PRAY AND NEVER GIVE UP HALF WAY

ON PRAYER

  

Prayer based on the Mystic Law is a vow to win no matter what. Our prayers entail a struggle to transform despair and helplessness embodied in negative thoughts such as "I think this is impossible to achieve" into absolute conviction and courage infused in one's determination that "I will achieve it no matter what!"

In offering prayers, it is important to first set clearly defined goals. Being vague and unfocused when we pray is like shooting an arrow without looking at the target. The arrow will never hit the target unless we focus on it. The same can be said for our prayers. We must set specific goals and earnestly pray to realize these goals. On top of this, it is crucial to make determined, single-minded efforts towards that goal. Only then will the Buddhist gods (positive functions of the universe) be activated and our prayers realized.

NEVER GIVE UP HALF WAY!

Both Presidents Makiguchi and Toda declared that prayers based on the Mystic Law will bring about "sure-fire actual proofs"(just as a master shooter will always hit the target a hundred times out of a hundred).

In addition, SGI President Ikeda also taught us in his guidance: "Pray that instead of devils or negative, destructive forces infiltrating your being, Brahma, Shakra, and the gods of the sun and the moon-positive, protective forces of the universe-will enter your life! Pray that they will enter the lives of all members in your region and the entire membership of the SGI, as well. If you do this, your strength will multiply a hundredfold, a thousand fold. With such prayer, with such faith, you will be able to realize a fundamental transformation in the very depths of your life. It is the secret to achieving your human revolution."

There was an occasion when President Ikeda gave the following guidance to a member, who was confronting a grave adversity in life, during a dialogue session held at the training centre in Nagano: "There are times when our prayers seem to take ages to be fulfilled, or when they remain unrealized despite the most impassioned chanting of daimoku. During such moments, it crucial that you continue to believe in the Gohonzon and not give up half way. Only when we continue believing till the end, and chanting till the end, that we can embody the rhythm of victory of Nam myoho-renge-kyo of the great universe, thus manifesting the life state of Buddhahood in our life."

  

President Ikeda added, "Your prayers may be realized immediately but there are also times when your prayers are not answered in a short period of time. Whichever the case, without exception, you will look back and say to yourself that things worked out for the best, that you prayer was ultimately answered."

He further elaborated: "Prayer is the effort to align the gears of our life with the movement of the universe. It is an endeavor to make the entire universe our ally, and fundamentally redirect our state of life in the direction of happiness." 

  

THE SECRET IS TO PRAY TILL ONE'S PRAYER IS ANSWERED

  

When my daughter was critically ill, I had the opportunity to receive guidance from President Ikeda. He told me "When the mother is fighting so hard for Kosen-rufu, then there is no way that her child will become unhappy. Resolving to win in your struggles will lead to your child's ultimate victory; strive on with this determination. Pray until your prayers are answered. This is the secret to having one's prayers answered." 

It was just as per President Ikeda's encouragement that I persevered and continued to pray, and strive earnestly, and finally, a way forward to a life of victory for both mother and daughter opened right before us. 

The first guideline that President Ikeda set forth as part of the Women's Division Five Guidelines for Absolute Victory is, "EVERYTHING BEGINS WITH PRAYER."  

Source: Excerpt from the Gosho lecture - 'On Prayer' by Kazuko Morimoto, Shinetsu Women's Division Study Chief (Translated from the Nov 2014 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai's monthly study journal.)