In the Lotus Sutra, which embodies the essence of Shakyamuni’s teachings, we find the principle that “the sahā world is in itself the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light.” Sahā is a Sanskrit word meaning “to bear” or “to endure.” (…)

If people primarily view the world as a place filled with suffering, they are at greater risk of interacting with it in an erroneous manner. They may, for example, seek only personal freedom from suffering, feel powerless and resigned in the face of society’s harsh realities or fall into passive modes of living, waiting for someone else to solve their problems.

Shakyamuni’s true intent was not to say that the sahā world is a place where we must endure suffering; rather, it was to clarify that it is the very setting in which we can actualize the world of our hopes and dreams (the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light). This principle is illustrated in greater detail in the “Treasure Tower” (eleventh) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. In it, an enormous tower shining with the light of dignity emerges in the sahā world, the place where large numbers of people have assembled to listen to the Buddha preach. It is thus transformed into the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light before the eyes of all. (…)

People living in Japan during Nichiren’s time were mired in what seemed like a never-ending series of hardships. In addition to conflict, they suffered from natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, and also epidemics. Moreover, society was rampant with escapist ideologies leading people to remain within their egoistic shells and turn their backs on reality, as well as systems of thought portraying human beings as powerless. These beliefs further fed into a vicious cycle, robbing people of their vitality.

It is against this backdrop that Nichiren expounds on the scene in the Lotus Sutra where the treasure tower emerges, initiating the process of transforming the land. He stresses that the treasure tower seen by the gathered assembly is in fact their “individual bodies.” In doing so, he teaches us that this process of awakening to the fact that within every one of us is the same brilliant and dignified light as that emitted by the treasure tower—a light capable of illuminating this suffering-filled world—becomes the wellspring for revealing our limitless human potential. Moreover, he advocates the importance of creating by our own hand the world we desire, with each person making efforts to shine like a treasure tower and strive ever harder to brighten society with hope.[1]

In the text from which the commentary above has been extracted, which is the peace proposal Daisaku Ikeda presented to the United Nations in 2020, he speaks about his encounter with Wangari Maathai and conveys the following:

We discussed her work of igniting hope toward the creation of a new world starting in her immediate surroundings. Reflecting upon the Green Belt Movement, which began with the planting of just seven saplings, Dr. Maathai asserted: “The future does not exist in the future. Rather, it is born only through our actions in the present, and if we want to realize something in the future, we must take action toward it now.” (…)

Incidentally, I met Dr. Maathai just two days after the Kyoto Protocol, the first framework aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, entered into force. The movement initiated by Dr. Maathai in Kenya may not have attracted as much limelight as that historic milestone. Yet, with the passage of time, the hope she sparked through her actions would grow and garner support, eventually developing into a campaign in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that has continued after her passing. Through this initiative, more than 15 billion trees have been planted around the world.

The following words of Dr. Maathai are engraved in my mind to this day: «Even though we think that that particular action at an individual level may be very small, just imagine if it is repeated several million times. It will make a difference.» Her words give a sense of the powerful joy that comes from engaging in the challenge of construction.[2]