Resources for the introduction of Soka Gakkai Spain discussion meetings
Great evil portends the arrival of great good. If all of Jambudvīpa were to be thrown into chaos, there could be no doubt that [this sutra would] “be widely propagated throughout Jambudvīpa.”
↳ Passage from “The Kalpa of Decrease” in WND, page 1122. Neither the date nor addressee of this letter is known. However, judging by its content, it may have been sent to someone in the clan of the late lay priest Takahashi Rokuro Hyoe after his death, around 1276, after the Mongolian invasion.
The Mystic Law gives us the strength not to be defeated when something bad happens, be it in our personal lives or in society; indeed, it gives us the power to create something good and positive out of that negative event.
[…] In the midst of this most difficult and troubled realm of the saha world,1 we of the Soka Gakkai have courageously taken on the challenge of propagating the Mystic Law across the globe. In an evil age, the courage of the Buddha shines all the more brightly. In a defiled age, the wisdom of Buddhism sparkles all the more brilliantly. […]
Peace is not some distant goal removed from daily life. It is achieved by striking down, day after day, with the sword of our faith2 we of the Soka Gakkai have courageously taken on the challenge of propagating the Mystic Law across the globe. In an evil age, the courage of the Buddha shines all the more brightly. In a defiled age, the wisdom of Buddhism sparkles all the more brilliantly.3
In the midst of a conflict of unprecedented magnitude, namely the Second World War, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi Sensei declared: «In the face of a challenge or hardship, we must strengthen our resolve to press on tenaciously and live without being defeated’. In one of the Peace Proposals presented to the United Nations, Daisaku Ikeda remarked: ‘Conflict and tension do not in themselves render dialogue impossible; what builds the walls between us is our willingness to remain ignorant of others. This is why it is crucial to be the one to initiate dialogue. Everything starts from there.»4
There are certainly situations in life where it is difficult to take that first step towards another person. However, the path to peace and friendship begins with courageous dialogue. Whenever we choose dialogue, peace prevails and our shared humanity triumphs.
The Gosho itself, the collection of writings from which we usually take our opening quotations for this section, is simply the crystallization of the Daishonin’s dialogues with individuals, as we can read in The New Human Revolution:
Throughout his tumultuous life, he [the Daishonin] would always lend his support to help others attain absolute happiness. He would write, talk to others, and then write some more, all while facing the countless struggles and challenges of life.
Some think of Buddhist practice as retreating to a quiet place and leading a life of calm and contemplation, but you should know that from its earliest origins Buddhism was a philosophy of practice, of living and energetically engaging with others in dialogue.5
Menorca District: Among the photos from the ‘The Mentor’s Legacy: My Vibrant Growth’ general meeting that we received whilst finalising this issue is this one of our friends gathered in Menorca, whose presence further enhances the beauty of this stunning island, a pearl of the Mediterranean designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve | Photograph sent by Susana Yoshida.
Bústia: prensa@ediciones-civilizacionglobal.com
- Saha world: The world in which we humans live, filled with suffering. In Sanskrit, ‘saha’ refers to the earth; it derives from a root meaning ‘to endure’ or ‘to withstand’. For this reason, in the Chinese versions of Buddhist scriptures, ‘saha’ is translated as ‘endurance’ or ‘forbearance’. In this context, ‘Saha world’ means the place where human beings are exposed to suffering. ↩︎
- Sword of faith: The expression refers to a passage by Nichiren Daishonin: “The single word ‘belief’ is the sharp sword with which one confronts and overcomes fundamental darkness or ignorance” (OTT, pages 119–120). Fundamental darkness or ignorance refers to the deepest delusion of the human mind: ignorance regarding the core truth of our lives. In other words, it is the inability to believe that each of us embodies the Mystic Law and inherently possesses the Buddha nature. The expression “sword of faith” implies that, when we unmask negative functions (or fundamental ignorance) and confront them with full awareness of what they are, arming ourselves with firm faith and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon, we can activate our Buddhahood and defeat them without fail. In other words, we can become aware of the enlightened nature or Buddha nature inherent in our own lives and those of others, manifest it, and take action to realise Kosen-rufu. ↩︎
- IKEDA, Daisaku: Kosen-rufu Is the Ultimate Effort for Peace,SGI President Ikeda’s Editorial, September 2007. ↩︎
- IKEDA, Daisaku: Universal Respect for Human Dignity: The Great Path to Peace, available in https://www.daisakuikeda.org/sub/resources/works/props/2016-peace-proposal-full/>. ↩︎
- IKEDA, Daisaku: The New Human Revolution, volume 24: Chapter 2, Vigilant Safeguarding 38. ↩︎