Hosshaku Kempon
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Repaying Gratitude to My Mentor by Accomplishing the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu
(完成广布之大愿,向
师匠报恩)
Gitanjali Singh
India
 
I took faith in Nichiren Buddhism in 2004, 11 years ago. I am heading marketing for one of India's foremost retail and real estate company.
 
Coming from a religious family, I was always taught to pray and seek God. However, having experienced communal riots, losing our house, I often wondered if this alone would bring an end to the suffering of people, if it could stop people from losing lives in the name of religion or the country they belong. It was only as I began practising Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, that I got the answers to these questions; that war would only end if we remove hatred from our hearts and become good friends who respect one another. I see introducing our friends to the world of Soka, (and thus to the world of SGI President Ikeda, whom I regard as my mentor in life and address as "Ikeda Sensei") where each life is cherished to bring out our highest potential, as the best way to do so. So strong was my determination to bring joy to friends, that I attended my first discussion meeting with a friend whom I introduced to this practice, the very same day. Today this friend is a Women Division leader, actively advancing kosen-rufu in her area. In the first year of my practice I was able to sow the seeds of Buddhism in the lives of all my friends.
 
However as my responsibilities grew, my own determination to do shakubuku (sharing Nichiren Buddhism with others) became weak and it was only in 2011, that I could draw the courage to seek guidance on how to introduce my family to this practice. My question was "Why are they not convinced of my practice?" I received strict guidance from my senior in faith and was told: "Your life needs to communicate correctly the validity of this Law". Ikeda Sensei says, "It may be lonely being the only person practising in your family, but if you exert yourself diligently, your benefit and good fortune will extend to and be shared by your entire family. Offering prayers for your family members to take faith in the Daishonin's Buddhism so they may become happy is certainly important, but the most fundamental thing is for each one of you to demonstrate the greatness of your faith with your own life".
 
Basing myself on Ikeda Sensei's guidance, I began praying with a renewed sense of determination and self reflected on my own behaviour. As prayer strengthened and behaviour improved, within a few days, my grandmother who was suffering from cancer began chanting and soon my mother also began practising faith. With three of us chanting daimoku, my grandmother was able to prolong her life span by one year and her last words to me were "Never stop chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo". My mother also cleared the Buddhist entrance examination and finds great happiness in chanting daimoku and participating in SGI activities. Very often we had two home visits happening simultaneously in our house. My family has seen great benefits from practising this philosophy of life as we have overcome health and relationship issues. Today my father proudly shares that his daughter is a part of Soka Gakkai and has the greatest regard for Ikeda Sensei. He has so far never said "No" to me for any SGI activities.
 
Waging a Struggle to Share Buddhism with my Mentor Close to Heart
 
With the inauguration of the Hall of the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu (in Japan) in 2013, Ikeda Sensei's response to his mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda's cherished goal of 750,000 households, by doing shakubuku was shared with us the very same day. This guidance made a strong impact on me and I vowed to Ikeda Sensei to pray and take action to remove all reservations from my life to hold dialogues. With a thorough study of Ikeda Sensei's Gosho lecture on "The True Aspect of All Phenomena", I understood that the great vow refers to the propagation of the Lotus Sutra, which can be accomplished only by awakening to our identity as a Bodhisattva of the Earth. My prayers in front of the Gohonzon transformed to accomplish the great vow by developing a stand-alone spirit, as this is the unchanging formula for the progression of kosen-rufu. I could feel a change in my practice as it became filled with joy, responsibility and a great confidence within my own life.
 
On March 16, 2014, in the 10th year of my practice, our goal of accomplishing "One BSG (Bharat Soka Gakkai) of 100,000 Bodhisattvas of the Earth" was announced. That day, while sharing her determination with me, one Young Women Division (YWD) leader said, "I must make great efforts to do shakubuku. Years from now, I don't want to regret that I did not contribute to this goal". Encouraged by her determination, I thought, "How will I achieve this goal?" and asked myself, "What would Sensei do in my place?" Immediately I recollected Ikeda Sensei's youthful struggles at Kamata, Osaka, Bunkyo and Yamaguchi and his only thought was to respond to President Toda. As Ikeda Sensei's disciple, should I fail, I would be letting my mentor down. I was able to remove the fear and apprehension from deep within my life and determined that this goal was my responsibility. I recognised the opportunity the moment afforded to repay my gratitude to my beloved mentor through the accomplishment of this goal.
 
I prayed to develop courage, gratitude and sincerity and to encounter one person with whom I could hold a dialogue everyday. There were days when I could fulfil this determination and many days, which were disappointing. But I continued to pray. During a conversation with an office colleague, I sensed his unhappiness. That moment, I thought, "What is stopping me from telling him about Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism? I know he needs to chant." I chanted daimoku in my heart, and immediately began sharing our philosophy with him. Initially surprised, my colleague eventually asked me, "When is the next meeting that I can attend". This experience opened my life to take clear action. Mystically I began meeting people in flights, in cafes, at family gatherings and was able to hold meaningful dialogues. As a result since July 2014 I have been able to invite friends to almost all the discussion meetings. Amongst them were two of my close friends who attended the discussion meeting after an eight-year struggle on my part to introduce this Buddhism to them.
 
Strong Determination Opens the Floodgates of Propagation
 
Ikeda Sensei says, "The world of tomorrow is waiting. Humanity of the future is waiting for the great march of the Soka." With the start of the Year of Dynamic Development as a united BSG, we strengthened our determination to achieve our goal of "100,000 Bodhisattvas of the Earth (membership)" by November 18, 2015. Every campaign in BSG was focused towards spreading happiness and bringing guests to the discussion meetings. This determination opened the floodgates of propagation and propelled us to move out of our comfort zones and inmate dialogues, freely expressing our pride and joy as practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism. The Women Division in February supported efforts by creating a whirlwind of daimoku. In March, we studied Ikeda Sensei's efforts at propagation during the Osaka Campaign. He says, "The historic Osaka Campaign of 1956 also began with chanting vigorously each morning. That's how we were able to make the impossible possible. We were able to achieve a monumental victory that will shine for all eternity." Chanting daimoku and reaching out to friends became the rhythm of BSG and the Youth Division spearheaded the shakubuku movement by introducing 9000 people during the March discussion meeting. Focusing on "It is the heart that is important", BSG went on to achieve a shakubuku record of 38,000 friends in May. At every juncture, we were encouraged by many heartfelt messages from Ikeda Sensei.
 
Second Soka Gakkai president Toda said, "Strengthening and increasing the membership of the Young Women Division is the way to open the gateway to the eternal victory of kosen-rufu and eternal development of Soka Gakkai". During the YWD Ikeda Kayo-kai month (in June), the YWD members challenged themselves by studying together and becoming good friends with YWD friends. As a result of their earnest daimoku and efforts, the YWD membership grew from 15,000 to 19,192. It is my determination to report to Ikeda Sensei, a membership of 20,000 YWD members in India by this year (2015).
 
The finishing touch to our goal was achieved by the Student Division's campaign held in July. The campaign focused on encouraging 10,000 new guests to become members and holding 25,000 dialogues based on Ikeda Sensei's Peace Proposal. Our focus was to build trust by cherishing every single individual. As the joy of studying the Peace Proposal spread from one member to the other, many reports of reaching out to new members, and holding dialogues began to pour in. One member was able to hold 62 dialogues in a month, whereas another member conducted 50 dialogues and could share Buddhism with 10 friends out of them in less than two months. In one area, 358 friends became members. In two months we were able to cherish 14900 friends and enable them to become members and conduct 38,400 dialogues based on the Peace Proposal. Throughout the year close to 59,000 lives were introduced to the Saka Gakkai in India, of which 22,000 became members. With deep gratitude and immense joy, we were able to achieve our goal of "One BSG of 100,000 Bodhisattvas of the Earth" on August 1, 2015!
 
Norman Cousins (1915-90), the writer known as the "conscience of America" with whom President Ikeda engaged in a dialogue said that the only thing more powerful than nuclear weapons in our world today is the power of the human spirit. I pledge to use my life in entirety to unhesitatingly pray and actively reach out to as many people as possible to engage in dialogue, make new friends and promote the understanding of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. It is my determination that as long as suffering continues in this world, I will not waver and will accomplish the great vow for kosen-rufu.
 
This, for me, is the oneness of mentor and disciple, and repaying my debt of gratitude to Ikeda Sensei. 

(编辑注释: 以下是中文翻译)

完成广布之大愿,向师匠报恩
基坦扎丽•星
印度

 
我在11年前的2004年入信日莲佛法。我在印度其中一家最大的零售业和房地产公司担任市场主任。
 
生长在一个虔诚的家庭,我向来被教导要膜拜神。然而,经历过社区暴动,失去了房子,我经常都在想,仅仅是膜拜神明就能终止人们的痛苦吗?就能阻止人们在宗教或自己国家的名义之下,丧失性命吗?直到我开始修行日莲大圣人的佛法之后,才找到问题的答案,那就是如果能从心里除掉仇恨,彼此成为好朋友,互相尊敬的话,战争就能结束。因此,我认为最好的方法就是将朋友带到珍惜每一个生命,让每-个生命发挥最大潜能的创价的世界、我称之为“先生”的池田SGI会长的世界。
 
要把喜悦带给朋友们的决心,让我在出席笫一个座谈会当天,便偕间我刚刚折伏的朋友前去。今天,这个朋友已经是妇人部干事,在自己所在之地积极推进广宣流布。入信笫一年,我便已经把佛法的种子播在了所有朋友的生命中。
 
然而,随着我的责任不断增加,折伏的决心也跟着变弱。直到2011年,我才鼓起勇气,请教信心前辈要怎样折伏我的家人。我的问题是:“为们么他们不能信服我的修行?”结果前辈给了我严厉的指导,说:“你的生命必须正确地与此妙法连接。”池田先生说:“家里只有自己信仰,也许会感到落寞,但只要有信仰的你坚持不懈,功德、福运就会回向全家……为了家人的幸福,希望他们早日入信当然很重要,不过,最根本的还是以身示范信仰的好处。”
 
我以池田先生的指导为根本,幵始以崭新的决意折求,并且对自己的行为进行反思。祈求增强了,行为也改善了,在短短几天内,患癌症的奶奶就幵始唱题了,不久,母亲也跟者入信。在我们三人合力唱题之下,奶奶的寿命延长了一年。临终时她对我说:“绝对不要停止唱诵南上妙法莲华经。”母亲也考及格佛法入门考试,而且从唱题和参加学会活动中获得莫大的快乐。有很多次我们家有两个家访同时在进行呢。我们一家见证了修行此生命哲学所获得的大功德,它让我们克服了健康和家人之间关系的问题。今大,父亲会很自豪地告诉别人自己的女儿是创价的一员,而且对池田先生抱着至高的敬意,对于我的学会活动至今也不曾说过一个“不”字。
 
心中怀着师匠,展开折伏的奋斗
 
2013年,日本的广宣流布誓愿堂开幕的一天,我们便被告知池田先生当年是如何奋战,以达成其师匠——创价学会第二代会长户田先生所立下的75万卢折伏目标,这个指导在我生命中引起莫大的反响。我向池田先生立誓,要通过祈求和行动,消除自己生命中的所有疑虑,以便能展开佛法对话。我将池田先生的《诸法实相抄》讲义彻底拜读之后,明白到所谓大愿即弘扬法华经,而唯有觉醒到自身即地涌菩萨时,才能达成此大愿。我对御本尊
的祈求转变为发挥一人奋起的精神,以完成此大愿,因为这是推进广宣流布的不二方程式。我感觉到自己的修行起了变化,生命中允满喜悦、责任感和大确信。
 
2014年3月16日,我人信笫10个年头,学会宣布了要达成“一个印度SGI,10万个地涌菩萨”的目标。当天,一个女子部干事告诉我她的决意,她说:“我一定要努力做折伏。我不想在将来后悔自己不曾对这个目标做出贡献。”她的决意豉励了我,我心想:“我要如何达成这个目标呢?”我又问自己:“如果先生是我的话,他会怎么做呢?”我当下想起池田先生年轻时在蒲田、大阪、文京及山口展开的奋战,当时先生只想到要回应户田先生。如果我这个弟子失败的话,那将会令池田先生失塱。我终于消除了生命深处的恐惧和顾虑,决意以此目标为己任,我认识到如今正是通过达成这个标,以报答先生的时候。
 
我祈求能磨练自已的勇气、感激之心和诚意,并且毎一天都能碰到一个让我展开对话的人。有些日子我能达成这个决意,可是更多时候是希望落空。可是我继续祈求。有一次在跟-个同事交谈时,我突然感觉到对方并不快乐。在那一刻我心想:“明知他需要唱题,却犹豫不决,不敢告诉他日莲大圣人的佛法,为什么?”当时,我在心里默默唱着题目,跟着马上开口告诉他此佛法。起先他有些惊愕,最后他问我:“下-个活动在什么时候我可以去参加的?”这个经验让我敞开生命,明确地去采取行动。不可思议的是,在这之后,我便开始在飞机上、咖啡座、家庭聚会等种种场合进行有意义的对话。结呆.从去年2014年7月开始,几乎毎一个座谈会我都能够邀请到朋友前去参加。他们当中有两位是我的密友,我经过8年的努力才折服了她俩。我很髙兴地说,她们现在正在喜悦地淮备参加9月的入门教学考试。
 
强盛的一念打开弘教的闸门 
 
池田先生说:“明天的世界在等待。未来的人们在等待创价的大行进。”今年“世界广布新时代跃进年”一揭幕,我们印度SGI闭结一致,增强-念,要在今年11月18日达成“一万个地涌菩萨(学会员)”的目标。我们学会所展开的每一个运动都集中在扩大幸福,以及带新朋友去座谈会。这个决意打开了弘教的闸门,推动我们走出各自的安逸地带,主动展开对活,无拘无束地向人表达自己身为日莲佛法修行者的自豪和喜悦。2月,妇人部支持我们的努力,刮起唱题的旋风。3月我们拜读池田先生在大阪弘教时所做出的努力。池田会长说:“大阪奋战也是从早晨的祈求出发,所以能将不可能变为可能,并构筑起永垂不朽的‘胜利金字塔’。
 
唱诵题口和找朋友展开佛法付活成了我们学会的韵律。青年部率先在3月份的座谈会介绍了9000人。以“心为切要”为焦点,学会继续在5月创下了折伏3万8000个朋友的新纪录。在每一个关键时刻,我们都被池田先生捎来的许多鼓励所激励。
 
创价学会笫二代会长户田先生曾说:“增加女了部员、加强女子部的力量,就等于开启广宜流布永远胜利的大门,开启创价学会永远繁荣的大门。”6月是女子部华阳会之月,我们女子部自我挑战,并通过一起学习佛法,跟女子部之友成为好朋友。通过认真地唱题和努力,结果,女子部会员从1万5000人增至1万9192人。我决意向池田先生报告,印度女子部要在今年内达到2万名会员。
 
学会目标的最后阶段通过学生部在7月举行的折伏运动达成了。这个运动的焦点在于鼓励一万名新朋友成为学会员,同时就池田先生的《和平倡言》举行2万5千个对话。我们的重点在于珍惜付一个人,从中建立起信赖。随着阅读《和平倡言》的喜悦由一个会员传到另一个会员,关于折伏新会员、展开对话的报告纷至沓来。其中一名会员在一个月内就达成了62次对话,另一名也举行了50次对话,并且不到两个月便跟其中10个人诉说了日莲佛法。有一个地方有358位新朋友成为了学会员,我们在两个月内便鼓励到1万4900位朋友成为学会员,同时就《和平偶言》
进行了3万8400个对话。在这一年里,将近5万9000个人被介绍到印度SGI,当中有2万2000人成为了学会员。我们在今年8月1日达成了“10万地涌菩萨的印度SGI”的目标。我们无不怀着深深的感激和喜悦之情。非常感谢您,池田先生!
 
有“美国的良心”之称的诺曼•卡曾斯博士(1915-90)在与池田会长的对谈中曾说道:“这世上比核子武器更有力的,只有人类的精神力。”
 
我向最伟大的师匠——池田先生誓愿,将以我的生命,毫不迟疑地祈求并尽可能联系上更多的人,与他们对活,结交新朋友,并推广对日莲大圣人佛法的理解。我向先生决意,只要痛苦继续存在于这个世界上,我将毫不动摇地完成我的广布誓愿。对我而言,这就是师弟不二,就是向池田先生报恩。

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