This study series covers Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings on the last Sunday of each month.
In the late 1970s, as environmental conditions worsened in rural Kenya, Wangari Maathai encouraged local women to join her in planting trees. Despite resistance from both governmental and community leaders—and even imprisonment—she grew more determined, convinced that caring for the land uplifts human dignity. Her persistence launched the Green Belt Movement, which helped restore Kenya’s environment and society.
Nichiren Daishonin, too, demonstrated unshakable resolve. Amid exile, threats and oppression, he upheld the Lotus Sutra, embodying the vow at the heart of this sutra that depicts a “ceremony of transmission”—where Shakyamuni Buddha entrusts his disciples with advancing the widespread propagation of the Mystic Law. Each hardship only strengthened Nichiren’s determination.
This leads to an essential question: What qualities enable genuine disciples to advance kosen-rufu today?
Ikeda Sensei highlights two intertwined qualities: the commitment to share Buddhism and the resolve to battle negativity. He writes:
The first requirement of a successor in this Buddhism of the people is to inherit the spirit of propagation. This entails vowing to fight fundamental ignorance, the root cause of unhappiness and suffering in people’s lives.[1]
Inheriting the Spirit of Propagation
Propagation in Nichiren Buddhism is an expression of compassion. The Mystic Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo enables people to transform negativity into fuel for building lives of genuine happiness. Sharing this teaching of respect for the dignity of life challenges us to confront limiting beliefs, attachments and fears that keep us trapped in suffering. This process toward growth and self-empowerment often stirs resistance.
Sometimes that resistance arises within our own hearts; at other times it comes from those around us. People weighed down by deep negativity or confusion may struggle to understand or accept this Buddhist teaching.
This is why Nichiren encourages his disciples: “Strengthen your faith now more than ever. Anyone who teaches the principles of Buddhism to others is bound to incur hatred. … Let them say what they will.”[2]
He affirms that overcoming challenges while sharing Buddhism with others is precisely the practice taught by the Buddha.
Resolving to Overcome Fundamental Ignorance
Fundamental ignorance is the inability to recognize the Buddha nature within oneself and others. As Sensei notes, it is “the root cause of unhappiness and suffering.” Because of this, the true battleground of propagation is the human heart. It requires waging a courageous inner struggle—strengthening our resolve and sharpening our wisdom to see through the workings of ignorance.
A genuine disciple doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. They decide that every situation will fuel their growth. Sensei offers this insight:
Just as people can play the part of devilish functions, they can also act as protective forces who come to our aid. Whether a certain person or incident serves as an obstacle to our happiness or a springboard for our human revolution depends entirely on our inner resolve.[3]
Some people rejoice and strengthen their faith when difficulties arise, recognizing them as proof of Nichiren’s teaching. Others, having received benefits, may grow complacent or gradually weaken in faith. Our challenge as disciples is to continually return to our vow to advance in our human revolution as we share Buddhism with others.
The Lotus Sutra teaches that every person inherently possesses the supremely noble Buddha nature. It affirms the potential of ordinary people and the possibility of a peaceful, harmonious society grounded in human dignity. It proclaims that the Mystic Law has the power to transform even the darkest suffering.
Just as Maathai stayed committed to a noble cause and inspired many others to join her, Nichiren upheld the Lotus Sutra amid persecution, motivated by his heartfelt concern for the well-being and growth of his disciples.
Practicing Buddhism as true successors means embracing the same steadfast resolve they demonstrated—determining that each conversation, each daimoku, each act of support contributes to a greater movement that empowers all people to reveal their highest potential.
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