Ok, so for me, this Gosho extract really fits in with our Actual Proof Campaign for 2013. In case you haven't seen it, the Youth Division have set a campaign for us all to show the actual proof in our own lives in 2013. 18th November 2013 is the anniversary of the founding of the Soka Gakkai in 1930 and marks the completion of the new Soka Gakkai General Headquarters building - the castle of worldwide kosen-rufu.
President Ikeda is encouraging us to realise great victories in our lives that can stand out as "actual proof" of faith that is as grand and impressive as the new seven-storey headquarters building. So now is the time for us to ask ourselves:
What is the challenge facing me that I really want to break through?
What is my grand vision for my life or my family?
What positive advance could I make in my home life, place of work or study?
Is there a secret dream locked in my heart that I have not yet dared to really pray to realise?
What will be my great actual proof that I will proudly share with others?
Let's be inspired to set ourselves great goals and achieve them by 18 November 2013! Our goals could be anything but our victory should be something that shows undeniable actual proof of our faith to ourselves and others, so that we can become even happier through realising more of our unlimited potential and also inspire others to want to do the same.
If you would like more details of the campaign, such as a copy of the daimoku chart, please drop me an email at buddhasofessex@gmail.com and I will gladly send you a copy of the campaign leaflet.
So with the bravery and courage of a lion king - let's be ever-victorious, together, in 2013!
"The lion king fears no other beast, nor do its cubs."
(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 997) http://www.sgilibrary.org/view.php?page=996 Selection Source: Suntetsu, Seikyo Shinbun, October 7th, 2012
Background
Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter at Minobu on the first day of the tenth month of the second year of Koan (1279) to his followers in general. It reviews some of the outstanding incidents in his life. But more importantly, it contains the sole allusion to his inscription of the object of devotion for all humanity as the purpose of his life, a task that he accomplished on the twelfth day of the same month.
Around 1275, propagation efforts in the Fuji area began to produce significant results under the leadership of Nikko Shonin. There were a number of converts among both priests and laity, but as the number of new believers increased, so did official pressures. In Atsuhara, a village in Fuji District of Suruga Province, believers were subjected to a series of threats and harassments known collectively as the Atsuhara Persecution. Twenty believers, all farmers, were arrested on the twenty first day of the ninth month, 1279, on false charges, and three of them were later beheaded. In spite of these persecutions, not one of the twenty farmers abandoned their faith.
Seeing that his followers were now ready to give their lives if necessary to protect the Law, the Daishonin realized that the time had come to fulfill the purpose of his life, as is described in the first paragraph: “For me it took twenty-seven years.” “It” here means the reason for his appearance in the world— that is, the inscription of the object of devotion for the sake of all humankind.
Next, details concerning the persecutions encountered by Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin are presented. The important prophecies in the Lotus Sutra for the Latter Day of the Law are also outlined.
The types of ill effects suffered by slanderers are explained to show the impact of the strict law of cause and effect on individuals and on society. The Daishonin states that the miserable fate of several treacherous disciples, as well as the crisis facing Japan at the time, is retribution for hostility shown toward the votary of the Lotus Sutra.
At the same time the Daishonin tells his disciples that they must now “summon up the courage of a lion king.” Furthermore, he urges believers in the Atsuhara area to be prepared for the worst.
In the last section, the Daishonin cites the example of Sammi-bo, one of his earliest disciples, who was highly esteemed for his debating skill and great learning, but forsook his faith and died a tragic death during the Atsuhara Persecution.
Embodying the spirit of the sincere disciples from Atsuhara, let's really engrave this Gosho into our hearts, and live our daily lives with the kind of deep courage that comes from the absolute conviction that we are Buddhas. And as we are Buddhas, we do not need to have fear - any difficulty can be transformed with our sincere prayer - and we most certainly can achieve our absolutely fullest potential. Let's roar together, united with our mentor...
"Each of you should summon up the courage of a lion king and never succumb to threats from anyone. The lion king fears no other beast, nor do its cubs."
(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 997) http://www.sgilibrary.org/view.php?page=996Selection source: Kyo no Hosshin, Seikyo Shimbun, August 24th, 2012
Background
Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter at Minobu on the first day of the tenth month of the second year of Koan (1279) to his followers in general. It reviews some of the outstanding incidents in his life. But more importantly, it contains the sole allusion to his inscription of the object of devotion for all humanity as the purpose of his life, a task that he accomplished on the twelfth day of the same month.
Around 1275, propagation efforts in the Fuji area began to produce significant results under the leadership of Nikko Shonin. There were a number of converts among both priests and laity, but as the number of new believers increased, so did official pressures. In Atsuhara, a village in Fuji District of Suruga Province, believers were subjected to a series of threats and harassments known collectively as the Atsuhara Persecution. Twenty believers, all farmers, were arrested on the twenty first day of the ninth month, 1279, on false charges, and three of them were later beheaded. In spite of these persecutions, not one of the twenty farmers abandoned their faith.
Seeing that his followers were now ready to give their lives if necessary to protect the Law, the Daishonin realized that the time had come to fulfill the purpose of his life, as is described in the first paragraph: “For me it took twenty-seven years.” “It” here means the reason for his appearance in the world— that is, the inscription of the object of devotion for the sake of all humankind.
Next, details concerning the persecutions encountered by Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin are presented. The important prophecies in the Lotus Sutra for the Latter Day of the Law are also outlined.
The types of ill effects suffered by slanderers are explained to show the impact of the strict law of cause and effect on individuals and on society. The Daishonin states that the miserable fate of several treacherous disciples, as well as the crisis facing Japan at the time, is retribution for hostility shown toward the votary of the Lotus Sutra.
At the same time the Daishonin tells his disciples that they must now “summon up the courage of a lion king.” Furthermore, he urges believers in the Atsuhara area to be prepared for the worst.
In the last section, the Daishonin cites the example of Sammi-bo, one of his earliest disciples, who was highly esteemed for his debating skill and great learning, but forsook his faith and died a tragic death during the Atsuhara Persecution.
Describing us, the votaries of the Lotus Sutra - all shapes and sizes and all true lion kings...
"A cub sired by a lion king will become a lion king."
(Letter to the Sage Nichimyo - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 323) http://www.sgilibrary.org/view.php?page=321 Selection source: Buddhist study, Seikyo Shimbun, August 21st, 2012
Background
Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter while at Ichinosawa on Sado Island and addressed it to a follower in Kamakura, a woman who had separated from her husband at a young age. Little is known about her except that she undertook the long and perilous journey from Kamakura with her infant daughter Oto to visit the Daishonin during his exile on Sado. The Daishonin was so impressed with this demonstration of faith that he wrote this letter, giving her the Buddhist name Sage Nichimyo (Sun Wonderful).
After the Daishonin went to live at Minobu, she again visited him there, and later, in the eighth month of 1275, the Daishonin sent her a letter addressed to her daughter, which was later given the title The Supremacy of the Law, suggesting that she was welcome to stay at Minobu should there be the need.
In the beginning of this letter, the Daishonin cites seven stories of Shakyamuni’s bodhisattva practices in his past existences. By carrying out such severe practices in pursuit of Buddhism, Shakyamuni was able to attain Buddhahood. In effect, the Daishonin likens Nichimyo’s efforts in journeying to Sado to these bodhisattva austerities, and implies that her seeking spirit will ensure her enlightenment.
In the next part, Nichiren Daishonin explains that the practice of his Buddhism is not as difficult as that of Shakyamuni’s Buddhism, because Nam-myoho-renge-kyo contains all the benefits that Shakyamuni Buddha accumulated through lifetimes of bodhisattva austerities. Therefore, by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we ordinary people can in this lifetime attain the same virtues and benefits as Shakyamuni Buddha himself. This is the central theme of this letter, in which the Daishonin explains the essence of his teaching: By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, an ordinary person can become a Buddha.
In the final portion, the Daishonin praises her strong faith and confers upon her the title of sage, indicating that she will become a Buddha.
