Category: Buddhist Study
A Brave and Vigorous Spirit
Yumyo shojin.
Category: Buddhist Study
Yumyo shojin.
Category: Buddhist Study
Nov. 28, 2021, will mark 30 years since the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood excommunicated 10 million SGI members, signifying our spiritual independence from the authoritarian priesthood. Leading up to this anniversary, this series will focus on important themes and events related to the priesthood issue based on key excerpts from The New Human Revolution, volume 30.
Category: Buddhist Study
Gratitude is a positive emotion that has long been seen by religious leaders, philosophers and many others as an important virtue. A quick glance at the world today, however, may give us a sense that it is in short supply. At the same time, science has begun to acknowledge the tangible benefits of gratitude. Studies
Category: Buddhist Study
“The Future Is Yours to Change”
Category: Buddhist Study
Become the master of your mind rather than let your mind master you. (“Letter to the Brothers,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 502) As 2020 comes to a close, we continue to face uncertainties amid the unprecedented global coronavirus pandemic. For many people, each day might be likened to an internal boxing match between
Category: Buddhist Study
The holiday season, when many deepen their spirit of generosity and giving, is a good time to reflect on an important element of Buddhist practice: “almsgiving,” or making offerings to support the spread of Buddhism. This is an act that makes possible the endeavor to lead all people to enlightenment and happiness while implanting abundant
Category: Buddhist Study
A Life Committed to Spreading Buddhism
Category: Buddhist Study
Sho-but chi-e. Jinjin muryo. Go chi-e mon. Nange nannyu.
Category: Buddhist Study
In light of the Mystic Law, everything we encounter has meaning and helps us move forward.
Category: Buddhist Study
If you see a person who accepts and upholds this sutra, you should rise and greet him from afar, showing him the same respect you would a Buddha. (The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, p. 365) How we greet people can make a difference in their lives. As Shakyamuni stated in the
Category: Buddhist Study
The assembly on Holy Eagle Peak which continues in solemn state … has not yet disbanded. (The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, p. 135) Creating dramatic change calls for sustained effort and conviction. Our daily Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and engaging in SGI activities enables us to refresh and forge our determination to
Category: Buddhist Study
Born on June 6, 1871, in the coastal village of Arahama in present-day Niigata Prefecture, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi experienced tremendous hardships from an early age. By age 6, his parents could no longer care for him, and they placed him with relatives. At 11, he quit school to work to support his impoverished family. And at
Category: Buddhist Study
The following excerpt is from Ikeda Sensei’s dialogue series “The World of Nichiren Daishonin’s Writings,” installment 3, published in the June 2002 Living Buddhism, pp. 13–17. This serves as supplemental study for the article titled “Transforming Tendencies That Block Our Happiness,” in the Sept. 18, 2020, issue of the World Tribune. Ikeda Sensei: It is clear
Category: Buddhist Study
It is through the use of words and letters that the Buddha saves living beings. … If one rejects the use of words and letters, then how can the Buddha’s work be done? (“Letter to Renjo,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2, pp. 6–7) Nichiren Daishonin studied the vast body of Buddhist sutras, among
Category: Buddhist Study
As a youth, Nichiren Daishonin delved into the doctrines of the popular Buddhist schools of his time. He sought a religious practice that could help people overcome suffering and misery rampant in society. He found in the Lotus Sutra a teaching that could enable all people, without exception, to reveal their Buddhahood—their highest potential—transform their circumstances
Category: Buddhist Study
Most religions recognize and revere a founder, great sage or savior, and many, a supreme deity of some sort. Usually it is not an option for ordinary believers to consider themselves equal to these figures. This was even true among the Buddha’s disciples, who found it difficult to regard themselves as equal to the Buddha.
Category: Buddhist Study
Niji seson. Ju sanmai. Anjo ni ki.
Category: Buddhist Study
“What would a healed America be like?” asked historian and Civil Rights activist Vincent Harding in a discussion with Ikeda Sensei. Sensei responded, outlining the ultimate purpose of our Buddhist movement: The root of the English word heal originally included the meanings “totality” and “completeness,” and the word health has the same root. In this sense,
Category: Buddhist Study
Sharing Buddhism with others is a natural and essential part of Buddhist practice, because by doing so, we are able to develop compassion for ourselves and for others. Second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, speaking about this practice of compassion, once said: Compassionate action is “the work of the Buddha.” It is also truly noble because,
Category: Buddhist Study
“I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province. It is stated that ‘the seeds of Buddhahood sprout as a result of the conditions, and for this reason they preach the single vehicle.’ ” (“The Properties of Rice,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1117) In his letter “The Properties of