The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace consists of excerpts selected from Ikeda Sensei’s collected works—his lectures, dialogues, encouragement and poetry spanning more than 50 years—which reflect his insights based on the philosophy and practice of Nichiren Buddhism. With the aim of having SGI members throughout the world study this series, it has been recently revised and posted on the new Soka Gakkai global website. A revised book will be available for purchase this spring. https://www.sokaglobal.org
Starting in March, monthly SGI-USA district study meetings began focusing on material excerpted from the revised edition of The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace series.
Here is a suggested framework for using this material:
1. Select one of the excerpts given.
2. Read the excerpt during the meeting.
3. Use the questions provided to guide your discussion.
“Never Seek This Gohonzon Outside Yourself”
In “The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” Nichiren Daishonin states: “Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 832).
Discussing this passage in one of his lectures, Josei Toda said: “Although we may pray to this great Gohonzon thinking it exists outside us, the reality is that it resides directly within the lives of us who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with faith in the Gohonzon. …
“However, the degree to which it shines will differ depending upon the strength of each person’s faith. It’s like a lightbulb. A high-watt lightbulb shines brightly, and a low-watt lightbulb shines faintly.
“To continue with the analogy of a lightbulb, for those who haven’t yet embraced the Mystic Law, the light bulb isn’t connected to a power source. Whereas for us, practitioners of the Mystic Law, the lightbulb that is the Gohonzon is turned on. Therefore, our lives shine brightly.”[1]
Everything depends on the strength of our faith. When we have strong faith, our life itself becomes a “cluster of blessings” (“The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” WND-1, 832), which is how the Daishonin describes the Gohonzon. He further states, “This Gohonzon also is found only in the two characters for faith”[2] (“The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” WND-1, 832).
People of strong faith, therefore, never reach a deadlock. No matter what happens, they can transform everything into a source of benefit and happiness. Naturally, in the long course of our lives, we are bound to encounter various kinds of problems and suffering. But we will be able to turn all difficulties into nourishment for developing a higher state of life. In this respect, for practitioners of the Daishonin’s Buddhism, everything is ultimately a source of benefit and happiness at the most profound level. The word unhappiness does not exist in the vocabulary of those who have strong faith.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you have an experience of strengthening your faith and having a breakthrough?
2. Using the analogy of a lightbulb, Sensei says, “For those who haven’t yet embraced the Mystic Law, the lightbulb isn’t connected to a power source.” Whose “lightbulb,” would you like to connect to a power source this month?
The Gohonzon Is the “Mirror” That Reflects Our Lives
I would like to speak about an important point with regard to our attitude in faith through the analogy of mirrors. In Buddhism, mirrors have a wide variety of meanings and are often used to explain and illustrate various doctrines. Here, I would like to briefly discuss an example related to our Buddhist practice.
Nichiren Daishonin writes: “A bronze mirror will reflect the form of a person but it will not reflect that person’s mind. The Lotus Sutra, however, reveals not only the person’s form but that person’s mind as well. And it reveals not only the mind; it reflects, without the least concealment, that person’s past actions and future as well” (“Rulers of the Land of the Gods,” WND-2, 619).
Mirrors reflect our face and outward form. The mirror of Buddhism, however, reveals the intangible aspect of our lives. Mirrors, which function by virtue of the laws of light and reflection, are a product of human ingenuity. On the other hand, the Gohonzon, based on the law of the universe and life, is the ultimate expression of Buddha wisdom. It enables us to attain Buddhahood by providing us with a means to perceive the true reality of our lives. Just as a mirror is indispensable for grooming our face and hair, we need a mirror of life that allows us to look closely at ourselves and our lives if we are to lead a happier and more beautiful existence.
In “On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime,” the Daishonin writes: “A tarnished mirror … will shine like a jewel when polished. A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena [Dharma nature] and the true aspect of reality” (WND-1, 4).
Originally, every person’s life is a brilliantly shining mirror. Differences arise depending on whether one polishes this mirror. A polished mirror corresponds to the life state of the Buddha, whereas a tarnished mirror corresponds to that of an ordinary unenlightened being. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is how we polish our lives. Not only do we undertake this practice ourselves, we also endeavor to teach others about the Mystic Law so that they can make the mirror of their lives shine brightly, too. In this respect, we could be called master “mirror polishers” in the realm of life.
Discussion Questions:
1. Nichiren Daishonin states, “A tarnished mirror … will shine like a jewel when polished. A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena [Dharma nature] and the true aspect of reality” (WND-1, 4). What are the “illusions” in your life that you would like to transform?
2. Has there been a time when your perspective on a problem changed because you were diligently chanting (polishing your inner mirror)?
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