4. Fundamental Good Exists in Everyone’s Life

It is often the negative experiences one encounters in life that causes him or her to lose faith in humanity. This is especially so for someone who is constantly exposed to human’s treachery or act of betrayal. As a consequence, it will lead one to succumb to this evil external stimulus and eventually lose trust in humanity or human goodness.

This could be one of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century whereas lack of trust may be the perpetual cause of constant chaos. However, the true practitioners of Nichiren’s Buddhism take on a different perspective. They trust that each human being has the strength to manifest their innate good to triumph over their innate evil. It is because Buddhism does not perceive good and evil as dualism with each at its extreme end. Rather they are simply innate, inseparable aspects of life. In fact every single life is capable of manifesting the noblest good or the basest evil at different time and in different situation.

President Ikeda shares that the universe, this world and one’s own lives, are the stage of a ceaseless struggle between hatred and compassion, the destructive and constructive aspects of life. Henceforth, Buddhist practice is a relentless process of transforming the fundamental evil into fundamental good through one’s efforts to confront it inwardly in life. This process is known as Human Revolution. In this regard, the Buddhist practitioners reckon it as their lifelong mission to spread the universal compassion and respect for each individual life.

They believe that through their inner transformation, everyone is capable of calling forth this fundamental good. In Buddhism, this fundamental good is known as the ‘fundamental nature of enlightenment’ or the ‘world of Buddhahood’. Ultimately, it is only in the Lotus Sutra that Shakyamuni proclaims that everyone equally has the potential to call forth this fundamental good from within one’s life, also known as ‘attaining Buddhahood’. Since the Lotus Sutra is the only teaching that can enable all people to attain Buddhahood without fail, whoever spreads it in the Latter Day is bound to encounter numerous persecutions, as predicted by Shakyamuni.

Since hatred and jealousy toward this sutra abound even when the Thus Come One is in the world, how much more will this be so after his passing?
[The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind, WND, p.375]

Since the proclamation of the correct teaching to propagate Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day by the Daishonin, he experienced a succession of persecutions.

It is already over twenty years since I began proclaiming my doctrines. Day after day, month after month, year after year I have been subjected to repeated persecutions. Minor persecutions and annoyances are too numerous even to be counted, but the major persecutions number four.
[The Opening of the Eyes, WND 1, p.240]

The Daishonin fully aware that if he made advances to propagate the Lotus Sutra, he would have to engage in fierce battles with devilish functions especially the Devil King of the Sixth Heaven of the three powerful enemies. Then what was it that impelled him to advance this course despite the impending endangerment lurking ahead?

It is the compassion of the Buddha of the Latter day of the Law. It is this deep awareness of the suffering of another that actuates him to open a path of salvation for the people to attain enlightenment while steeping himself in the onslaught of repeated persecutions. The Daishonin realized that by resolutely triumphing over the fundamental struggle against the devilish function that permeates the universe and in one’s own life would Buddhism spread to benefit the people.

Therefore, those who are fainthearted and afraid of hardship cannot realize the momentous undertaking of kosen-rufu. If there is no one who is willing to spread the Law with such a selfless, ungrudging spirit, kosen-rufu will end up as nothing more than an empty dream. Viewing from the history of Nichiren’s Buddhism, it is apparent that only Soka Gakkai inherits this true spirit of propagation from the Daishonin.

The more dynamically the noble Soka movement grows, the more intense will be the onslaughts of the devil king and other negative forces. As a result, the 3 founding presidents inescapably bored the full brunt of all persecutions confronting them. President Toda instructed, “Fight fearlessly against devilish functions! Don’t let them cause mischief! Don’t ever give in to them!”

Selfless dedication to propagating the Law in the Daishonin’s Buddhism in no way indicates a feudalistic spirit of self-annihilation or self-sacrifice for the sake of some greater public good. The purpose of Buddhism lies in the compassion to help all people attain genuine happiness and thereby transform the karma of humankind.

The founding presidents of the Soka Gakkai adhere strictly to the spirit carried out by the Daishonin in actualising the principle of ‘persecutions are themselves attaining Buddhahood’. It explains that by overcoming persecution and hardship, one would bring forth the inner life-state of Buddhahood. The path for opening the condition of Buddhahood from within lies in courageously standing up to such difficulties without retreating a single step. It thus enables one to strengthen and forge their lives to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime.

Attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime is often misconstrued as becoming a Buddha or simply becoming someone else far more superior than human being, ie. a super human being. In actuality, it is the state of life stemming from the fundamental good or enlightenment that no matter how dire the circumstances may assail one in life, he or she will never be defeated.

Just as in the case of the Daishonin who remarked that he felt immeasurable delight even when he was facing the worst possible environment, living condition and threats to his life in Sado exile. Usually a person in the Daishonin’s condition might be tormented by a sense of failure or feel resentment towards society for not being understood. Some might be dubious of the purpose of their struggle for the happiness of the people while not being appreciated by them in return.

Rather than dwelling on his own situation, the Daishonin was far more concerned of the well being of his followers. In addition, he also prayed for the happiness of the authorities that persecuted him. This is the compassion of those who manifest the life state of a Buddha. His actions far surpassed the mere endurance of hardship. His behaviour demonstrated the inherent greatness of the human being.

Similarly, the actions of the three founding presidents demonstrated this behaviour and tenacity exemplified by the Daishonin. Nothing could shake their lives in the slightest while they undertake the task to spread the Daishonin’s Buddhism to every parts of the world. Not in the least will their hearts entertain any questions that might invite despair. Their lives wipe away any thoughts that might lead them to romanticize their situation. What left in their hearts are cheerfulness and boldness to overcome every adversity, while maintaining hope and belief for the happiness and advancement of humanity. The founders too truly lead a noble life, exemplifying the greatness of human being.

i. Selfless Dedication in Propagating the Law through Earnest Resolve

The faith that the practitioners uphold in the Mystic Law enables life to shine its brightest. It dispels the fundamental darkness in one’s life and sequentially brings forth and cultivates the innate wisdom, courage, and compassion. As a matter of fact, kosen-rufu is a noble cause that Buddhist practitioners work towards in raising the collective life-state of humanity to attain world peace. Naturally it deserves one’s wholehearted devotion and selfless dedication.

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ii. Persecutions lead to attaining Buddhahood

“Persecutions lead to attaining Buddhahood” means that, in overcoming persecution and hardship by bringing forth the inner life-state of Buddhahood, one can strengthen and forge our lives and attain enlightenment in this lifetime. The path for opening the condition of Buddhahood within, however, lies in courageously standing up to such difficulties without retreating a single step. This is the meaning of the principles that “obstacles lead to enlightenment” and “persecutions lead to attaining Buddhahood.” This is also evident in the lives of our 3 founding president of Soka Gakkai.

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iii. Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime – The State of Absolute Happiness

Attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime is often misconstrued as becoming a Buddha or simply becoming someone else far more superior than human being, ie. a super human being. In actuality, it is the state of life stemming from the fundamental good or enlightenment that no matter how dire the circumstances may assail one in life, he or she will never be defeated.

Coming soon...