Resources for the introduction of the Spain Soka Gakkai discussion meetings
The single word ‘belief’ is the sharp sword with which one confronts and overcomes fundamental darkness or ignorance.
↳ OTT, pages 119 and 120. The Record of Orally Transmitted Teachings is a collection of Nichiren Daishonin’s oral teachings of The Lotus Sutra expounded during the years he spent at Mount Minobu where he established himself in May 1274 and where he stayed until the 8th September 1282, a few weeks prior to this death. These teachings were registered and compiled in two volumes by his disciple and successor Nikko Shonin.
As these words indicate, it is the sharp sword of faith that allows us to defeat fundamental darkness. This means persevering and challenging ourselves in faith throughout our lives. It means seeing devils for what they are and constantly bringing forth the fundamental nature of enlightenment from within. Through faith that grows stronger day by day and month after month,1 we can win over the workings of darkness or ignorance in our life at a fundamental level.
This is also why it is important to have a teacher or mentor in faith to give us correct direction. (…) The mentor-disciple spirit is a powerful driving force for defeating any form of devilish function. (…)
To remain fearless no matter what happens, to refuse to succumb to darkness or negativity—this is the spirit of faith needed to battle devilish functions. With this spirit, we can definitely prevail. This is the secret to a victorious life.2
In Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, “fundamental darkness” is the most deeply rooted illusion in life that gives rise to all other illusions or ignorance. It means the inability to see or recognise the truth, particularly the true nature of one’s life, in other words, that one’s life is essentially a manifestation of the Law, which Nichiren Daishonin identified as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
“Devilish functions” are those that work to divide people and to weaken their resolve and, specifically to obstruct their Buddhist practice.
The “Three poisons” are regarded as greed, anger and foolishness. This list can be expanded to include arrogance and doubt.
The UNESCO Constitution preamble starts with the famous phrase: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” In the face of the current global scene it is easy to feel small before what seem like great currents of history. However, from Buddhism’s profound perspective, everything starts from the individual, in our own hearts and our behaviour in our immediate environment. In a lecture given in Hiroshima, place where the first atomic bomb was launched over a population, Daisaku Ikeda speaks about this using the following words:
The purpose of our Buddhist practice is to enable people to courageously uphold their principles and advance on the great path to happiness, undeterred by harassment or persecution from those in power; it is to protect human dignity and achieve lasting peace and spiritual freedom for all people. (…)
Enduring peace cannot be achieved solely through political and economic measures. The impurities of the three poisons, which (…) [are] inherent within life. In other words, the sure way to lasting peace is the purification and transformation of individual human lives. That is the teaching of Buddhism and the heart of our Buddhist practice. I am firmly convinced that it is the best prescription for fundamentally healing the spiritual ills of humanity and society.3
Victoria Group When Daisaku Ikeda was presented with an honorary doctorate from the University of Alcalá in January 2018, and when this institution’s Archive of Words wanted to know a phrase that inspired the philosopher during his life, the answer received was the following: “Waves increase their force and fury the greater the obstacles they face.” The coasts of Galicia see these types of waves, but not only in the sea. This discussion group from A Coruña, whose members know what it means to face rock-like challenges without being disheartened, embodies the same tenacious determination which leads to the result that gives it its name. Congratulations!
Mailbox: prensa@ediciones-civilizacionglobal.com
- Please see WND-1, page 997.
- Extracted from “Estudio” section in this issue.
- IKEDA, Daisaku: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace. Part 3: Kosen-rufu and World Peace Chapter 31: The Great Path to World Peace, available online.