists.”[4]
Click here to access an editable study template for October.
September 11, 2026 World Tribune, p. 11
References
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Here are four key points from Sensei’s guidance on the fourth of “The Five Eternal Guidelines of the Soka Gakkai”: “Faith for Health and Long Life.”
1. Falling ill is not a misfortune; allowing ourselves to be defeated by illness is. “I hope that members who are struggling with illness will read the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and, just as he instructs, face their illness with the lion’s roar of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Having that determination signals that you have already won over your illness.”[ref]Ibid., p. 54. ↩︎
- Ibid., p. 55. ↩︎
- Ibid., p. 57. ↩︎
- Ibid., p. 50. ↩︎
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