FAITH IN THE GOHONZON

FAITH IN THE GOHONZON

“Result is a reflection of your faith in the Gohonzon. Whatever you are thinking in front of the Gohonzon will be true for you. Are you thinking failure or victory? Are you trying to tell the Gohonzon how to solve your problems or are you turning over your heart’s desire with unlimited trust to the Gohonzon? The Gohonzon’s power is beyond the comprehension of our minds. This is why we call it mystic. Our challenge is to dream of results as big as the power of the Gohonzon, which has no limit. With this attitude of faith, you can tap the infinite power of joy, gratitude and victory. If you find you are stuck, pray to release the chains of doubt & fear clouding your mind of faith. Pray for unbounded confidence & courage to win over your past & joyfully step into your bright future.”

- Sensei Ikeda

The Power of Words - by Daisaku Ikeda

The Power of Words 

- by Daisaku Ikeda

  

I have vivid memories of encounters with people whose voices or words have moved me over the years. One which springs to mind happened during a visit to the Guilin region of China, a beautiful land of craggy mountains, mists and rivers.

Walking along, we met two young girls, no older than 15 or 16, selling medicinal herbs near a river. They carried a large basket filled with herbs, inviting passers-by to buy their goods with vibrant voices.

“Ni hao!” [Hello] I called to them. “Ni hao!” They smiled back: “We offer every kind of medicine: choose the one you want.”

I smiled at their high spirits and asked, “Do you have anything to make me smarter?” They seemed taken aback, but only for an instant. “I’m sorry,” one of them replied in a clear, firm voice, “We just sold out of that one.”

Our group burst into laughter at this witty reply, and we felt as warm inside as if a gentle spring breeze had touched us. As a Chinese saying puts it, “Even a single word uttered out of goodness can warm the heart in the bitterest winter.”  

I fondly recall that my wife and I ended up buying some herbs as souvenirs, and I sometimes wonder how the girls and their families are doing.

I believe that sincere one-to-one conversation can soften and melt even hearts that are completely frozen. By talking with someone face-to-face, you can actually change that person’s life and your own. 

Today we live in the midst of a flood of soulless information. And the more we rely on one-way communication, like radio or TV, or static and unmoving words in print, the more I feel the need to stress the value of the sound of the human voice: The simple but precious interaction of voice and voice, person and person; the exchange of life with life.

In a face-to-face conversation, the listener can ask questions or disagree, and this in turn may make the speaker rethink his or her own views. The process is dynamic and multifaceted, creating mutual joy and understanding. 

For myself, I love talking with a wide range of people from all over the world. I always learn something new and I find it inspiring to be exposed to different ways of thinking.  This is a kind of spiritual nutrition for me.

My experience is that no matter how strong the initial uncertainty, or even hostility another person may feel toward you, if you approach them with complete sincerity and speak the truth, they will invariably respond in kind.

Face-to-face conversation may seem like something very ordinary, but it is in fact the most powerful tool for positive change we possess. We can exchange ideas on a very human, personal level, with a basis of respect and faith in each other’s essential goodness. Everyone involved is equal; there is neither superior or inferior.  

The French thinker Montaigne loved discussion, and he always kept an open mind, saying,  “No proposition astounds me, no belief offends me, however much opposed it may be to my own. Contradictions of opinion only arouse and exercise my mind.” To him, dialogue was the search for truth, and he claimed that he welcomed and embraced the truth, in whoever’s hands he found it. 

As we have two ears and one mouth, maybe we should listen twice as much as we speak. Certainly if we are self-righteous or prejudiced, no one will approach us with an open heart.

  

Sometimes our attempts to start a discussion or talk things over may be slighted or ignored. Then we should remember that rejection and disappointment are inevitable in life, and just keep on trying. Maintaining dialogue takes great patience and perseverance. We need to develop a strong sense of self, so that although we can clearly see the emotions of the other person, we keep on calmly and steadily “rowing” closer to their heart.

The biggest obstacle to successful dialogue is usually excessive attachment to one’s own point of view. For instance, a rift between a parent and child will not be easily healed as long as the parent only sees things as a parent, and the child only from his or her own viewpoint.

In a genuine discussion, it is best if we can see any confrontations that arise as just another form of our connectedness. If both parent and child can see themselves as sharing common ground—making up a family together—things can take a surprisingly easy turn for the better. The deeper the common feeling that binds us, the more we can embrace those who differ from us and ensure that dialogue will lead to a fruitful outcome.

Whether the problem is that of a single family, or international in scope, if those involved can view things from a higher perspective, with a sense of shared purpose, the gears of dialogue will always start to turn in a positive direction.

If more people were to pursue dialogue in an equally broad-minded and persistent manner, I am sure that the inevitable conflicts of human life would find easier resolution.  Prejudice would give way to understanding, and war to peace. Genuine dialogue results in the transformation of opposing viewpoints, changing them from wedges that drive people apart into bridges that link them together.

SEEK THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITHIN YOURSELF, THE GOHONZON IS NOT OUTSIDE US

SEEK THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITHIN YOURSELF, THE GOHONZON IS NOT OUTSIDE US.

By former SGI-USA General Director Greg Martin

Imagine doing gongyo, chanting daimoku, doing shakubuku, attending discussion meetings, promoting publications, participating in zaimu, lifetime after lifetime for countless aeons, and never changing your karma; never attaining enlightenment. That’s a depressing thought.

The Daishonin is pointing out here how important it is to not look outside yourself. Don’t try to get power from outside yourself. Seek the solution to the problem within yourself. You are the problem. You are also the solution.

If you chant daimoku in front of the Gohonzon with the prayer, “give me the wisdom to know what I need to do. Give me the wisdom to know what action I need to take”, you will be amazed at the progress you make. Outwardly directed prayers will not help you in the least, even if you do it for the rest of your life.

The Daishonin’s strict point here is that if you’re going to chant daimoku, don’t waste your time trying to fix things outside of yourself. The Gohonzon has almost no power in the outer realm, but the Gohonzon has a universe of unlimited power to change you and reform your life. Open your life and see your true nature. Deal with your true nature. It is characterized by one of the three poisons: greed, anger, or stupidity. To find out which it is, just ask yourself, “am I greedy, am I angry, or am I stupid?” It’s one of those three!

The Daishonin goes on to state: “... you cannot attain Buddhahood, even if you practice lifetime after lifetime for countless aeons. Attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime is then impossible ... for example, a poor man cannot earn a penny just by counting his neighbour’s wealth, even if he does so night and day.”

The Gosho goes on to say that if you do not understand that this is happening within you and not out there some place, you will be unable to change your karma. Your practice will become an endless, painful austerity.

Let’s turn that around. Look at your life. Is there any area in your life in which, when you chant daimoku about it, it seems an endless, painful austerity? It may be your job, your relationships, your children, or anything else. You might be fine in all other areas, but when it comes to relationships, for example, you can be completely non-Buddhist and getting no benefit. This can go on for years. You may even give up because it’s so painful.

The problem is not Buddhism. The problem is not that your karma is so heavy. The problem is that you are looking in the wrong place. You are the problem. You are not looking inside. It’s easier to look outside.

Let’s say you have a large problem that you want to overcome. You begin a campaign of chanting one million daimoku. Somewhere around 999,950 daimoku, it suddenly dawns on you, “hey, maybe the problem is me!” Knowing this, we can shorten the process a little bit!

Starting out knowing that “the problem is me”. That way we can make progress chanting maybe only 50,000 daimoku instead of one million …

When we look at our practice, we only see it from one direction, and it always looks right to us. Most of the time, we think we’re just fine. But someone else can clearly see if we are way out of line. This is especially true when you have an experienced senior in faith. This is why we receive guidance.

The following is an excerpt from a summary of a lecture given by former SGI-USA General Director Greg Martin at the Seattle Culture Centre on June 9, 1995.

Raising Children - by Daisaku Ikeda

Raising Children - by Daisaku Ikeda

  

I love to see the growth of young people, as they are straight and true, and full of promise.  Their whole lives lie ahead of them. And it is they who are entrusted with the future.  That’s why I take them very seriously. 

I feel that “treasures of the heart” are the greatest possible gift from parents to their children. Some parents may wish to guarantee their children’s happiness by giving them material wealth. Yet, no matter how wealthy they are, without good health and physical strength, children will not be able to lead truly happy lives. And above all, I believe that it is the “treasures of the heart”—inner qualities such as spiritual strength, character and humanity—that will ensure the true happiness of a child.

I see child raising as a process of leading a young adult to develop the strength to stand and walk on his own feet. Every time I meet a child, I always offer my respect to him or her as an independent person. A child is an individual with a distinct personality, and even the bond between parent and child is ultimately a relationship between two individuals.

Some children are very considerate and always deep in thought. Others may be looking for someone to fight with. One child cannot resist scribbling on everything in sight. Another is always running to the kitchen for something to eat. There are a thousand different character types and each has different interests. Parents can try to anticipate the different directions in which a child’s individuality might lead them and then do everything possible to provide the environment best suited for their development.  

Children are very sensitive; I always feel it is unkind to make comparisons among them.  Buddhism teaches that just as cherry blossoms are cherry blossoms, and plum blossoms are plum blossoms, each person has a totally unique character. Children need to each grow at their own rate and in a way that is true to themselves. 

Nothing encourages the growth of children more than knowing they are understood and trusted by their parents, as a story about the great French writer and poet Victor Hugo illustrates. The man who lived next door to the young Hugo’s family had a huge apple tree, and he decided to build a fence around it so that children couldn’t pick the apples. Hugo’s mother told him, “If you’re building that fence to keep my son away, you needn’t bother.” The man continued to watch, but the boy never came near the tree. I am impressed that Hugo’s mother knew her son’s character so well. 

In order for a child to develop an independent self, it may be necessary at times to discipline him, while at other times the child needs to follow his own way. 

I don’t think children are weak and fragile from the beginning. I believe that even a newborn baby possesses vast untapped potential. I’ve heard that a baby, even without any swimming lessons, can instinctively swim when put in water. Perhaps it is parents’ overprotectiveness that actually suppresses the potential of a child, making him or her feeble to the point where the child loses the once-possessed skill and strength needed to swim in the vast ocean called “life.”

Fearing their child may become wet from a small wave, some parents would make sure that she will not even go near the water, and others may try to shield and protect her by getting wet themselves. Imagine how shocked and helpless such a child may become when suddenly thrown into the vast ocean. What will happen to her after she grows up and is swept away by the crushing waves of life and finds that no one is there to intervene on her behalf?

Parenting, to me, means helping a child to develop his or her own strength to strive, to challenge and to live. “If you love your child, help him stand on his own feet and send him off on a journey of learning,” was a concept popular in old Japan. This is how parents back then educated their children. If the ability to face life’s difficulties is made the focus of their upbringing, there is no need to worry whether or not one’s children will handle their lives well.

Sadly, however, some parents try to use their children as a means to give expression to their own vanity and pride, trying to force them into some preconceived mold they consider desirable. This is not a pretty sight, and they run a grave risk of destroying the individuality of their child entirely. If a parent thinks not of the child’s dreams but of his or her own, the result will be something as artificial as the dwarfed trees in a bonsai arrangement.

I feel it is crucial that parents understand the way children’s minds work.  When he asks the all-important question, “Why?” and is scolded, or a nonsensical answer is made up to quiet him, a child’s purity of spirit will be sullied. 

One of the most crucial aspects of child raising is how to answer this frequent question. In the beginning children expect their parents to teach them about everything. However, rather than responding immediately, maybe the mother or father can take the time to work out together with the child what the answer might be. This can help cultivate the child’s power of reasoning.

If parents can raise their children in a way that discourages self-absorption and fosters open-mindedness, such openness of spirit will naturally develop into a warm heartedness directed toward others, toward nature and toward the universe. And with such young people in it, I am confident that the world will become a better place.

Prayer that Transforms Dreams into Reality

Prayer that Transforms Dreams into Reality

by Jeanny Chen

President Ikeda likens us to a microcosm while the universe is a macrocosm. As the microcosm, we are inherent with the same ability to give birth, breed, plant, create, produce, duplicate multiply, construct, compound, invent, discover. Even to cause, to show and to shape. Moreover, being the practitioners of the Mystic Law, the Law of the Universe, we are fortunate to have the advantage of holding the key, the means, the wisdom and the strength to bring just everything into existence, as the universe does. 

Be it sentient or insentient, conspicuous or inconspicuous, as long as we follow the Law with the correct attitude and practice it assiduously, we are the arbiters of what we can bring about. Our prayer blazes a trail and gives rise to the making of such a development, or manifestation. Therefore, it is virtually a decisive factor whether we are able to walk the right path, to actualize our dreams or not. Wonders of all kinds of incredible formation are one of the major activities in the universe, throughout eternity. 

Prayer is a string of thoughts we put together, to speak for our wishes and goals. From the Buddhist viewpoint, thought is one of the three causes that create effect or karma, which will manifest in due time. 

When we think of karma, we’re most inclined to think of our bad karma; we’re so often caught up by its alarming, unpleasant aspects. Therefore, we learn, through our Buddhist practice, to be cautious about what we think. We do not want to involuntarily place ourselves into facing bad consequences.

While water wrecks the boat, it can also carry the boat. It all depends on one’s ability, how one can maneuver within it.

If any random, careless, negative thought can effortlessly incur damage, by the same token, one can definitely expect to harvest infinite fortune once we scrupulously engage in designing a pool of all the positive thoughts that we can ever think of.

The ball is in our court.

Nichiren Daishonin says in his writing On Prayer:

“The prayer offered by a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra will be answered. Just as an echo answers a sound, as a shadow follows a form, as the reflection of the moon appears in clear water, as a mirror collects dewdrops, as loadstone attracts iron, as amber attracts particles of dust, or as a bright mirror reflects the color of an object.” WND p340

A practitioner of the Lotus Sutra is one who propagates and practices the Lotus Sutra in exact accordance with its teachings. We have to not only practice the Law but also take action to propagate it, in order to be a votary. If we seriously demand extraordinary answers to our prayers, we had better practice and spread it fervently and untiringly. Our persistent sincerity and action will defeat our conscience of unworthiness, affirming our confidence in the outcome of prayer, convincing ourselves that we deserve better. 

Other premises for making our prayers come true are, unwavering faith and, a heart-felt mission to spread the Law. It is imperative to also awaken to the truth that we ourselves are Buddhas, the treasure tower.

There are millions of votaries of the Lotus Sutra around, who are also praying day and night. How can we make a hundred percent sure that our prayers are not left out? The simple answer is to take total control, instead of begging for mercy or trying luck. Only with the inner realization of our inherent Buddha nature can we fully activate and implement the virtues of the Buddha within, and to work profoundly toward the accomplishment of our goals. 

It is essential that we inject penetrating conviction, determination and confidence into prayer. Prayer is a pledge that we resolve to fulfill, for the sake of our happiness and the happiness of others. It’s also a wonderful right, not a formality obligation. Everyday, we even crave for conducting the prayer, longing for one more opportunity to lift our life condition and life force, as well as to emerge with wisdom and build fortune. We pray to appreciate – without pretense – the rare fortune of encountering this Buddhism in our lifetime. If we decide to pray with the attitude of entering a Treasure Tower, we would never leave it empty-handed. 

In his writing “Rebuking Slander of the Law”, Nichiren Daishonin demonstrates to us how to pray for the impossible:

“I am praying that, no matter how troubled the times may become, the Lotus Sutra and the ten demon daughters will protect all of you, praying as earnestly as though to produce fire from damp wood, or to obtain water from parched ground.” WND p444

Surely, we can create the picture in our mind’s eye: wet timber flaming with heavy smoke; a stream of water making its way to the surface of desert ground.

Together with prayer, we freely play with our visualization; the intangible becomes tangible, dreams transform into reality, poison turns into medicine and misfortune brings about fortune.

We want to focus on the desired result but not how it is possible to come true. 

The fact is, that besides the protection that countless Buddhas rendered to us, it is our sincere prayer and faith that gives rise to action. Efforts appropriate to our situation propels us in the direction of actualizing our prayers.

Prayer accompanied with goals is our life proposal. We present to Gohonzon, in the form of dialogue an introduction of ourselves. We make ourselves known to the universe. Since Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, prayer strengthens our confidence and reassures goals back to ourselves. We don’t wish to ever miss any point of this important presentation. Therefore, the best way is to write them down, as specific and thorough as possible, if we don’t want to burden our memory cells. We read it out or silently before, during or at the end of our chanting. Or, we can recite the entire prayer in our head throughout the duration of our chanting, emphasizing and repeating the crucial parts, to our heart’s content.

The most powerful means of communication between two people is to dialogue with the other person, without his presence, through daimoku, in front of Gohonzon. From the very beginning of our daimoku, in our mind, we open the other person’s Buddhahood and ours, positioning both sides in the world of Buddhahood. We pour out our heart with goodwill. No matter how ugly the relationship, whatever righteous wish we desire of the other person, it will be well received, via this amazing channel. Better yet, answered in reality, once we are absolutely sincere and serious about our prayer. 

Why open Buddhahood, or Buddha nature? Among the characteristics of Buddhahood, there are wisdom, life force, compassion and happiness. Buddha wisdom sees the true aspect of all phenomena. People in the state of Buddhahood are not deceived by the superficiality of any situation. They certainly are wise enough to know how to communicate the truth, nothing by underlying truth. They know exactly how to manage damage control, how to interact perfectly, exactly what to say to reach the win-win result.

People with unbeatable life force won’t be defeated by any circumstance. No matter how bad the situation, they have no worries, no negative concerns. They are strong, upbeat and courageous. When two such positive minds talk, their optimistic energy can only generate constructive outcome.

Compassion is the lifeblood and trademark of Buddhas. They respect and embrace all beings as they are and what they are, regardless. Thus, both ways of any communication are original, genuine and, straightforward without distorting, abating or blocking. Messages will be sent compassionately and humbly at the one end. They will be warmly acknowledged, equally treated and, thoughtfully responded to, by the other. How can anything not turn out to be harmonious and satisfactory this way?

Buddhas enjoy absolute happiness under all circumstances. Nothing could ever upset or irritate them in such a highest life condition. They take everything as a blessing. In other words, whatever you say is perfectly fine. Thus, is it a surprise that the dialogue between two forever-happy people comes to a happy ending?

Prayers offered from the bottom or our hearts in the world of Buddha reach every corner, move the most obstinate and, work wonders. Be it a relationship, health, job hunting or promotion. IT is the ultimate dialogue we conduct with Gohonzon, the universe, ourselves, family members, friends, co-workers, future employers, future soul mate, ex-…etc.

A heartbroken elderly mother had been mistreated by her son and daughter-in-law. She was devastated. She depended on their assistance in areas of her daily life. What she asked from them – especially her son – was a fair and clear communication. She was unable to get it. Her son only listened to his wife’s twisted, one-sided stories, putting her in the spot. After learning about dialogue in the world of Buddha, she engaged in a sincere daimoku campaign. She put all three of them in the world of Buddha. She apologized for the inconvenience she had incurred on them. She appreciated their filial caring and, prayed for the daughter-in-law’s happiness. She specifically chanted for her son’s wisdom to see the truth.

Within a week, her son’s attitude changed totally. Within one month, the daughter-in-law became sweet and thoughtful. The elderly woman was overjoyed; she had found her happiness again. 

Throughout the episode, no outsider had to risk becoming entangled in their domestic affairs. Not a single person became offended. It was a seamless victory, achieved through heart-to-heart dialogue, via daimoku, at the state of Buddhahood.

What do we pray for? We praise the Lotus Sutra, the King of Sutras, for its profound teaching. We praise Nichiren Daishonin for his devotion, for making it possible for all human beings to embrace the Louts Sutra. We apologize for our ancestors’ slanders and for the slanders we committed. We appreciate our fortune for encountering Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. We would like to pay or debt of gratitude by spreading its benefits with all our might. We vow to fight against evil functions. We pray to contribute to the success of world peace, the prosperity of the SGI organization, and the happiness of other people. 

Last but not least are our personal goals.

Positive personal development parallels the importance of our goals of overcoming challenges, changing karma and achieving accomplishments. (See “Goal, the Priceless Life Proposal”)

In his book “Faith into Action” p. 152, President Ikeda gives guidance regarding the most important element of prayer, to keep praying:

“There are many elements involved in a prayer being answered, but the important thing is to keep praying until it is. By continuing to pray, you can reflect on yourself with unflinching honesty and begin to move your life in a positive direction on the path of earnest, steady effort. Even if your prayer doesn’t produce concrete results immediately, your continual prayer will at some time manifest itself in a form greater than you had ever hoped.”

Does it sound familiar that when our prayers are eventually answered, they usually turn out for the best? That is a surprise bonus.

Realizing the power of prayer, why don’t we sit down and start to write down our unique prayer, the prayer that transforms dreams into reality?

“Dear Gohonzon:

In order for me to become very capable of fulfilling my mission of spreading the Law, I have determined to spare no effort to overcome my challenges and to do human revolution, to accomplish all my goals…”