TagGosho Newsletter

The following excerpts are from Ikeda Sensei’s first of four lectures on Nichiren Daishonin’s treatise “The Selection of the Time.” See the January–February 2011 Living Buddhism for the full lecture, starting on p. 72. Introduction My mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, stood up alone amid the confusion of postwar Japan to rebuild the

Background Nichiren Daishonin wrote this treatise in 1275 from Minobu and entrusted it to a believer named Yui who lived in Nishiyama of Suruga Province. Considered one of his 10 major works, it takes the form of a dialogue between himself and a hypothetical questioner. In the title, the word time refers to the Latter

The following excerpts are from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on Nichiren Daishonin’s writing “The True Aspect of All Phenomena,” originally published in the November 2013 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study magazine, to commemorate the opening of the Hall of the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu in Tokyo. It can be found in Teachings

Background Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter from Sado Island in May 1273 and addressed it to Sairen-bo, who was also in exile there. In the beginning of the letter, Nichiren writes about “the true aspect of all phenomena,” a phrase from the Lotus Sutra’s “Expedient Means” chapter. He writes that “all beings and environments in

The following excerpt is from part 3 of Ikeda Sensei’s three-part lecture on Nichiren Daishonin’s “Letter from Sado.” It can be found in Teachings for Victory, vol. 1, pp. 54–56. There is very little writing paper here in the province of Sado, and to write to you individually would take too long. Nevertheless, if even

Background At the time Nichiren wrote “Letter from Sado,” in March 1272, persecutions targeting his disciples in Kamakura were intensifying, and a growing number of people were abandoning their faith. Despite his own dire circumstances, Nichiren wrote this letter to encourage others. He urged them to summon up the heart of a lion king like

The following are from Ikeda Sensei’s April and May 1951 diary entries, prior to his mentor, Josei Toda, being inaugurated as second Soka Gakkai president. Until then, Sensei had struggled alongside Mr. Toda to resolve his financial struggles so that he could focus all his energies on the Soka Gakkai’s growth as its president. These

The following excerpts are from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on “The Dragon Gate,” which can be found in Learning From the Writings: The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, pp. 113–29. The youth are the “pillar” that will shoulder world peace. The youth are the “eyes” that will open the future of humanity. The youth are the

Background Written on November 6, 1279, this letter was addressed to Nanjo Tokimitsu, a key disciple in Suruga Province. Like his late father, Tokimitsu looked up to Nichiren as his mentor and strove in faith under Nikko Shonin’s instruction. When he received this letter, he had already become a young leader among the believers in

Background The date and the recipient of this letter are unknown, and there is a possibility that the first and second halves are from two different letters. At the start of the letter, both Nikko Shonin (Hoki-bo) and the “believers in Atsuhara” are mentioned, leading to the belief that the letter was written to the

The following commentary is from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture “The Spirit of ‘Many in Body, One in Mind’ Is the Path to Victory.” The full lecture can be found in The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, pp. 203–11. Two Wheels of a Cart The oneness of mentor and disciple and the spirit of many in body,

The following commentary is from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on harmony in his subseries “A Religion of Human Revolution,” part of the “Buddhism of the Sun—Illuminating the World.” It can be found in A Religion of Human Revolution, pp. 59–60. Myo [meaning mystic, of myoho, the Mystic Law] means to revive, that is, to return to

Background Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter in January 1266. The letter’s content suggests the recipient was a woman who lived in Amatsu of Awa Province who had formerly believed in the Pure Land (Nembutsu) teachings and was relatively new to faith in Nichiren Buddhism. In the letter, Nichiren explains in plain terms the rewards of

Background Nichiren Daishonin addressed this letter in February 1272 to Sairen-bo, a former priest of the Tendai school of Buddhism, when both were exiled on Sado Island. It seems this letter was a response to a question Sairen-bo had asked about the heritage of the ultimate Law of life, an important principle in the Tendai

“If one lights a fire for others, one will brighten one’s own way.” (“On The Three Virtues of Food,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2, p. 1060) In the letter “On the Three Virtues of Food,” Nichiren Daishonin expresses his sincere gratitude to a disciple who had sent him needed provisions. He explains that

The following text is excerpted from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on “The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” which can be found in Learning From Nichiren’s Writings: The Teachings for Victory, vol. 4, pp. 4–8. The Gohonzon Exists for the Enlightenment of All People “To begin with, this Gohonzon was revealed in the last eight years of

Background This letter details the figures represented on the Gohonzon and their significance. It was written in 1277, when Nichiren was living at Mount Minobu. Details are unknown about the recipient, Nichinyo, but it is thought that she was an educated person with strong faith. She deeply appreciated having received the Gohonzon and sent Nichiren

The following text is excerpted from Ikeda Sensei’s lecture on “The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra,” which can be found in Learning from the Writings: The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, pp. 143–44. In its original sense, the term strategy refers to battle tactics, the science of warfare or martial arts. Considered more broadly, it

Background Nichiren wrote “The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra” to Shijo Kingo, who had, some years prior, incurred the wrath of his feudal lord, Ema, after trying to convert him to Nichiren Buddhism. He eventually regained his lord’s trust by continuing to serve him sincerely and by following Nichiren’s advice in the matter. But some

The following excerpts are from The World of Nichiren’s Writings, a discussion between Ikeda Sensei and Soka Gakkai study department leaders on the life of Nichiren and context of his writings. They can be found in vol. 1, pp. 2–3. Katsuji Saito: To begin with, I would like to ask about Nichiren’s writings in general