In the January 1957 edition of the monthly study journal Daibyakurenge, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda wrote: “My prayer is that all my comrades in faith who share my spirit will strive to create a world, a country, a life, in which there is no use for the word ‘misery.’ With this thought, let us make a hope-filled start in the new year.”
To rid the world of misery—the only way to do this is never to let up in the struggle against the devilish nature that causes people to suffer. That is the spirit and resolve of the Buddha. It is the spirit of a person of courage. Unless we base ourselves on this spirit, we cannot lead the way to kosen-rufu.
This guidance is an abstract from 'The World of Nichiren Daishonin Writings' with universal value and application
The Daishonin’s profound empathy with the people’s pain and suffering is the basis of “On Establishing the Correct Teaching.” His feelings are neither mere sentimentality nor sympathy. Enabling people to become happy is the Buddha’s mission. It is an act that requires waging a struggle against the devilish nature inherent in life that causes people to suffer. For that reason, the Daishonin conveys reality just as it is. Our mission [Soka Gakkai] is to champion the cause of those who are suffering and to struggle against the devilish forces that bring about that suffering. Realizing the “peace of the land,” which constitutes the goal of “establishing the correct teaching,” is to create a peaceful society where people can enjoy happiness and security and develop their humanity to the fullest extent. In short, achieving peace and security for all people is essentially what the Daishonin means by “peace of the land.” It goes without saying that his focus is not the well-being of only the powerful or elite. The “correct teaching” to which Nichiren Daishonin refers in his treatise “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land” is “the one true vehicle, the single good doctrine” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 25). In other words, it is the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, which gives all people the ability to unlock the fundamental power of the Buddha nature that is inherent in their lives and attain Buddhahood. For the individual, “establishing the correct teaching” means developing strong faith in the Lotus Sutra; it means each person aspiring to realize happiness for themselves and others. The Soka Gakkai promotes correct faith in order to establish the correct teaching on the level of the individual. To do so on the level of society, we are spreading the spirit to respect human beings and put people first. Based on these ideas, we are advancing a movement of culture, peace and education in actual society—in other words, in the secular realm. I believe that this great movement based on Buddhism, which extends to 181 countries and territories around the world, will develop without fail into a mighty force moving ever forward toward the realization of eternal peace for all humanity. The future starts from now. |
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