ii. Hosshaku kempon, Regaining a new sense of Self
When one is awakened to the profound mission of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, he or she will gain a new sense of life. They will be able to ‘cast off the transient and reveal the true’ in their own life. As a consequence, it enables their real potential to shine forth and their strength to increase boundlessly.
Hosshaku Kempon or the term ‘Casting of Transient and Revealing the True’ is a Buddhist concept defined as discarding one’s transient status and showing one’s true identity with reference to the following instances:
Throughout history, the actualization of Hosshaku Kempon has been essential in the movement of Buddhism from the days of Shakyamuni to Daishonin and to the modern day of the 3 founding presidents of Soka Gakkai.
In the months leading up to his arrest in July 1943, President Makiguchi had a profound awareness of kosen-rufu as the Soka Gakkai’s mission. He began to repeatedly insist to his disciples that the organization must ‘cast off the transient and reveal the true’. President Toda, inheriting his mentor’s spirit, had a deep awakening to its meaning too.
After his release from prison, President Toda declared that “In terms of our outward activities—we are Bodhisattvas of the Earth, while in terms of faith, we are the followers and descendant disciples of Nichiren Daishonin.” It was with this conviction and resolve that we must strive selflessly and tirelessly for kosen-rufu. This conviction is the central philosophy of the Soka Gakkai and essentially is the ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’ of the Soka Gakkai.
After President Toda’s declaration, the entire Soka Gakkai rose up to engage in the shared struggle of mentor and disciple. Members were aware of their mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth and vowed to realize kosen-rufu through their own efforts. The ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’ of the disciples are in essence, the ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’ of the Soka Gakkai.
President Ikeda appears as the single true disciple of President Toda who truly strives with the same heart as the mentor to galvanize everyone in the Soka Gakkai. President Ikeda supported his mentor and opened the path to victory. President Ikeda led the way to achieving President Toda’s cherished goal of 750,000 member households during his lifetime. President Ikeda realised all of his mentor’s visions for promoting peace, culture, and education, and spread the great philosophy and ideals of the Soka throughout the world. President Ikeda became the disciple who ‘cast off the transient and revealed the true’ just as his mentor instructed and built the indomitable Soka Gakkai today.
Those who vow to be the Direct Disciples of President Ikeda must be aware of their true identity as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. The Lotus Sutra has made it clear that teaching and spreading the sutra will inevitably result in the rise of the three powerful enemies and every other sort of persecution. Only the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, who have practised in oneness with the Buddha since the remote past, are able to persist in the struggle for kosen-rufu in the face of such harsh persecution and opposition.
Just as the Lotus Sutra predicted, persecution and opposition will inevitably surface in the Bodhisattvas of the Earth’s struggle for kosen-rufu. The priesthood’s attempt to excommunicate the Soka Gakkai in 1992 was a clear illustration of the persecutions faced by the votary of the Lotus Sutra. Former Soka Gakkai President Akiya stated in his speech at a joint commemorative general meeting of the university group and Tokyo′s Shibuya Ward held on Nov 9, 1991 as follows:
Though this may sound presumptuous, I dare say that the priesthood′s attempt to use the threat of power and authority to disband, excommunicate or ’cut off’ the Soka Gakkai is in a sense similar to Nichiren Daishonin′s persecution by the authorities at Tatsunokuchi. I am also convinced that we should assign it the same significance, and approach it with the same spirit, as the three believers who became martyrs during the Atsuhara Persecution. For the Soka Gakkai it is, in a sense, our opportunity to cast off our transient status and reveal our true identity (hosshaku kempon), and a springboard to launch us toward a new era. Nothing could give us greater joy.
Source http://sokaspirit.org/home/newsletter/forge-ahead-with-dignity-and-confidence/
In SGI President Ikeda’s Essay, The Light of the Century of Humanity, Celebrating the New Year of the Second Act of Kosen-rufu, he stated the following:
I would like to proclaim that the time has come once again for the Soka Gakkai to “cast off the transient and reveal the true”.
The ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’ of the Soka Gakkai is, in essence, the “casting off the transient and revealing the true” of the direct disciples of President Ikeda. It also means that each direct disciple lives with the awareness that they have the mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth to fulfill and strive for kosen-rufu in the same spirit as their mentor, President Ikeda.
The realisation of one’s identity as a Bodhisattva of the Earth is a fundamental awakening in the innermost depths of one’s life. When the direct disciples are awakened to their mission as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they will gain a new sense of self. They will enable their real potential to shine forth. The wisdom and power of the Buddha, which is as vast as the universe, will well forth from within themselves. This is because each Bodhisattva of the Earth is an entity endowed with the supreme Buddha nature. Hence, those who are awakened to this profound mission fear nothing.
The Lotus Sutra states that the Bodhisattvas of the Earth “are clever at difficult questions and answers, their minds know no fear.”[The Lotus Sutra, and lts Opening and Closing Sutras, translated by Burton Watson, p.263] This means they are experts in conducting dialogue and by fearing no one, they resolutely fight against those evil powers that seek to trample upon the people. SGI members are definitely the persons of wisdom who are skilled at difficult questions and answers. Most importantly, they forever exist for the happiness of the people, for the sake of kosen-rufu.
When SGI members take on the mission and submerge to the frontline to help others become happy, courage and strength will well forth spontaneously from within themselves. By encouraging and respecting one another as fellow human beings, SGI members bring forth the power to tap the limitless potential within themselves and others and to create values of happiness and peace. This opens the way to the most beautiful, profound and powerful heart-to-heart network, breaking through all barriers and transcending all differences.
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth are described as "firm in their intent and thought" (LSOC, 256). That is, they are people of firm determination who, once set on a course of action, follow through; they are people of persistence. They include the pioneers of our movement who, come what may, have persevered in faith since the early days. Though subject to slander and abuse, they have never turned their backs on their determination. Their lives shine, adorned with the medal of perseverance that adorns the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
[The Heart of the Lotus Sutra, Lectures on the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters]
The ‘time’ for true Bodhisattvas of the Earth to fulfill their mission is in this evil age of the Latter Day of the Law, and the ‘place’ where they will carry out their vows is in this saha world. Having chosen the most challenging circumstances and impure land to execute their tasks, they will have to rise into action here and now to help those who are experiencing the greatest suffering attain enlightenment. In other words, they dive into helping those who are drowned in the cloudy water of society to become happy. Such is the powerful trait that one unleashes from their inherent limitless potential after ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true.’
“I am a Bodhisattva of the Earth!”— When all SGI members return to this eternal vow from time without beginning, they can change all negative karma into mission. Just as the sun breaks through dark clouds in illuminating the ground, the person can break through his sufferings and shine with the light of joy. Therefore by making a vow for kosen-rufu based on the above principle, SGI members can transform their karma into their mission. This is a revolution in the concept of karma; from one that leads passive life and resigns to fate, to another that leads optimistic, proactive and self-motivated life to change their destiny.
Someone may be suffering from various challenges or difficulties at this moment. These problems could be leading him to a hellish state, engulfing his entire self and leave him with despair. However, an awakening to and declaration of the profound vow that one is a “Bodhisattva of the Earth” will turn the sufferings he is going through into nothing but opportunities for him to break through and actualize the mystic law with his own life.
Those who dedicate their lives to kosen-rufu, overcoming painful sufferings and persevering in faith, they too can actualize the principle of ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’. As ordinary people, they can manifest the same life state of the Buddha that Shakyamuni and Daishonin possessed. SGI members, who are striving to fulfill their vow as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, in the spirit of oneness of mentor and disciple, will attain the indestructible life-state of eternity, happiness, true self, and purity.
What is the reason for one's existence? Why is one born here and in this lifetime? These profound questions can be easily answered when one deeply comes to recognize his or her fundamental mission in life. With this awakening, one can bring forth truly great and unimaginable power.
Hosshaku Kempon or the term ‘Casting of Transient and Revealing the True’ is a Buddhist concept defined as discarding one’s transient status and showing one’s true identity with reference to the following instances:
- Shakyamuni discarded of his provisional identity as the Buddha who first attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in India and revealed of his original enlightenment or the enlightenment he attained numberless major world system dust particle kalpas in the past.
- Nichiren Daishonin, through the events at Tatsunokuchi Persecution, discarded his transient status as an ordinary person and revealed his true identity as the Buddha of the Latter Day.
Throughout history, the actualization of Hosshaku Kempon has been essential in the movement of Buddhism from the days of Shakyamuni to Daishonin and to the modern day of the 3 founding presidents of Soka Gakkai.
In the months leading up to his arrest in July 1943, President Makiguchi had a profound awareness of kosen-rufu as the Soka Gakkai’s mission. He began to repeatedly insist to his disciples that the organization must ‘cast off the transient and reveal the true’. President Toda, inheriting his mentor’s spirit, had a deep awakening to its meaning too.
After his release from prison, President Toda declared that “In terms of our outward activities—we are Bodhisattvas of the Earth, while in terms of faith, we are the followers and descendant disciples of Nichiren Daishonin.” It was with this conviction and resolve that we must strive selflessly and tirelessly for kosen-rufu. This conviction is the central philosophy of the Soka Gakkai and essentially is the ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’ of the Soka Gakkai.
After President Toda’s declaration, the entire Soka Gakkai rose up to engage in the shared struggle of mentor and disciple. Members were aware of their mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth and vowed to realize kosen-rufu through their own efforts. The ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’ of the disciples are in essence, the ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’ of the Soka Gakkai.
President Ikeda appears as the single true disciple of President Toda who truly strives with the same heart as the mentor to galvanize everyone in the Soka Gakkai. President Ikeda supported his mentor and opened the path to victory. President Ikeda led the way to achieving President Toda’s cherished goal of 750,000 member households during his lifetime. President Ikeda realised all of his mentor’s visions for promoting peace, culture, and education, and spread the great philosophy and ideals of the Soka throughout the world. President Ikeda became the disciple who ‘cast off the transient and revealed the true’ just as his mentor instructed and built the indomitable Soka Gakkai today.
Those who vow to be the Direct Disciples of President Ikeda must be aware of their true identity as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. The Lotus Sutra has made it clear that teaching and spreading the sutra will inevitably result in the rise of the three powerful enemies and every other sort of persecution. Only the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, who have practised in oneness with the Buddha since the remote past, are able to persist in the struggle for kosen-rufu in the face of such harsh persecution and opposition.
Just as the Lotus Sutra predicted, persecution and opposition will inevitably surface in the Bodhisattvas of the Earth’s struggle for kosen-rufu. The priesthood’s attempt to excommunicate the Soka Gakkai in 1992 was a clear illustration of the persecutions faced by the votary of the Lotus Sutra. Former Soka Gakkai President Akiya stated in his speech at a joint commemorative general meeting of the university group and Tokyo′s Shibuya Ward held on Nov 9, 1991 as follows:
Though this may sound presumptuous, I dare say that the priesthood′s attempt to use the threat of power and authority to disband, excommunicate or ’cut off’ the Soka Gakkai is in a sense similar to Nichiren Daishonin′s persecution by the authorities at Tatsunokuchi. I am also convinced that we should assign it the same significance, and approach it with the same spirit, as the three believers who became martyrs during the Atsuhara Persecution. For the Soka Gakkai it is, in a sense, our opportunity to cast off our transient status and reveal our true identity (hosshaku kempon), and a springboard to launch us toward a new era. Nothing could give us greater joy.
Source http://sokaspirit.org/home/newsletter/forge-ahead-with-dignity-and-confidence/
In SGI President Ikeda’s Essay, The Light of the Century of Humanity, Celebrating the New Year of the Second Act of Kosen-rufu, he stated the following:
I would like to proclaim that the time has come once again for the Soka Gakkai to “cast off the transient and reveal the true”.
The ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’ of the Soka Gakkai is, in essence, the “casting off the transient and revealing the true” of the direct disciples of President Ikeda. It also means that each direct disciple lives with the awareness that they have the mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth to fulfill and strive for kosen-rufu in the same spirit as their mentor, President Ikeda.
The realisation of one’s identity as a Bodhisattva of the Earth is a fundamental awakening in the innermost depths of one’s life. When the direct disciples are awakened to their mission as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they will gain a new sense of self. They will enable their real potential to shine forth. The wisdom and power of the Buddha, which is as vast as the universe, will well forth from within themselves. This is because each Bodhisattva of the Earth is an entity endowed with the supreme Buddha nature. Hence, those who are awakened to this profound mission fear nothing.
The Lotus Sutra states that the Bodhisattvas of the Earth “are clever at difficult questions and answers, their minds know no fear.”[The Lotus Sutra, and lts Opening and Closing Sutras, translated by Burton Watson, p.263] This means they are experts in conducting dialogue and by fearing no one, they resolutely fight against those evil powers that seek to trample upon the people. SGI members are definitely the persons of wisdom who are skilled at difficult questions and answers. Most importantly, they forever exist for the happiness of the people, for the sake of kosen-rufu.
When SGI members take on the mission and submerge to the frontline to help others become happy, courage and strength will well forth spontaneously from within themselves. By encouraging and respecting one another as fellow human beings, SGI members bring forth the power to tap the limitless potential within themselves and others and to create values of happiness and peace. This opens the way to the most beautiful, profound and powerful heart-to-heart network, breaking through all barriers and transcending all differences.
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth are described as "firm in their intent and thought" (LSOC, 256). That is, they are people of firm determination who, once set on a course of action, follow through; they are people of persistence. They include the pioneers of our movement who, come what may, have persevered in faith since the early days. Though subject to slander and abuse, they have never turned their backs on their determination. Their lives shine, adorned with the medal of perseverance that adorns the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
[The Heart of the Lotus Sutra, Lectures on the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters]
The ‘time’ for true Bodhisattvas of the Earth to fulfill their mission is in this evil age of the Latter Day of the Law, and the ‘place’ where they will carry out their vows is in this saha world. Having chosen the most challenging circumstances and impure land to execute their tasks, they will have to rise into action here and now to help those who are experiencing the greatest suffering attain enlightenment. In other words, they dive into helping those who are drowned in the cloudy water of society to become happy. Such is the powerful trait that one unleashes from their inherent limitless potential after ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true.’
“I am a Bodhisattva of the Earth!”— When all SGI members return to this eternal vow from time without beginning, they can change all negative karma into mission. Just as the sun breaks through dark clouds in illuminating the ground, the person can break through his sufferings and shine with the light of joy. Therefore by making a vow for kosen-rufu based on the above principle, SGI members can transform their karma into their mission. This is a revolution in the concept of karma; from one that leads passive life and resigns to fate, to another that leads optimistic, proactive and self-motivated life to change their destiny.
Someone may be suffering from various challenges or difficulties at this moment. These problems could be leading him to a hellish state, engulfing his entire self and leave him with despair. However, an awakening to and declaration of the profound vow that one is a “Bodhisattva of the Earth” will turn the sufferings he is going through into nothing but opportunities for him to break through and actualize the mystic law with his own life.
Those who dedicate their lives to kosen-rufu, overcoming painful sufferings and persevering in faith, they too can actualize the principle of ‘casting off the transient and revealing the true’. As ordinary people, they can manifest the same life state of the Buddha that Shakyamuni and Daishonin possessed. SGI members, who are striving to fulfill their vow as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, in the spirit of oneness of mentor and disciple, will attain the indestructible life-state of eternity, happiness, true self, and purity.
What is the reason for one's existence? Why is one born here and in this lifetime? These profound questions can be easily answered when one deeply comes to recognize his or her fundamental mission in life. With this awakening, one can bring forth truly great and unimaginable power.