This series, prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department, features timeless stories in Nichiren Daishonin’s writings (also called the Gosho) that continue to offer practical wisdom for us today.
The mighty warrior General Li Kuang, whose mother had been devoured by a tiger, shot an arrow at the stone he believed was the tiger. The arrow penetrated the stone all the way up to its feathers. But once he realized it was only a stone, he was unable to pierce it again. Later he came to be known as General Stone Tiger. This story applies to you. Though enemies lurk in wait for you, your resolute faith in the Lotus Sutra has forestalled great dangers before they could begin. Realizing this, you must strengthen your faith more than ever.
—“General Stone Tiger,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 953
Written in a Time of Trials and Victories
Nichiren Daishonin wrote about General Stone Tiger in a letter sent to his disciple Shijo Kingo in the 10th month of 1278. It was a time of epidemics, droughts and food shortages.
Kingo was both a skilled physician and a samurai warrior. Nichiren himself had been in poor health since the previous year but was recovering with the medicine Kingo provided.
At the same time, Kingo overcame a plot by jealous fellow samurai to damage his standing with his lord. When Lord Ema fell seriously ill, Kingo treated him successfully and regained his trust. In gratitude, Lord Ema rewarded him with an estate three times larger than the one he already owned.
In this letter, Nichiren congratulates Kingo on his success but also cautions him to remain vigilant, especially while traveling. He also encourages Kingo to deepen his faith. The story of General Stone Tiger illustrates the power of unwavering determination. Just as an arrow launched with complete conviction pierced solid stone, faith and focused resolve can help us achieve even those things that seem impossible.
—Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department
Ikeda Sensei’s Guidance
“I believe that the lesson we can take from … General Stone Tiger is that when a person is really determined, they can accomplish things that are normally considered impossible.”
Shin’ichi [Yamamoto][1] wasn’t either condoning or condemning the actions of … General Stone Tiger. He just wished to deeply imbue in members’ hearts the message that at decisive moments in the struggle for kosen-rufu, one needs to have a resolve as fierce as if to claw one’s way up a sheer rock cliff bare-handed.
Though he was more than 70 years old, founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi staunchly continued to fight even when he was imprisoned and placed in solitary confinement. A great vow cannot be achieved without such a magnificent and peerless struggle. One needs an invincible fighting spirit to open the way to a brighter future.
Shin’ichi said to the Seikyo Shimbun journalists: “In spite of numerous threats to his life and being exiled twice, Nichiren Daishonin never wavered, declaring ‘But still I am not discouraged’ (“The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood,” WND-1, 748). He refused to retreat a single step. Those words embody a burning torch of conviction powerful enough to scorch the heavens. That’s the kind of strength that will determine the success of kosen-rufu.
“Conviction is the perseverance and forbearance to keep pressing forward without giving up. It’s the courage to maintain a fighting spirit to the very end. It’s fearless bravery.
“Let’s fight together! Join me and we’ll create history.
“Time goes by in the blink of an eye. Life is much shorter than any of us think. If we don’t take our places on the stage of kosen-rufu now, the time to fight will pass us by. I’m always in complete earnest.
“The record of our actions is engraved in our life and will be our final memory and treasure of this existence.” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 24, pp. 257–58)
September 18, 2026 World Tribune, p. 9
References
- In The New Human Revolution, the character Shin’ichi Yamamoto represents Ikeda Sensei. ↩︎
You are reading {{ meterCount }} of {{ meterMax }} free premium articles