Nichiren Daishonin's Birthday Commemorative Gongyo Meeting ( February 16,
2007)
Yasunori Takimoto
(SGI Vice President)
Good evening everyone! I would like to thank you for attending tonight's
commemorative gongyo meeting of Nichiren Daishonin's birthday despite your
busy schedule and long travel.
To our delight, we are joined by Soka students tonight. Let me introduce them to you. (SGI Vice President introduced 8 students from Soka University presently studying at Kalayaan College and 23 more studying at University of the Philippines as well as other exchange students.)
As you know very well, Nichiren Daishonin was born this day 785 years ago, which was in February 16, 1222 in Chiba prefecture, Japan. At that time, major earthquakes have occurred one after another and a typhoon was attacking the country. In addition, the political situation was instable, and there was a series of internal strife, epidemic was prevailing, etc. The suffering of the people was indeed at its peak.
Under such circumstances, Nichiren Daishonin, the original Buddha, had chosen the country Japan for his advent to save the people who were most suffering and utterly lost in grief. At that time, the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings had spread throughout Japan and the people were reconciled with the Jodo Sect (or Sacred Way teachings) in which they have begun to show their tendency to escape from reality. Nichiren Daishonin, despite this prevalent situation, established the correct and true Buddhism that can save all mankind in the Latter Day of the Law while facing all manners of persecutions, and he eventually inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon for the sake of humanity.
And, it was the first three presidents of Soka Gakkai: President Makiguchi,
President Toda and President Ikeda who had stood with a great vow to repay
their debts of gratitude to Nichiren Daishonin without begrudging their
lives. Namely, we, the members of the SGI, are the only organization in
the world that correctly practices the Daishonin's Buddhism and are positively
acting for the sake of Kosen-rufu.
The characteristic of the Daishonin's Buddhism with respect to Shakyamuni's
Buddhism of harvest is the principle of attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.
The Gosho states, "If you chant Myoho-renge-kyo with deep faith in
this principle, you are certain to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime.
(WND, p. 4)"
President Ikeda mentioned about attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime in
his recent guidance. He said that in modern terms, another word for "attaining
Buddhahood in this lifetime" is nothing other than human revolution.
In short, our purpose in practicing Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism in our
daily life lies in achieving our own human revolution.
And, as a concrete figure of one who has attained human revolution, President
Ikeda showed us 7 aspects, they are:
1) Health
2) Youth
3) Good fortune
4) Intelligence
5) Passion
6) Belief
7) Victory
Now, as we take in these 7 aspects as proofs of human revolution, we have
to have compassion as our foundation. For us, when we live for the sake
of Kosen-rufu courageously and wish for others' happiness while realizing
our mission as Bodhisattva of the Earth, such compassion will naturally
rise in our hearts.
Lastly, let's further strive in chanting daimoku and in doing shakubuku
with all our might together with General Director Niitsu and Women's Division
Chief Shibata, and bravely dash towards achieving our human revolution
and Philippines Kosen-rufu while putting Sensei's guidance into action
in our daily life so that we can repay our debts of gratitude to Nichiren
Daishonin by becoming absolutely happy.
Photo on the top: Flowers in Nagano (Photo by Daisaku Ikeda)
Copyright (c) 2006-2007, Soka Gakkai International of the Philippines,
All rights reserved.
