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Ikeda Sensei

Making Our Communities Shine as “Treasure Lands”

This monthly encouragement by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda was originally published in the January 2019 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.

The dawn of a new year marks the start of a fresh drama of human revolution.

If everyone were to support and encourage one another throughout the year in the spirit of goodwill and appreciation with which we welcome the first day of the New Year, how bright and cheerful our world would be!

Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, teaches the means by which anyone, anywhere and anytime can make the sun of time without beginning—that is, their innate Buddhahood—rise within their lives.

When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, our beings shine as “the treasure tower itself” (“On the Treasure Tower,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 299) and the place where we are sparkles as “the dwelling place of the treasure tower” (WND-1, 300). When we are confident of that, we no longer put ourselves down or long for some distant, imagined utopia.

The Daishonin writes: “Why would we wish to abandon this land and seek to go elsewhere? Therefore practitioners of the Lotus Sutra should think of the place where they are as the pure land” (“On the Protection of the Nation,” WND-2, 143). In accord with these words, we can build treasure lands of tranquil light from the places where we are right now.

The saha world is known as the world of endurance, where we must endure the numerous sufferings and problems of this existence. The work of realizing kosen-rufu and the ideal of “establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land” requires each of us to bravely take on those challenges and overcome them one by one. Why do we devote ourselves unstintingly to this endeavor? Second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda shared some reasons with a member in his home region of Hokkaido.

First, in the course of contributing to our communities and societies, we can help many people form connections with Nichiren Buddhism, bringing benefit not only to ourselves but also to others.

Second, in engaging in activities to promote kosen-rufu, we can energize our entire organization and strengthen the solidarity of our members working together in the spirit of “many in body, one in mind.”

And third, in setting goals and striving our hardest to realize them, we can leave behind a record of exhilarating achievement—reporting proudly to the Gohonzon, “I gave it my all!”—and savor the joy of victory.

No matter what challenging area we may find ourselves in, if we return to our original vow as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, we realize that it is the very place we have chosen from the infinite past to fulfill our mission. We are surrounded by incredible fellow members and many others with whom we share profound karmic ties.

Through fighting and winning where we are right now, accumulating “treasures of the heart” along the way, we will together carry out our human revolution and attain Buddhahood.

Today, with our movement for kosen-rufu unfolding on a global level, the victory of members in one community is a source of hope and inspiration for the entire Soka family.

Let’s make a new year of Soka victory dawn in all our communities!

Transforming the places where you live
into shining realms of peace and happiness,
you are sure to be
praised by all Buddhas
and protected by the heavenly deities.

Showing Proof of the Victory of Buddhism

The Voice of My Mentor Lives On